Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
We welcome Barack Obama's condemnation of the anti-Semitic
rhetoric of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and his making clear
that he did not agree with his church's decision to honor
Farrakhan with the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award.
Issues of racism and anti-Semitism must be beyond the bounds
of politics. When someone close to a political figure shows
sympathy and support for an individual who makes his name
espousing bigotry, that political figure needs to distance
himself from that decision. Senator Obama has done just that.
For nearly 30 years as the leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan has repeatedly made hateful statements targeting Jews, whites and homosexuals. Farrakhan's bigoted and anti-Semitic rhetoric has included statements calling whites "blue eyed devils" and Jews "bloodsuckers" that controlled the slave trade, the government, the media and various Black individuals and organizations.
More information, and the ADL report, Louis Farrakhan: In His Own Words is available on the League's Web site at http://www.adl.org/main_Nation_of_Islam/default.htm
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ADL neither supports nor opposes any candidate for political office.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
