UPDATE: Board member resigns after image comparing mask mandate to Holocaust posted on Wabasha County GOP Facebook page

A board member has resigned after a image comparing Minnesota’s mask mandate to the Holocaust was posted on the Wabasha County GOP’s Facebook page Monday.

The Republican Party of Wabasha County had said the image was maliciously posted.

Wabasha County Republican BPOU Chairwoman Beverly Snow said no one from the party posted the image which shows a Nazi officer telling a prisoner of war to wear the Star of David during the Holocaust and comparing that to the COVID-19 mask requirement imposed by Gov. Tim Walz.

The post was taken down by late Monday. It received a number of negative comments and drew responses from Minnesota GOP chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan and Jewish Community Relations Council.

Jewish Community Action tweeted a screenshot of the post and wrote, "Given that Minnesota rabbis recently spoke out in favor of a mask mandate, comparing that mandate to the Holocaust feels especially disgusting. We ask the @MNGOP to tell Wabasha Republicans to stop using imagery like this. It betrays a total lack of both empathy and education."

Carnahan responded, "This post was brought to @mngop’s attention today. Immediately we reached out to the Wabasha board. They believe this was a hack and are removing their FB page immediately. Our party does not support/condone divisive and harmful posts or language of this nature."

Tuesday afternoon, Carnahan released the following statement:

"Upon further investigation today, the Republican Party of Minnesota has learned the Wabasha County Facebook page was not hacked last night, as believed by the Wabasha County Chair. The offensive picture was unfortunately posted by a board member who has resigned effective immediately at the party’s request. We are saddened by the vitriolic post and hope as we move forward that Republicans and Democrats alike will maintain the highest level of integrity, respect, and sensitivity. The Wabasha County Board and MN GOP apologizes for this disappointing post."