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Kellyanne Conway Literally Fabricated A Massacre To Justify Trump's Immigration Ban

Um, the "Bowling Green Massacre" never happened.
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Kellyanne Conway, an adviser to President Donald Trump, cited a nonexistent massacre to justify his highly controversial immigration ban.

Speaking to Chris Matthews on MSNBC on Thursday night, Conway said:

“I bet it’s brand-new information to people that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here to this country, were radicalized and were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre. Most people don’t know that because it didn’t get covered.”

It also never happened.

Conway, who last month described the Trump administration’s spin as “alternative facts,” appears to be referring to an incident in 2011 when two Iraqi refugees were arrested in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Mohanad Shareef Hammadi and Waad Ramadan Alwan believed they were sending money and weapons to al Qaeda in Iraq when in fact, they were caught in an FBI sting operation.

While Hammadi and Alwan were convicted in 2013 of terrorism and are currently imprisoned, there was no massacre in Bowling Green nor were they accused of planning or attempting one.

There was also no “ban” on the refugee program. As Business Insider reported, the Obama administration delayed processing refugees as it expanded screening measures; refugees already in the country were re-screened. Iraqi refugees continued to enter the country, just at a slower pace.

Soon after Conway cited it, “Bowling Green Massacre” began trending on Twitter:

RT if you died in the Bowling Green Massacre.

— Alex Amadeo 🇨🇱🇵🇷 (@Irelay) February 3, 2017

“I learned about the Bowling Green Massacre from my boyfriend George… George Glass.” pic.twitter.com/gNODZmFeS6

— Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) February 3, 2017

We were told to #neverforget, but we forgot! We completely forgot the bowling green massacre!

— Ryan Gregson (@dreemteeth) February 3, 2017

Mark Wahlberg screaming at his agent, “I WANT A FAHCKIN' BOWLING GREEN MASSACRE SCRIPT YESTERDAY!"

— Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) February 3, 2017

"Bowling Green Massacre" pic.twitter.com/42lBpoO3RR

— Ashley (@loudined) February 3, 2017

so sad to hear about the bowling green massacre, so soon after the lacrosse genocide

— Cynn (@n_cynn) February 3, 2017

More people would have attended the @realDonaldTrump inauguration but they all died in the Bowling Green Massacre. Sad.

— TheGreatStateofAda (@VoteMorales) February 3, 2017

@tonyposnanski Footage of the bowling green massacre. pic.twitter.com/7pDroJX6hK

— Victory In Love (@VictoryInLove) February 3, 2017

Devastated to learn that Manti Te'o's girlfriend was one of the victims lost in the Bowling Green Massacre.

— Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) February 3, 2017

For every RT this tweet gets I will personally donate one imaginary dollar to the victims of the Bowling Green Massacre.

— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) February 3, 2017

The Bowling Green Massacre was a very serious massacre that did an amazing job of massacring and is getting recognized more and more

— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) February 3, 2017

Bowling Green Massacre pic.twitter.com/sNNCssTgCD

— Dave Lozo (@davelozo) February 3, 2017

the Bowling Green Massacre sounds like some sports thing from the 20s that George Will knows too much about

— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) February 3, 2017

One still shudders to think how bad the Bowling Green massacre would've been if not for the heroic intervention of Fred Douglass.

— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) February 3, 2017

Thank you, @KellyannePolls for reminding us about the famous Bowling Green Massacre, which occurred on February 30th at 13:00.

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) February 3, 2017

*takes a long drag off cigarette*

ay, lads. i remember the bowling green massacre as if it were just made up today.

— Alex Alvarez (@soalexgoes) February 3, 2017
Conway attempted to clarify her statement Friday morning:

On @hardball @NBCNews @MSNBC I meant to say "Bowling Green terrorists" as reported here:
https://t.co/nB5SwIEoYI

— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) February 3, 2017

Conway called it an “honest mistake” and attempted to deflect criticism by citing journalists who fell for fabricated stories.

1/2: Honest mistakes abound. Last night, prominent editor of liberal site apologized for almost running a story re: tweet from fake account

— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) February 3, 2017

2/2: yet won't name him, attack him, get the base 2 descend upon him. Same with MLKJr bust fake story. It's called class, grace, deep breath

— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) February 3, 2017

This story has been updated with tweets from Conway.

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