Muslim US Senate candidate subjected to online hate campaign
Cyberbullies subjected a Muslim US Senate candidate for Arizona to an online hate campaign following her announcement of running for the position.
Deedra Abboud, 45, is a Phoenix attorney, civil rights activist and a Democratic candidate for the US Senate.
Abboud’s Facebook page attracted hundreds of hate-filled comments with one post in particular receiving a lot of negative attention.
Many users used the post to attack Abboud for being Muslim, while others questioned her identity as an American.
Meanwhile, other social media users showed their support for Abboud.
Abboud drew a lot of support from the man she's trying to unseat - Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona.
Flake, a Republican up for re-election next year, defended his potential Democratic challenger Abboud on Twitter.
According to Abboud’s spokeswoman Jaclyn Freedman, the US Senate candidate has been increasingly subjected to harassment since launching her campaign in the spring, azcentral reported.
“We make sure to have police escorts at our events, because yes, we have received a lot of hate,” Freedman said.
The US Senate elections are set to take place on the 6 November 2018.
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