Senate Dem denounces Farrakhan’s remarks

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) ripped Louis Farrakhan early Thursday after the Nation of Islam leader said in a tweet that the “Jews have control” over government agencies.

“This is unacceptable in a progressive coalition or any political coalition. Antisemitism has no place in American society. We must reject this, left right and center,” Schatz said.  

This is unacceptable in a progressive coalition or any political coalition. Antisemitism has no place in American society. We must reject this, left right and center. https://t.co/ujcRKbBkP9

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 8, 2018

Schatz was responding to a tweet from Farrakhan posted on Wednesday.

“The FBI has been the worst enemy of Black advancement,” it said. “The Jews have control over those agencies of government.” 

The FBI has been the worst enemy of Black advancement. The Jews have control over those agencies of government. #Farrakhan pic.twitter.com/DXKCRr1zpo

— MINISTER FARRAKHAN (@LouisFarrakhan) March 7, 2018 

Farrakhan has come under fire in recent days for a speech given last month during which he said “powerful Jews” were his enemy, and said “the Jews were responsible for all of this filth and degenerate behavior that Hollywood is putting out turning men into women and women into men.”

Several Democratic lawmakers are facing backlash for their reported ties to Farrakhan and their silence in response to his remarks. 

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), a lobbying organization, on Tuesday accused Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison (Minn.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Danny Davis (Ill.), André Carson (Ind.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) and Al Green (Texas) of having ties to Farrakhan, and called for their resignations.

Davis acknowledged his connection to Farrakhan in an interview with The Daily Caller.

“I know Farrakhan, been knowing him for years and years and years and years and years, and every once in a while some writer or somebody will I guess try to think of something to say about Farrakhan, but nah, my world is so much bigger than any of that. I don’t have time for that. I deal with it, you know, when it comes but nah, that’s not a real part of my focus,” he told the outlet.

Meeks condemned Farrakhan’s remarks in a tweet, calling them “upsetting & unacceptable.”

Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic messages are upsetting & unacceptable. I always condemn hate speech of any kind. Also upsetting that right-wing blogs suggest otherwise & try making this a black vs. Jewish community issue. Still waiting for those blogs to condemn Trump’s racist remarks.

— Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) March 8, 2018

Hate is wrong and dangerous wherever it comes from. African-Americans, Jews, and far too many other groups have suffered greatly because of racism and hate in America — past and present. I will always fight to rid our nation and the world of hateful vitriol. We all should!

— Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) March 8, 2018

The Hill has reached out to the other lawmakers mentioned in the RJC statement for comment. 

Women’s March leader Tamika Mallory also faced criticism for her attendance at Farrakhan’s recent speech. 

She addressed the controversy in an op-ed on Wednesday. 

“I do not wish to be held responsible for the words of others when my own history shows that I stand in opposition to them, I also do not think it is fair to question anyone who works with me, who supports my work and who is a member of this movement because of the ways that I may have fallen short here or in any other instance,” Mallory said.

Updated Thursday at 12:55 p.m.