FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
Mississippi Representative Mike Ezell Assaulted a Palestinian-American Activist
WASHINGTON - Today, former cop and sitting congressman Mike Ezell slapped our Palestinian American member, Sumer Mobarak, asking him to stop the killing in Palestine.
“You are disgusting and racist. How shameful that you even work in this administration, and that you put your hands on a person. Shame on you, shame on you,” said Sumer to Ezell after being assaulted. “You are the violent one, not the people protesting peacefully,” she continued.
Sumer has filed assault charges against the congressman with Capitol police.
“It is imperative to note that the violence Representative Ezell committed, as well as the violence we are witnessing on college campuses, solely comes from those who support the ongoing genocide. Their violence and crimes reflect that of the Israeli government, and the whole world is witnessing it,” said Melissa Garriga, CODEPINK’s media relations manager and constituent of Ezell.
“I want the country to know that not everyone in Mississippi supports this genocide. There’s a large number of us who see the truth and want the U.S. support for Israel to end. Ezell represents the worst of this state.”
In Gaza, as Israeli occupation forces besiege, maim, and murder Palestinians en masse, they kill journalists and silence any dissent against their atrocities. This violence is mirrored here in the United States. CODEPINK will continue to stand for peace and justice and advocate for a free Palestine. Violent assaults at the hands of our elected officials will not deter us.
For more information about this incident or for a caption free version of the video, please contact Melissa at [email protected]
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