Florida venue cancels Rashida Tlaib rally after state lawmaker protests ‘anti-Jew’ event

A South Florida venue canceled a rally with Rep. Rashida Tlaib after a state lawmaker called it an 'anti-Jew' event. The venue cited security concerns and its Jewish ownership. The rally, supporting three candidates, was expected to move to a wine bar. Florida's primary is August 18.

A South Florida venue canceled a rally scheduled for Friday with Democratic US Representative Rashida Tlaib, a prominent critic of Israel, after a Democratic state lawmaker protested the event as 'anti-Jew.' The Venue Fort Lauderdale, which was to host the rally, cited 'increased security concerns' and its Jewish ownership in a statement. The cancellation came after State Representative Michael Gottlieb, chairman of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, posted on social media calling the rally an 'anti-Jew' gathering and noting the irony that many Jews host Bar/Bat mitzvah celebrations at the venue. The rally, dubbed 'chomp the oligarchy,' was organized by groups such as Florida Youth Justice Coalition, Gen-Z For Change, and a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. It was meant to support State Representative Angie Nixon, running for the US Senate, and Elijah Manley and Oliver Larkin, running for the US House against Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz, two prominent pro-Israel Jewish Democrats. An organizer told The New York Times that the event was expected to proceed at a Fort Lauderdale wine bar, which had first asked Gottlieb to remove his Facebook post. The Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus claimed the cancellation was rooted in anti-Muslim sentiment. Florida's primary elections are scheduled for August 18.