Hillsborough commissioner targets nonprofit's funding over Kirk comments
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Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal (R) sought to rescind county funding for an organization after one of its then-board members posted dismissive comments on Facebook about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Why it matters: The nonprofit, which serves one of Tampa's poorest neighborhoods, was nearly stripped of tens of thousands of dollars in funding.
Driving the news: On Sept. 12, Wostal posted a cryptic message on X, saying that while someone celebrating Kirk's death is "out of [Wostal's] control," doing so "while being funded" with Hillsborough County taxpayers' money isn't.
- Wostal made a motion soon after to slash all current and future budget allocations for religious organization Masjid An Nasr.
- Tampa Bay Young Republicans (TBYR) on Facebook Tuesday identified the person whom Wostal referenced as Jarvis Karim El-Amin, then a member of Masjid An Nasr's board.
Friction point: Karim El-Amin's posts on Facebook questioned conservative outrage over Kirk's death, explained his refusal to treat Kirk as a sympathetic figure, and redirected attention to Palestine and Ukraine.
- About four hours after the TBYR shared screenshots of his posts, Masjid An Nasr issued a statement disavowing Karim El-Amin's comments and announcing his termination.
The big picture: Masjid An Nasr, which offers educational programs for children and runs food pantries in Sulfur Springs, stood to lose $50,000.
The latest: A spokesperson for Masjid An Nasr chairman Richard Muhammad spoke at Wednesday's county commission meeting, renouncing Karim El-Amin's comments and urging Wostal not to rescind the nonprofit's funding.
- Wostal withdrew his motion from consideration, thanking Masjid An Nasr for its swift action.
What they're saying: Wostal told Axios that he doesn't "believe anyone in government is qualified to dictate what is free speech or hate speech."
- But he added that "anyone receiving property taxes will be held to a requirement of respecting all Americans at all times."
Karim El-Amin declined Axios' request for comment. Muhammad said that Masjid An Nasr stands by its previous statement