Rhode Island governor fires staffer who called Israel’s war against Hamas a ‘genocide’
A progressive former staffer for Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee claims he was let go because of his public comments on the war in Israel.
A former staffer for Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee claims he fired from the state job last week for publicly describing Israel’s war against terrorist group Hamas as a “genocide.”
“On Friday, I was fired by Governor McKee for my public position on the atrocities occurring in Gaza,” Miguel Sanchez, who served as an associate in McKee’s Constituent Services Office, posted on X Monday.
Sanchez, also a Providence City Council member, added: “Since Oct. 7, I have used my voice as an elected official to condemn all violence against any innocent civilians.”
The council member and ex-Mckee staffer made the incendiary “genocide” remark in an Oct. 17 social media post.
Unfazed by his apparent firing, Sanchez on Monday decried Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip as a “massacre” and again called it a “genocide.”
“As Israel continues to escalate its massacre in Gaza, the need to speak out for innocent Palestinian civilians has never been more urgent—regardless of personal consequences,” he went on.
“I join the 80% of Democrats who support a ceasefire and the increasing number of elected officials who are speaking out in favor of de-escalation. Gov. McKee may have taken away my job, but he won’t pressure me into silence while a genocide is occuring [sic] in front of our eyes.”
On Friday, I was fired by Governor McKee for my public position on the atrocities occurring in Gaza. Since Oct. 7, I have used my voice as an elected official to condemn all violence against any innocent civilians.1/3
Last week, local news outlet WJAR reported that Sanchez was under fire for his public commentary on the war raging in the Middle East.
He also posted a video of himself marching through rainy weather in Providence alongside protesters demanding a ceasefire on Oct. 22.
At one point, he introduced a resolution to condemn ethnic cleansing and terrorism.
prov did not disappoint.yesterday, i marched with thousands of people calling for an immediate ceasefire and a end to the occupation.