Palos Township Residents Confront Trustee On 'Anti-Muslim' Facebook Posts

PALOS HILLS, IL -- Residents rallied in front the Palos Township building Monday evening calling for the resignation of an elected trustee for her alleged anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media posts. The “Take On Hate” rally singled out Palos Township Board Tr. Sharon Brannigan, a one-time Republican congressional candidate and an elected township trustee since 2013.

The large crowd appeared to have taken Palos Township board members by surprise. Only 42 residents were allowed inside the meeting while more than a hundred other residents were forced to stand outside, possibly in violation of Illinois’ Open Meetings Act, which requires governmental bodies to move public meetings to a larger venue to accommodate large gatherings.

RELATED: Residents To Rally for Palos Twp. Trustee's Dismissal Over 'Anti-Muslim' Facebook Posts

Among the Facebook posts made by Brannigan, many made in her capacity as an elected Palos Township trustee, questioned the citizenship of the growing number of Middle Eastern students enrolled in the township’s public schools. She also praised female members of President Donald Trump’s family for not wearing the traditional Muslim headscarves during the president’s trip to the Middle East.

“What we thought could not happen was to have a local elected official have that same rhetoric,” said Rush Darwish from the American Middle Eastern Voters Alliance. “Not only to have that rhetoric in a local township community like ours, but a township where 30 percent of residents are Muslim, but more importantly not just Muslims but Americans. Simply put, that is wrong.”

Brannigan, who says she has no intention of resigning from the Palos Township board, also read a statement, a version of which she shared with Patch on Sunday. She claims the comments on her Facebook pages, since deleted, were to raise constituents’ awareness about property taxes. She also read portions of the First Amendment from the U.S. Constitution.

“In the 8th grade of my public-school education, we were not allowed to pass to high school until passing the Constitution test. As a reminder for all here, the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, and I quote: ‘Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. End quote.’”

“Ironically, my statements on a social media page fall under that same Amendment as do our rights for freedom of religion,” Brannigan said.

Marie Newman, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski in the 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary, also attended the meeting. Earlier in the day she issued a statement to Patch denouncing Brannigan’s “baseless accusations and bullying of the Muslim and Arab American community.”

“You are all leaders of the community, you could say something,” Newman said. “As a person who grew up in Palos, I did not grow in a community that talked like this.”

Some residents in the audience defended Brannigan, who has stated that she supports President Trump’s strict immigration policies, including his travel restrictions for Muslims entering the United States.

Township Supervisor Colleen Grant Schumann dispensed with the board’s regular agenda and opened the meeting to public comments. Patch has all of the comments embedded here.

The audience also demanded an apology from the Palos Township, accusing board members of being complicit by their silence in the wake of Brannigan’s inflammatory social media posts. The township board members replied in barely audible voices, unmiced on the dais.

Tr. Richard Riley said he did believe there was any “hate mongers” on the Palos Township Board.

Residents say they will be back at each and every town board meeting until Brannigan resigns.

“This isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon,” Darwish said afterward.

"Take On Hate" Rally before Monday's Palos Township Board meeting

Public comments at the Palos Township Board meeting.

PHOTO: Palos Township Tr. Sharon Brannigan at Monday's Palos Township Board meeting.