Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is standing by his criticism of Fourth of July fireworks, arguing that Americans should consider other ways of displaying their patriotism because of the health and environmental effects of the popular tradition.
El-Sayed addressed the controversy Monday during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” where host Charlamagne tha God questioned him about several of his past positions, including his support for defunding the police and his criticism of fireworks.
“They’re coming at me on fireworks,” El-Sayed said. “I’m like, ‘All right, first, if your whole conception of America is that it’s fireworks, I’m so sorry. You don’t have a complete conception of America. But even then, right, like what is it?’”
El-Sayed then defended the substance of his previous remarks, pointing to the effects fireworks can have on air quality and public health.
“I said, ‘Well, every time we do a fireworks show, it destroys the air quality and people have asthma exacerbations and heart attacks the next day.’ That’s all I was saying,” he said. “You know what I mean? I’m not saying we shouldn’t have fireworks. I’m just saying maybe like there are other ways to show your love.”
Deleted Videos Resurface During Senate Campaign
The fireworks controversy comes after CNN reported earlier in August that El-Sayed deleted or hid approximately 100 videos from his YouTube channel before launching his campaign for the United States Senate.
Among the videos was one urging Americans to “please” find another way to celebrate the Fourth of July besides fireworks, citing air quality as well as risks to children and pets.
The video reportedly offered four reasons “why fireworks suck” and included a chapter titled, “Fireworks just aren’t worth it: hear us out.”
El-Sayed’s latest remarks indicate that while he has objections to how his position has been characterized, he has not abandoned his underlying criticism of fireworks. He denied that he was calling for an end to the displays altogether, saying his argument was instead that Americans could consider other ways to celebrate.
The controversy has nevertheless provided Republicans with an opportunity for criticism.
Mike Rogers: ‘He Should Be Held to Account’
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers seized on the deleted material during an appearance on “Hannity” earlier this month, arguing that the videos revealed views El-Sayed would rather voters not see.
“This guy spent hours hating on what most Michiganders would enjoy in their pastimes, and he should be held to account for that,” Rogers said.
“These are views that he held, that he was pretty strong about, but he knew that he had to delete them all,” Rogers continued. “If people really knew who he was, they wouldn’t vote for him.”
Watch the clip.
