Hispanic and Muslim groups called on US Republican Tom Tancredo to resign, saying he has embarrassed Colorado by suggesting that Americans bomb Islamic holy sites if terrorists launch a nuclear attack on the United States.
They also criticised the Republican congressman’s staunch advocacy of tougher immigration controls. “Enough is enough. We’re here to say ‘Stop,”‘ Hispanic activist Manolo Gonzalez-Estay told a crowd of about 200 people at the state Capitol.
Abdur-Rahim Ali, imam of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center, said Tancredo’s statement that “you could take out” Islamic holy sites in a retaliatory attack was unacceptable. “What would happen if a prominent Muslim made that statement about Catholic holy places like the Vatican?” asked Ali.
Tancredo’s spokesman, Will Adams, said the four-term congressman would not comment on the rally, but has no intention of apologising or resigning. “They are a lot more upset about what he stands for, our nation’s security and border policy, than anything else,” Adams said.