Tampa Cartoonist Defends Gaza Sketch After Job Loss

Bob Whitmore, a Tampa-based political cartoonist, lost his position at Creative Loafing after the newspaper's corporate parent company deemed a recent drawing antisemitic. The dispute centers on a cartoon depicting a starving child in Gaza. Whitmore spoke to WMNF on Wednesday to explain the image and the subsequent reaction.

The cartoon shows a small child standing against one of the walls of Gaza. Barbed wire runs across the top of the structure. In the distance, the Israeli flag flutters in the wind. The caption reads 'Wailing wall.' The child cries out, 'Please give me food.'

Whitmore stated that the work was intended as a reference to the starvation occurring in Gaza. He noted that critics interpreted the visual elements as a political statement against the war. However, the corporate leadership at Creative Loafing classified the piece as antisemitic after receiving criticism from readers.

The cartoonist described the controversy as a numbers game. He argued that dissent against Israel's actions in Gaza should not be considered antisemitism. Whitmore emphasized that the drawing focused on the immediate suffering of children rather than broader political narratives.

Whitmore produces a weekly political cartoon for WMNF. His work often addresses local politics, culture, and the specific personalities in Tampa. He also created a design for a WMNF t-shirt and poster. For the 2026 Spring Fund Drive running from February 18 to 25, he illustrated WMNF volunteers, staff, and programmers in his signature playful style.