State Rep. Cindy Crawford compared anti-vax Arkansans to Jewish people who endured medical experimentation during the Holocaust.

UPDATE: Rep. Cindy Crawford responded to criticism of her Holocaust statements, saying her words were misconstrued. From Crawford:

My statement was not antisemitism. I stand fully with my beliefs.

Below is what I actually said.

We are learning more about the virus. We are learning of therapeutics that will heal before you are sick enough to enter a hospital. We are learning the vaccine is not full proof against the virus. We are learning that in some cases the shot is causing adverse effects in people. It seems no one wants to tell us what is in the vaccine. People have a right to know what is being injected in their bodies. The last time this was done on such a large scale was when Jewish people were used a guinea pigs.

(Editor’s note: You can find the ingredients of all currently available COVID-19 vaccines on the CDC website here.)

Advertisement

Rep. Cindy Crawford (R-Fort Smith) equated shot-shy Arkansans with Holocaust victims on the House floor yesterday, eliciting outrage from many quarters.

Close watchers of this extended legislative session called Crawford out immediately.

Advertisement

Today, the Anti-Defamation League chimed in, calling Crawford’s comments an exploitation of Jewish suffering for political gain. Her comments trivialize and belittle the torture and murder of Holocaust victims, they said.

Advertisement

Aaron Ahlquist, the Southern division policy director for the ADL, offered this statement:

“Comparing lifesaving vaccines and vaccination policies to the dehumanization and genocide of Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis is despicable and deeply offensive — and it’s become an all-to-common and callous tool for political gain. Those linking the atrocities committed by the Nazis to modern day public health policies, and other public and political issues, must retract their shameless words, take responsibility, and cease their exploitation of Jewish trauma and suffering as a political tactic.

 

“Arkansas State Representative Cindy Crawford should be ashamed of her rhetoric that undermines science and denigrates the horrific suffering of millions murdered during the Holocaust.”

 

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 50 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article Man found dead after standoff with police near Conway Next article Drink four beers while running a mile in Argenta this Sunday