Protesters came out to Port Charlotte to hear a controversial presentation on Islam.
Charlotte County’s supervisor of elections gave a talk Thursday on what he calls “the history of radical Islam.” Many questioned if that’s appropriate for someone in his position.
Hayley Trejo led a small protest at the presentation.
“I feel like it is an abuse of his office’s power. I feel like it’s unethical,” she said.
Trejo and others – including many in the Muslim community – worried about the Charlotte County official’s speech.
“The voters should be free from any influence. The job of the supervisor is to ensure a fair election and fair voting process,” said Imam Mohamed al-Darsani of the Islamic Center for Peace.
But Elections Supervisor Paul Stamoulis thinks talking about what he calls “radical Islam” is an important topic for his voters and paid poll workers.
“The fact that you’re here is proof that this is a voting issue,” he said.
He opened his talk by addressing the protesters.
“I’ve been called an Islamaphobe, a nativist. I bring it up because it’s sad that when you talk about something, you get labeled,” Stamoulis said during his speech.
He did focus mostly on the history of Islam but did talk about current issues in the Middle East.
“I see him as a historian, and he’s a very good one at that,” said Donna Whalen, who attended the presentation.
Others, though, weren’t convinced the speech was necessary – especially since he used the term “radical.”
“How is it going to feel for the Muslims in this county to feel that they are safe, that their voice is heard, that their vote counts?” asked Hassan Shibly of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The presentation was part of a series of classes that the elections office runs.