Laura Smith, a supervisor in Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has resigned following backlash over a video in which she appeared to make a hand gesture resembling a Nazi salute. The video, originally posted on TikTok but since deleted (but can viewed below thanks to Reddit), sparked widespread condemnation and calls for her resignation. That has no occurred in quick order.
According to 6abc, Smith submitted her resignation on Sunday, January 26, 2025, stating in her letter to the board, “To allow the Township to move forward without the encumbrance of the fallout of my video, I tender my resignation from the Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors effective immediately.”
The Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors announced plans to hold a special meeting to accept her resignation formally. In a statement, the board emphasized, “The Board of Supervisors cannot and will not tolerate such conduct.”
The video in question showed Smith hitting her chest before extending her arm straight out with her palm facing down—a gesture that many interpreted as resembling a Nazi salute. The incident drew further attention due to its timing, coming just days after Elon Musk made a similar controversial gesture at President Trump’s inauguration.
Smith defended herself in an earlier statement, saying, “A video I posted recently to social media has been greatly mischaracterized. Not wishing to give offense, I removed the video from my accounts. I abhor racism, antisemitism, or discrimination in any fashion or form, and my record as a township supervisor attests to my commitment to treat all people with dignity and respect.”
The video and Smith’s subsequent resignation have sparked strong reactions from both the community and fellow board members.
Joyce Snyder, another member of the board, told Action News, “I want to say that I find her actions repugnant. Next, I ask her to think about her effectiveness as a leader.”
Kofi Osei, also a board member, stated, “I condemn this blatant antisemitism expressed by Laura Smith in no uncertain terms and believe she should apologize and resign.”
Jason Holtzman, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, weighed in as well, saying, “Public officials have a responsibility to ensure their words and actions do not perpetuate antisemitic propaganda and tropes. Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this Monday, January 27, it is even more important that we all make the commitment to educating ourselves on the lessons of the Holocaust and be resolute in condemning this hate in all forms.”
The incident also ignited a firestorm on Reddit, where users expressed outrage and disbelief. One user quipped, “So is this going to be MAGA’s new thing, they’re all going to start doing Nazi salutes to own the libs?” Another shared a personal experience: “I had some guy do it in my bar the other night as a ‘joke’ and I kicked him out.”
Reddit Goes in on Smith
Many users criticized the gesture as a deliberate provocation. “You can’t shame these people; it only makes them continue with more aggression,” one commenter wrote. “You call it a Nazi salute, they call it a heartfelt gesture while smiling out the other side of their mouth because they know what they are doing, but they don’t care.”
Others highlighted the need for accountability. “Let them all do it. Makes it easy,” one user said, while another added, “It is easy if they face no consistent consequences. Social ostracism only works on those who desire the approval of others. The remaining need to be taught a very different approach.” Another simply called the actions an ‘absolute disgrace.’
The Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, February 4, at 6 p.m. to formally accept Smith’s resignation. The meeting will take place at the Meeting Hall of the Municipal Complex, located at 1090 Troxel Road.
The incident has reignited conversations about the responsibilities of public officials and the importance of accountability, particularly in light of rising concerns about antisemitism and hate speech.
