California DA Faces Backlash for 9/11 Image Posts Linking Them to new York City Mayoral Election
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A California district attorney’s decision to repost graphic images from the September 11th attacks alongside critical commentary about the election of New York City’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and calls for his resignation. Despite maintaining he harbors no animus toward the Muslim community, San Luis Obispo County district Attorney Dan Dow is facing mounting pressure to apologize and undergo an investigation into his conduct.
The controversy began on Wednesday when Dow retweeted a post from the X (formerly Twitter) account @EndWokeness, which displayed a photograph taken moments after flames erupted from the South Tower of the world Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He followed this with a retweet from Amy Mekelburg, founder of the Rise, Align, Ignite and Reclaim (RAIR) Foundation – an association known for spreading anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim content, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Mekelburg’s post criticized Mamdani’s election, and Dow added his own commentary, further escalating the situation.
Accusations of bigotry and Islamophobia
However, this explanation has failed to quell the outrage. CAIR-LA swiftly condemned Dow’s actions, demanding a full apology and an independent investigation into his fitness to serve as District Attorney. “Dow’s decision to repost content that weaponizes bigotry and baselessly ties an elected Muslim official to terrorism is appalling,” said Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of CAIR-LA, in a statement. “It reflects the deeply rooted dehumanization and fearmongering in this country that American muslims have had to endure for decades.”
The organization specifically took issue with Mekelburg’s accompanying message, which falsely equated Mamdani’s election with the 9/11 attacks, perpetuating the harmful stereotype linking Muslims to terrorism. Dow’s own subtweet accompanying Mekelburg’s post further fueled the controversy. Highlighting his 32 years of service in the U.S. Army and four overseas tours,he wrote,”I remember like it was yesterday our nation being attacked by Islamic extremists on 9/11/2001… I am vrey sad to see the Big Apple torn apart by electing an un-American socialist who wants to trample on the values and freedoms that millions of Americans have fought and died for.”
Local Reactions and Political Fallout
The posts have also drawn criticism from local officials. San Luis Obispo County Second District Supervisor Bruce gibson labeled Dow a “Christian nationalist,” asserting that he lacks the “decency and discipline” required of his office. San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart echoed these concerns, stating that Dow, as District Attorney, “should be objective and fair” and that expressing racism is “unacceptable.”
Though, Dow has also received support from within the legal community.Orange County district Attorney todd Spitzer, who serves with Dow on the California District Attorneys Assn.,defended Dow’s right to express his views. “Elected officials have a platform to share their views and be judged by their constituents,” Spitzer wrote in an email. “It is heartbreaking to see someone who has expressed such anti-public safety and anti-Semitic sentiments elected as mayor of New York, and we as the elected protectors of public safety have a right to express that.”
Even within Dow’s own circle, the posts have caused friction. Dr. Rushdi Cader, a Muslim ally and “personal friend” of Dow, told the San Luis Obispo Tribune that the posts were “highly incendiary” and risked putting Muslims, particularly those visibly practicing their faith, at risk of harm. Cader noted dow had previously described his wife, Nisha, as “a kind and gentle lady” and expressed hope for her well-being. He suggested the posts stemmed from disagreement with Mamdani’s politics rather than a direct attack on Islam.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges of navigating political discourse in a polarized environment and the potential consequences of using emotionally charged imagery to express political viewpoints. the future of Dow’s position remains uncertain as the calls for accountability continue to grow.
