Lee bows out of Muslim group event after backlash over other speakers

Pennsylvania progressive Rep. Summer Lee has bowed out of a speaking engagement with a Muslim group after intense backlash about other speakers’ antisemitic and homophobic comments.

Lee canceled her appearance at an event for the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim group.

“Yesterday, when it was publicly reported, I learned of previous statements made by other speakers at this event I was scheduled to attend this weekend,” she wrote on social media.

“I wanted to join this event with other members of Congress and elected officials to support our Muslim neighbors, in the Commonwealth and across the country, who are desperate to be heard by their own elected officials and feel supported at a time of rising anti-Muslim hate and violence," she added. "I do not condone or endorse any of the other speakers’ previous comments.”

Jewish Insider reported earlier this week on prior remarks, including antisemitic comments, from other scheduled attendees at the event. Lee’s decision to pull out was first reported by Pittsburgh public radio station WESA-FM.

CAIR came under fire recently after its executive director, Nihad Awad, gave a November speech saying he was “happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land." Awad later said those remarks were taken out of context and improperly applied to the Israel-Hamas war.

Lee is one of the most vulnerable progressives up for reelection this year. She has been vocal in her calls for cease-fire in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. She has voiced support for Palestinian civilians as Israel’s military operations in Gaza continue. Lee has been endorsed by J Street, which often functions as a pro-Israel counterweight to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

One of Lee’s Democratic challengers, Bhavini Patel, had called on Lee to not participate in the CAIR fundraiser. Patel earlier criticized the first-term congresswoman for accepting campaign donations from pro-Palestinian activists who have made antisemitic remarks about Israel.

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick went even further, calling for Lee’s resignation from Congress.