New York, NY, March 19, 2010 … Louis Farrakhan, the anti-Semitic and racist leader of the Nation of Islam, has "returned again to his old bigotry, and ramped up his virulently anti-Semitic rhetoric" in a series of recent speeches.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said the recent Farrakhan lectures – rife with conspiracy theories about Jews andIsrael, and Jewish control of government, finance and Hollywood– leave little doubt that "anti-Semitism and racism remain a central part of his message."
The series of three speeches, beginning with his February 28 Saviours' Day Speech and culminating with an address on March 14 at Mosque Maryam in Chicago, put Farrakhan's use of anti-Semitism on full display. Farrakhan repeated accusations that some Jews belong to a "synagogue of Satan" and that Jews control the entertainment industry, exploit Black performers for their own financial gain, and were disproportionately involved in the transatlantic slave trade.
"There is no doubt that anti-Semitism and racism remain a central part of Farrakhan's message, as well as that of the Nation of Islam," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The large crowds he attracts demonstrate that his bigotry and hate continue to be embraced. Clearly, Minister Farrakhan has returned again to his old bigotry, and ramped up his virulently anti-Semitic rhetoric."
Some selected examples from Farrakhan's recent speeches include:
- "The Federal Reserve is the synagogue of Satan, the Rockefellers, the DuPonts, the House of Rothschild, these are the people that have corrupted the entire world." -- Speech at Mosque Maryam, Chicago, 3/14/10
- "The Black man and woman have always been looked upon as the 'property' of White America; and particularly, members of the Jewish community. They've always looked at you as 'belonging' to them." -- Speech at Mosque Maryam, Chicago, 3/7/10
- "The Jewish people have said that Hollywood is theirs. Can any of you deny that they are the masters of Hollywood, where sex, lesbianism, homosexuality and violence are promoted?"-- Speech at Mosque Maryam,Chicago, 3/7/10
- "Who owns the recording companies? People who call themselves 'Jews,' but they are not Jews; they are masquerading… And the so-called Jews who run those record companies… they use you, and they've sent you all over the world degrading the culture of other nations with your filth and debauchery." -- Speech at Mosque Maryam, Chicago, 3/7/10
Anti-Semitism in the Nation of Islam (NOI) goes far beyond Farrakhan and his speeches, according to ADL. The NOI's newspaper, The Final Call, sells The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, a significant anti-Semitic work that presents a multi-layered attack against Jews, arguing essentially that slavery in the New World was initiated by Jewish ship owners and merchants.
The NOI also sells The Synagogue of Satan, an anti-Jewish screed written by NOI member Ashahed Muhammad. The foreword to the book is written by Malik Zulu Shabazz, the anti-Semitic leader of the New Black Panther Party, who maintains a close relationship with the NOI.
In his speech on March 7, Farrakhan's commentary focused on the idea that Jews who do not abide by God's word are not "real Jews" adding that "real Jews would never promote that which is against the Law of God." He cited Jews in Hollywood and the music industry as examples of Jews who are illegitimate Jews. He also accused Jews in the music industry of exploiting African-American rap artists.