A gun shop in western North Carolina is facing backlash for using a billboard to insult “the Squad,” four progressive minority congresswomen, as “idiots,” calling them the “four horsemen” of the apocalypse.
The sign, an advertisement for Cherokee Guns in Murphy, about 240 miles from Charlotte, pictures freshman Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.).
“Signed, the Deplorables,” it says.{mosads}
The display was criticized Monday by the nonprofit group Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), which called it “disgusting anti-government violent rhetoric,” The Charlotte Observer first reported.
“Threats against members of Congress, particularly minority members are [rising] and it is driven by the president’s racial rhetoric,” CSGV wrote in a Facebook post. “This is dangerous!”
The gun shop doubled down and defended billboard on Facebook, saying that they will also be releasing bumper stickers featuring the congresswomen, two of whom are Muslim and one who is a former refugee.
“Simple…eat a piece of bacon…tell us you’re voting for Trump in 2020…then get your limited edition bumper sticker,” Cherokee Guns wrote.
When contacted by a reporter for McClatchy, an employee at the gun shop said they were given instructions on what to do should any “threatening liberals” come through the door.
“Show them the door, or your gun, and tell them they can buy their own billboard and pay for it like I did,” the staff member reportedly said.
The billboard comes after the Squad was repeatedly attacked by President Trump earlier this month.
Trump sparked an uproar by tweeting for the House Democrats — all of who are U.S. citizens — to “go back” to the “crime infested places” they came from before speaking out about U.S. policies. Omar is the only one of the four born outside the U.S.
The remarks, as well as a “send her back” chant targeting Omar at a Trump rally in North Carolina, sparked widespread outrage from Democratic — and a few Republican — lawmakers.
The House last week voted to condemn Trump’s tweets as racist.
GOP Sen. John Kennedy (La.) appears to have been the first one to call the progressive congresswomen “the four horsewomen of the Apocalypse.”
“The simple fact of the matter is, the four congresswomen think that America was wicked in its origins. They think that America and its people are even more wicked now, that we are all racist and misogynistic and evil,” Kennedy said.
He added: “They’re entitled to their opinion. They’re Americans. But I’m entitled to my opinion, and I just think they’re left-wing cracks, and they’re the reason there are directions on a shampoo bottle. I think we should ignore them.”
The Hill has reached out to the lawmakers’ offices. A representative for Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment.