The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an “unhinged, racist rant” by Anti-Defamation League (ADL) national director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who was reportedly caught on tape denigrating the Black Lives Matter movement and equating pro-Palestinian student protesters to ISIS and Al-Qaeda during a speech to Republican attorneys general.
SEE: Exclusive: ADL chief compares student protesters to ISIS and al-Qaeda in address to Republican officials – The Forward
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) similarly condemned Greenblatt’s bigoted remarks.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We strongly condemn ADL Director Jonathan Greenblatt’s unhinged, racist rant attacking Black, Arab and Muslim Americans during a speech to Republican attorneys general.
“Although Mr. Greenblatt’s vile remarks are nothing new for the ADL, it is long past time for this organization to fire him and stop smearing Black, Palestinian and Muslim activists in a transparent attempt to protect the genocidal Israeli government from legitimate criticism.”
“At a time when the world increasingly recognizes the genocide that the Israeli government has been committing against the Palestinian people, Greenblatt and the ADL are desperate to justify Israel’s war crimes and attack voices of conscience in various communities. This must end.”
Last year, CAIR joined 60 American Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and allied organizations in strongly condemn Greenblatt for hateful, dangerous attacks he has launched on the Palestinian-American community and supporters of Palestinians human rights during recent appearances on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, as well as the ADL’s pattern of targeting diverse communities.
Also last year, CAIR commended Georgia Rep. Ruwa Romman for publicly exposing a racist anti-Palestinian incident involving Greenblatt.
CAIR said this is part of a pattern for the ADL. For far too long, the organization has launched dishonest attacks on Black Americans, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, and others who stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people.
The ADL has also platformed anti-Muslim hate speakers like Pastor John Hagee, shared the same stage as anti-Palestinian racists, dehumanized Palestinians by justifying the Israeli government’s attacks on civilians in Gaza, questioned the Palestinian death toll, pressured colleges and other institutions to silence students who peacefully advocate for Palestinian freedom, and downplayed hate crimes against Palestinian-Americans. The ADL did not even initially acknowledge the Palestinian identity of six-year-old hate crime victim Wadea Al-Fayoume.
This pattern of behavior must end.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
