Protesters Call For Councilwoman's Resignation

ISLIP, NY - Several Islip Town residents attended a rally on Tuesday to call for the resignation of a councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt in response to a statement she made on Facebook over the weekend.

The local councilwoman wrote a post on her Facebook page that read, ""I'm looking at warm getaways for kids February break. I'm wondering about El Salvador, Haiti, or Somalia #recommendations."

Bergin Weichbrodt has since deleted the original post and posted a new status that read: I have learned that my Facebook post yesterday offended some of you. Please accept my sincere apology.

The comments came after President Donald Trump, displeased with a proposal to bring back protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal, asked the lawmakers why "all these people from s---hole countries" are coming to America.

About 40 people gathered at Islip Town Hall following a board meeting on Tuesday evening chanting “we don’t want no explanation, we just want your resignation.”

"Her comments were divisive, ignorant and hateful," event organizer and longtime Islip resident Joe Tronolone told Patch. "Her apology was a non-apology, was unacceptable and she tried to spin it into her being concerned for those countries."

Legislator DuWayne Gregory (D-Copiague) also addressed the councilwoman's comments during the meeting, demanding a public apology.

"As public officials, we have a special obligation to ensure that our words are not harmful to those that we serve. I invited the councilwoman to meet with families I know who were surprised and hurt by her statement and hope she will take me up on the opportunity," he wrote on Facebook. "So many have left all they know to be here and contribute to our society. We all would be served well by listening to their stories, and their spirit should reinvigorate our patriotism."

Bergin Weichbrodt also spoke at the meeting, mentioning that her parents are immigrants and stating that she "understood the plight of immigrants in this country," according to a report in Newsday.

“At the core, all of us just want good things for our children, safe environments for all of us, and I just find it unfortunate that some of the texts and comments were taken in a way that I didn’t intend them,” she said.

In addition to the protesters, some residents attended the rally to show their support for the councilwoman.

“Asking her to step down from the Town of Islip is a mistake because she fights for all of us,” Bay Shore resident Debra Jansson told Newsday.

However, Tronolone says that elected officials need to be held to a "higher standard."

"In the age of Trump some politicians feel they can go on social media and say whatever they want without repercussions," he said.

What do you think? Should councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt resign? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo credit: Sam Gonzalez