Florida International University
Audio By Carbonatix
Abel Alexander Carvajal, the secretary of the Miami-Dade County Republican Party, has resigned weeks after it was revealed that he created a racist group chat among Miami campus conservatives.
Earlier this month, the Floridian and the Miami Herald reported on leaked text messages allegedly exchanged in a group chat between Carvajal, Ian Valdes, president of FIU’s chapter of the conservative group TPUSA, Dariel Gonzalez, a former board member of FIU’s College Republicans, and others. Participants of the chat used variations of the n-word more than 400 times and used slurs to talk about Jewish, gay, and Black people. At one point, one chat member allegedly listed dozens of ways of violently killing Black people, including crucifying, dissecting, and beheading them.
Florida International University (FIU) is investigating the messages involving its students, which have been widely condemned by FIU leadership and Republicans across the state.
But while Carvajal initially refused to resign from his role with the Miami-Dade GOP, it now appears he has officially stepped down.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the party announced that Carvajal resigned from his role as secretary on Monday.
“As Chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, I want to state clearly: racism and antisemitism have no place in our Republican Party,” the statement reads. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
It is unclear who will replace Carvajal or when.
Carvajal, who in late January was appointed to a two-year role on the City of Hialeah’s Planning and Zoning Board, confirmed to the Floridian that the group chat in question was his, but denied any knowledge of the incendiary comments. Days after the group chat was leaked, Hialeah mayor Bryan Calvo confirmed to New Times via text message that Carvajal had resigned from the board.
As previously reported by the Herald, the majority of the Miami-Dade GOP’s board voted to request Carvajal’s resignation, but Carvajal for weeks refused to step down.
“No action has been taken to remove me from board. If you have been told otherwise, that is a blatant falsehood,” he previously told the Herald. “I have received the support of countless members of Miami-Dade [Republican Executive Committee] — who have known me for several years and know who I truly am.”
But in a statement sent to New Times via text message on Monday afternoon, Carvajal said he “did not want to put our party through a contentious meeting or prolong this situation.” He added that he is also suing FIU, alleging First Amendment retaliation. The suit appears to have been filed by former Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who is also representing the University of Florida’s College Republicans chapter over its recent disbandment.
“I want to state simply that I had to take a decision which was in the best interest of our party,” Carvajal wrote. “I want to keep our party out of this. I want our party to move forward.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated as events warrant.
