New Berlin Mayor Dave Ament is facing mounting resignation calls following a series of anti-Muslim posts shared on his personal Facebook profile, according to reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The posts, published in August 2026, include content calling for the closure of mosques and the banning of Islam, prompting swift condemnation from civil rights advocates in Wisconsin. Ament is serving his fourth term leading the municipality of approximately 40,000 residents. He shared the material under a profile bearing his real name, which he also utilizes to distribute official city announcements and family photographs.
Fourth-Term Mayor Faces Immediate Outcry
Civil Rights Alliance Demands Immediate Exit
The Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance publicly called for Ament’s resignation, arguing that his online activity undermines his ability to fairly represent all residents. Fauzia Qureshi, executive director of the organization, stated that residents deserve a leader who leads with dignity rather than inciting fear and hatred. According to WisPolitics, the alliance emphasized that rhetoric framing an entire faith community as a threat has no place in an elected official’s public conduct.
Social Media Activity Reveals Extremist Material
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the shared material included:
- A post on August 13 depicting Muslims with stereotypes involving terrorism, suicide vests, and rocket launchers.
- A post on August 16 advocating for mosques to be shut down and Islam to be banned.
- Multiple posts suggesting that bacon can serve as a defense against Judaism and Islam, including placing it on door handles to prevent terrorism.
- A video characterizing Muslim voters who support a Muslim candidate as traitors.
- Content claiming Europe had fewer than 500,000 Muslims in the year 2000—a figure directly contradicted by Pew Research Center data cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which placed the actual population at approximately 37 million, or roughly 5% of the continent.
AI-Generated Media Amplifies Online Content
Beyond text and traditional imagery, the mayor’s shared posts included videos bearing distinct hallmarks of artificial intelligence production, such as unnatural expressions and pixelation during movement. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, these AI-produced clips featured young women in revealing tank tops paired with anti-Muslim text, alongside other unrelated narrative videos depicting crude interactions.
Account Shifted to Private Amid Silence
Following the public backlash, Ament changed his personal Facebook account from public to private. Ament and the City of New Berlin issued a statement attempting to draw a clear distinction between his personal social media activity and municipal policy. Ament did not immediately respond to subsequent requests for comment from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding the posts.
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