Fund-raiser Denise Ward (pictured) made the controversial remarks in late March
A Republican candidate for New York state Senate has disavowed a fund-raiser who mocked David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who have become prominent gun-control activists.
Fund-raiser Denise Ward made the controversial remarks in late March, as Hogg was leading a boycott against a Fox News presenter.
The tweets came to light after Ward hosted a campaign event last week for Julie Killian, who is running in Westchester County.
Killian said in a statement on Twitter late Monday: ‘Let me be clear: I am vehemently opposed to the notions tweeted about by Denise Ward. The campaign is returning the $ raised.’
The remarks at the center of the controversy came on March 30, when Hogg was leading a crusade to boycott the advertisers of Laura Ingram, who had accused Hogg of whining about his failure to get into four California colleges.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student David Hogg (above) has become a prominent gun-control activist and has demanded boycotts of his critics
Ward retweeted this picture of Emma Gonzalez, which claims she bullied the shooter
‘Every time that idiotic Hogg person speaks I am compelled to do the opposite of whatever he’s advocating, because it’s so clear that he’s nothing more than a tool & a drone,’ Ward wrote.
She also retweeted a comment wondering why ‘the media and businesses are falling over themselves to appease him’ given that ‘He comes across as self promoting and a loose cannon.’
Ward went on to write, in reference to the boycott: ‘Very disappointed to see that @hulu collapse under nonsense of that Hogg’s bullying. Won’t be keeping my subscription after all. What are you doing? He’s not worth losing business over.’
Ward also retweeted a photo that suggests Gonzalez and her classmates bullied the Parkland shooter, who killed 17 in the attack.
Julie Killian (above), who is running in Westchester County, disavowed the remarks
Killian’s Democratic opponent, Shelley Mayer, wasted no time blasting the Republican candidate over Ward’s tweets.
‘No amount of campaign cash is worth appeasing those who attack children, let alone those who have survived a tragic school shooting,’ Mayer spokesman told the New York Daily News.
Killian’s campaign did not remark on how much money Ward had raised. The GOP candidate said she disagreed with Ward’s comments.
‘We have thousands of supporters & I would guess there are one or two of [Mayer]’s supporters who also hold views w/whom she would wildly disagree,’ Killian wrote.