UPDATE: (7:57 p.m.) The post in question no longer appears to be visible on Stone’s page. Meanwhile, the Sanford Herald has weighed in on Facebook, calling the meme “possibly insensitive” and stating that it “could be interpreted as disparaging Muslims.” The Herald reported that Knecht couldn’t be reached.
Lee County Commissioner Andre Knecht disparaged Muslims and coffee chain Starbucks in a Facebook meme shared to the page of one of Lee County’s former state legislators.
“This is a Muslim they don’t use toilet paper they use their hand,” reads the grammatically-challenged meme, which shows a Muslim man sitting on a toilet near a Starbucks logo. “This is Starbucks they vow to hire 10,000 Muslims Enjoy your coffee.”
The post, which Knecht shared to the Facebook page of fellow Republican, former state legislator and friend of the Rant Mike Stone, is an apparent reference to Starbucks’ pledge to hire 10,000 refugees in response to the travel ban President Donald Trump recently enacted via executive order. The post first appeared on Feb. 2.
Starbucks, meanwhile, set up shop in Sanford less than a year ago, employs a number of locals and probably even pays county taxes. There is also presumably at least one person of the Islamic faith in Lee County who has now been dehumanized by the commissioner’s thoughtful social media activity.
Shame on you Andre Knecht!!!!!