AJC Denounces Farrakhan Hate Letter to Jewish Organizations

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Jun 30, 2010, 12:52 ET

NEW YORK, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC denounced Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Minister Louis Farrakhan after it received a virulently anti-Semitic letter signed by Farrakhan along with two anti-Semitic books published by the NOI. The books use traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories to assert Jewish control of the African-American economy and the historic Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Reverting to a ploy he has used many times in the past, Farrakhan asked Jewish leaders for "dialogue," while at the same time accusing Jews of "the most vehement anti-Black behavior in the annals of our history in America and the world." If Jewish leaders decline his offer to help him "in the repair of my people from the damage that has been done by your ancestors to mine...," then "Allah (God) and His Messiah will bring you and your people to disgrace and ruin..."

"Farrakhan again demonstrates how central anti-Semitism remains to his organization's worldview," said Ken Stern, director of AJC's Department of Anti-Semitism and Extremism. Stern pointed out that the two new books are functional re-writes of the classic anti-Semitic fabrication, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

"Just as the Protocols blamed all that went wrong in the world on a Jewish conspiracy, these latest NOI publications are fabrications designed to blame Jews for slavery and other historic misfortunes suffered by Blacks," said Stern.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee