Advocates and fellow elected officials are urging a Brookfield alderman to resign after learning of numerous posts on his now-deleted LinkedIn page that graphically called for violence against Muslims, immigrants and others.
Kris Seals, who ran unopposed and just won re-election to the council April 7, made at least two dozen posts riddled with hate speech and violent calls to action on a LinkedIn account under his real name and real employer, according to screenshots obtained and reviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Mayor Steve Ponto called the comments “reprehensible in any context,” in an April 10 news release. He said that as of 3:30 p.m. April 10, Seals had declined to resign from the council after being asked to by his council peers.
In several comments on his now-deleted LinkedIn page, Seals expressed deep disdain for Muslims. He wrote that Islam is a “sick religion” in one post and referenced a need to “extinguish” those who observe the religion in another.
In other posts, he said “bacon rapped [sic] bullets” were needed against Somalis and that people protesting federal immigration operations needed to “jump in an acid bath.”
Seals also encouraged violence against U.S. politicians and expressed white Christian nationalist ideology. He suggested in one post that someone “cut off the hands and deport” U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and called for “Public Executions” on a post about Medicaid fraud.
Seals identifies himself in one post as a Brookfield alderman, and every post includes his position and employer: customer service representative at Nolan Accounting Center.
Seals defended the posts when approached by a reporter with WITI-TV (Channel 6), which first reported the issue April 9 and reported that Seals deleted the profile after the television station’s questioning.
When Seals answered a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter’s phone call seeking comment April 10, he said “have a good day” and hung up the phone. Sears did not respond to the reporter’s follow-up call or multiple emails requesting comment.
In response to an email from the Journal Sentinel, Tim Nolan of Nolan Accounting Center said the firm is in the process of reviewing and addressing Seals’ comments.
“Kris Seals does not speak on behalf of myself or Nolan Accounting in his comments,” Nolan said.
Seals stood by his remarks when questioned by the WITI-TV reporter, saying he has a right to say what he feels.
The Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance described Seals’ rhetoric as offensive and dangerous.
“At a time when communities are already facing increased fear and uncertainty, this kind of language from an elected official is unacceptable and harmful,” Fauzia Qureshi, executive director of the civic alliance, said in a statement. “Leaders should be working to bring people together, not fueling division or normalizing violence.”
The statement called for a public acknowledgement of the harm caused by Seals’ statements, for leaders to take “accountability measures,” and for Brookfield to reaffirm a commitment to inclusion, safety and respect for all.
The city of 41,000 is home to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee Brookfield, the primary Islamic organization in Milwaukee’s western suburbs.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a major national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called for Seals’ resignation in an emailed news release April 10.
State law and constitution limit how local government can discipline elected officials for communications made in a private capacity, Mayor Ponto, whom Seals endorsed in the recent April 7 election, said in his emailed statement to reporters.
“While I condemn his remarks in the strongest possible terms, disciplinary matters fall under the Common Council’s responsibility, and the response to the matter must be consistent with the law,” he said. “The City is evaluating what, if any, actions it could legally take in this matter.”
The Journal Sentinel reached out to the 13 other Brookfield aldermen who have served with Seals on the council the last four years. Four — Mike Hallquist, Sara Monty, Eric Fugleberg and Bill Carnell — responded or wrote public Facebook posts voicing their concern over Seals’ comments.
“The statements reported are unacceptable, they fall short of the standard for anyone holding public office,” Fugleberg told the Journal Sentinel. He said he had already reached out to the city attorney to clarify what measures are viable for the council members to hold Seals accountable in the situation.
It’s not the first time Seals sparked attention for his comments in his capacity as alderman. He faced possible censure when he said during a 2023 public meeting related to an affordable housing development that people should “live in Wauwatosa or West Allis” until they’ve worked enough to afford to live in Brookfield.
In that scenario, Seals did not face formal consequences for his statements and instead garnered support from residents.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Alderman who made ‘reprehensible’ LinkedIn posts won’t resign, mayor says
Reporting by Sophie Carson and Bridget Fogarty, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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