New York, NY, September 29, 2000…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has told Sen. Lieberman that if he were to meet Louis Farrakhan, he would be legitimizing a bigot, an anti-Semite and a racist, who continues to spout his message of hate. Following Sen. Lieberman’s comment on a radio program that he would be willing to meet the head of the extremist Nation of Islam, ADL leaders wrote to the Senator urging him to reject Minister Farrakhan as have Vice President Gore and Gov. George W. Bush.

In their September 27 letter, Howard P. Berkowitz, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, raised their concern about Lieberman’s comments "expressing admiration for Minister Louis Farrakhan and your stated intention to meet with him." The League leaders reminded the Senator that "Minister Farrakhan and his Nation of Islam have spread the message of Black separatism and anti-gay, anti-Catholic, racist and anti-Semitic bigotry throughout the United States and the world."

Both Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush have rejected Minister Farrakhan’s message of hate and understand that anything less would grant "unmerited legitimacy" to Farrakhan.

Mr. Berkowitz and Mr. Foxman said over the last three days they had discussions with the Senator’s staff in hopes that Sen. Lieberman would reconsider his position. "We still hope he will," they said.

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.