Statement From FLA DEMS and State Rep. Allen West's Comments He Is The 'Modern-Day Harriet Tubman'

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
For Immediate Release: August 18th, 2011
Contact: Brannon Jordan, (850) 222-3411

Statement From FLA DEMS and State Rep. Allen West’s Comments He Is The
‘Modern-Day Harriet Tubman’

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Democratic Party and state Rep. Joe Gibbons today issued the following statements condemning USRep. Allen West’s outrageous comments that he is the ‘modern-day Harriet Tubman’ leading African-American voters away from the Democratic Party’s “plantation.”

“Rep. West’s comparison of himself to one of our nation’s treasured human rights leaders is outrageously insulting and beyond offensive to African Americans everywhere,” said state Rep. Joe Gibbons (D-Hallandale Beach). “I join members of my party in calling on West to apologize for these unconscionable remarks.”

“Allen West’s remarks comparing himself to Harriet Tubman, an American treasure and civil rights icon, is truly outrageous,” said Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux. “It would be just plain sad if West were not representing the people of Florida in Congress and contemplating a US Senate run.  This is the kind of disregard for others and bizarre, out-of-touch behavior we have come to expect from Tea Party Republican West, and it’s an insult to the people he represents as well as our state.”

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