Designated terrorist group CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) is calling for County Councilman John Grasso to resign after he shared what they call “hate-filled, Islamophobic and xenophobic” posts about Muslims on his Facebook page. Councilman Grasso is a candidate for the Maryland State Senate and has been endorsed by Governor Larry Hogan.

Baltimore Sun Councilman Grasso is a candidate for Maryland State Senate and has been endorsed by Governor Larry Hogan.

Zainab Chaudry, the Maryland representative for CAIR, said several Muslim community members reached out to the council with concern after Grasso shared posts on his personal page including “One nation under God, not Allah” and statements that Muslims should not be allowed in the United States.

On Sept. 26, he shared a link to a website titled “Share if you think President Trump should ban Islam in American Schools.” Many of those who commented on Grasso’s post agreed with the idea.

Chaudry said that after the center reached out to Grasso asking him to take down the posts and apologize to constituents, she got a call from the councilman. Instead of apologizing as she expected, Chaudry said, “He doubled down on his sentiments.” “Screw CAIR. I don’t give a crap about them,” Grasso said.

She also called on Grasso to resign, urged Governor Hogan to repudiate Grasso’s comments in light of his endorsement and asked Maryland Republicans to reaffirm that their party does not approve such bigotry.

Grasso called CAIR’s Maryland representative and reportedly went on an Islamophobic “rant” in which he claimed that Islam did not belong in America and expressed his support for Donald Trump’s call for a complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. He also endorsed vetting all Muslims because “they’re always blowing things up.”

But a spokesman for the governor’s campaign said there is nothing to disavow. In addition to calling for Grasso to resign and apologize, CAIR also called for Gov. Larry Hogan and other public officials to denounce Grasso. Pictures of Grasso’s campaign signs on his Facebook page say “Team Hogan.”