A video of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles arguing with a pro-Palestinian activist has gone viral this week. In the video, Ogles — a Republican who represents Tennessee’s gerrymandered 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of Nashville — responds to a question about the deaths of children and aid workers throughout the monthslong conflict. “I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better — everybody in Hamas,” says Ogles in the clip.
According to Al Jazeera, Ogles was speaking with the as-yet-unidentified activist Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C., defending his support for Israel. “I've seen the footage of shredded children's bodies, and that's my taxpayer dollars going to bomb those kids,” says the activist. Later in the clip, Ogles looks directly at the camera and declares, “Death to Hamas.” Watch the exchange here:
US Congressman Andy Ogles was filmed telling Palestine solidarity activists, “I think we should kill them all” when talking about Hamas in Gaza ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/fODWQgvGBe
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 21, 2024
An Oct. 7 attack by Hamas killed more than 1,000 Israelis. Hundreds more were kidnapped or wounded, including some American citizens. On Oct. 9, hundreds of Nashvillians gathered at the Gordon Jewish Community Center for a solidarity rally. In attendance were Republican Gov. Bill Lee and state Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, as well as state Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), state Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) and Metro Councilmember Olivia Hill. Days later, Tennessee’s senior U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn called for an end to humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, while Ogles called for a ban on Palestinian refugees entering the U.S.
Israel’s ensuing military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed roughly 29,000 Palestinians, many of whom are children, and displaced roughly 2.3 million people. Many Palestinians, advocates and allies, including those in Middle Tennessee, have called Israel's response genocide. South Africa has led the charge in bringing a genocide case against Israel to the United Nations’ top court.
Metro Councilmember At-Large Zulfat Suara, a practicing Muslim who immigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1993, addressed Ogles’ comments at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“When legislators at the federal level and at the state level continue to demonize people, continue to only look at one side and not the other, that's the result we see on the street,” said Suara. “I hope that we will all continue to do better. This authorization, this demonization, this 'Kill them all' is only breaking us apart, and I hope that as we reject it, our [fellow lawmakers] take lead, and they look at it and they do the same.”
State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) — who is currently campaigning for the Democratic nomination to take on Blackburn — called his remarks “horrifying.” Sen. Heidi Campbell, Ogles’ opponent in 2022’s 5th District race, shared a video of the exchange on social media, writing simply, “Wow!”
"The Congressman regrets that a group with an agenda would purposely take his comments out of context to fabricate a demonstrably false narrative," an Ogles spokesperson tells the Scene by email.
On Wednesday evening, Ogles issued a statement on the exchange, which reads in part: "I was clearly referencing Hamas terrorists in the exchange. Democrats and leftist media, who appear incapable of categorically denouncing the events of October 7th, are desperately attempting to shift blame — a classic Marxian tactic."
