Islip Town Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt apologized Saturday for a social media post she made about several foreign nations that prompted critics to plan a protest outside Islip Town Hall next week.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, the Republican former News12 Long Island anchor made a thinly veiled reference to President Donald Trump’s widely reported terming of Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries”
“I’m looking a warm getaways for kids February break,” she wrote Friday. “I’m wondering about El Salvador, Haiti or Somalia #recommendations ?”
The post, a screen grab of which was saved and has been shared on social media, generated an immediate backlash. On Saturday, it was gone and replaced with an apology.
“I have leaned that my Facebook post offended some of you,” she wrote. “Please accept my sincere apology.”
The same day, critics started organizing “rally to protest Councilwoman Bergin’s hateful & divisive statement” scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday outside town hall.
Her supporters said in response that she shouldn’t have apologized.
Wow, councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt is off to a great start… pic.twitter.com/DPID7Jq7AO
— Failing at Normal (@failingatnormal) January 20, 2018
