Shortly after the election of Zohran Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim Mayor on November 4th, 2025, a Carmel Central School District Board of Education Trustee Michael Torpey took to his Facebook page to make a video, in which he said: "So New York City, congratulations and thank you for doing your part in the Islamic takeover of western society.”

According to reporting in the Putnam Press Times, who covered the aftermath of his Islamaphopbic comment, Michael was newly elected to the position in May. While Michael reportedly issued an apology, saying that he did not intend for his statement to be an insult to the Muslim community, the Board of Education Trustees and Carmel Central School District Superintendent of Schools "quickly denounced the comments," the article reported.

But the community was dissatisfied. Some wanted Michael Torpey to resign. On November 18th, some residents attended the Carmel Board of Education meeting to be vocalize their opinion. According to the article, the first speaker stated: "The sentiments that Mr. Torpey expressed in his video absolutely convey Islamophobia, even if presented as condescending humor dripping with sarcasm. I am outraged for the Muslim families in this school district who now have full confirmation that at least one of the elected officials intricately and powerfully involved in their children’s education holds such distain for their faith.”

Others expressed similar views. Mike Fallon stated: “These hateful comments reflect a person who is unfit to serve on the esteemed board,” he said. “Our kids deserve better than to have a board member who views them with fear and contempt, and talks trash about their culture or their spiritual beliefs, or that of their classmates.”

Over in Beacon this week, A Little Beacon Blog announced that the advocacy group Rally Middletown was expanding their weekly Pro-Palestine rallies to Wappingers Falls on Route 9 by Staples. When the article was shared on ALBB’s Facebook, most of the comments that followed were insulting, derogatory and violent. Others simply said “Free Palestine” and offered to contribute Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwiches.

Michael Torpey entered the chat when he commented: "Shut the hell up, bunch of goddamn clowns."

One reader noticed his name, and responded: "Michael Torpey: Always nice to see a school board member acting like an adult who appreciates free speech. What a great example for the kids."

“There’s an arrogance in that – in a place of privilege – that is so ignorant and so lacking compassion that is outrageous. What Mr. Torpey did was not simply free speech, it was hate speech. There’s a gigantic difference between the two.”

— Ivonne Silva, speaking about Carmel BOE Trustee Michael Torpey's November 2025 Anti-Islam comment.

Back at the November 18th, 2025 Carmel Board of Education Meeting, one speaker defended Michael's comments, stating his speech was protected under the First Amendment. While his speech may be protected, that protection does not extend to overriding the opinions of people who have decided that his tone and approach of what was spoken are not conducive to how they want their children taught or mentored.

John Maguire spoke at the Board of Education meeting, and stated: “If somebody says something you don’t like… you can either laugh or you can express your outrage. I would rather laugh.”

However, another community member, Ivonne Silva, said "the racists comments 'continue' to come from board members because leadership tolerates it. There’s an arrogance in that – in a place of privilege – that is so ignorant and so lacking compassion that is outrageous. What Mr. Torpey did was not simply free speech, it was hate speech. There’s a gigantic difference between the two.”

This week, nearly one year later, Michael's tone and approach seems not to have changed. He published his insulting comment on the Palestinian Rally article, and on his own Facebook page, he championed his ability get away with it, stating: "Marking myself safe from the woke mob that tried to remove me from my duly elected office for exercising my First Amendment rights. They tried to silence me. They tried to intimidate me. They tried to make an example out of me. They failed. This is still America. Land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you to my supporters. You know who you are. The fight goes on. 🇺🇸💪"

Back in November 2025, the Carmel Central School District Board of Education debated the removal of Michael Torpey, where some board members expressed firm resolve that his speech outside of the board did not reflect who they wanted as a board member.

A student ex-officio member of the school board named Max, also urged Torpey to resign, saying: “We have been taught since day one to be accepting and respectful as students in the Carmel School District,” Max said. “Trustee Torpey, you represent the board, you represent our district and our community. Urging for your resignation is not an opinion of people unaffected by you, it is a result of the fear you instilled in members of our community – most important the students you are expected to protect.”

The board went into Executive Session for a private meeting, and emerged with Michael stepping off the Policy Committee, but retaining his elected seat on the board. The article reported that “Hans Bernier called the inaction a disgrace.” The article quoted Hans as saying:

“Aren’t you tired of this? Every quarter we have to talk about hate speech in Carmel… When it’s the kids, obviously it’s not OK… When it’s the adults, when it’s the people on the board spitting hate and we’re having a discussion about this – this is outrageous. This man should step down.”