Florida venue drops Rashida Tlaib rally over security concerns
What's next: Organizers shifted the Aug. 14 event to a Fort Lauderdale wine bar days before Florida's Aug. 18 Democratic primary.
A Fort Lauderdale venue pulled out of hosting a rally featuring U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib one day before the event, citing increased security concerns after criticism from a Florida Democratic lawmaker. The Aug. 14 rally was set to back state Rep. Angie Nixon in the U.S. Senate primary and House candidates Elijah Manley and Oliver Larkin. Michael Gottlieb, chair of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, had labeled the event “anti-Jew” in a public post. The Venue Fort Lauderdale later said it was Jewish-owned and that its commitment to the Jewish community was important to its decision. Organizers and progressive allies pushed back, with the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus calling the cancellation anti-Muslim. The event was expected to go ahead later that night at a Fort Lauderdale wine bar ahead of Florida's Aug. 18 primary.