Louis Farrakhan addresses Detroit City Council on May 17. [AP photo]
It's no secret that Minister Louis Farrakhan isn't fond of the Jews.
Still, the regional chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is disturbed that Detroit's black leaders who attended Farrakhan's speech last Friday "turned a blind eye" to his anti-Semitic rantings at the Fellowship Chapel in Detroit, according to Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press. Farrakhan heads the Nation of Islam.
In classic Farrakhan-speak, he referred May 17 to “Satanic Jews” and the “Synagogue of Satan,” which he said controlled major institutions in the U.S, the Freep reported. He also claimed President Barack Obama “surrounded himself with Satan . . . members of the Jewish community.”
The ADL wants local figures to step up and condemn his remarks.
“It is deeply disappointing that so many Detroit leaders are apparently so willing to turn a blind eye to Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism,” Heidi Budaj, regional director of the Michigan branch of the Anti-Defamation League, told Warikoo. “Where are the voices in our community who are willing to stand up and say ‘no’ to racism and anti-Semitism?”
Attending Farrakhan’s speech were the pastor of the church, Rev. Wendell Anthony, who heads the Detroit Branch NAACP; U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Detroit; Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, and other religious and political leaders, the Free Press reported.
Anthony, Watson, Conyers and Farrakhan’s office did not return Freep calls for comment.
