BIGOTRY WATCH : Disgusting Diatribe

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has assailed the evil, racist and anti-Semitic message spread recently at a New Jersey college by a representative of Louis Farrakhan. Jackson’s welcome condemnation should help check the spread of such ignorant and harmful diatribes.

Jackson has also called on Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, to respond. Farrakhan insists that he wants to reach out to Jews. He says he is trying to present a more tolerant image. One way he could demonstrate his sincerity would be to denounce his representative, Khalid Abdul Muhammed, for the vitriolic remarks in which he irrationally and specifically blamed Jews for the ills of the world, attacked the Pope and advocated killing white South Africans including women and babies.

Is this what Farrakhan himself believes? He, too, has said some despicable things about Jews, particularly during Jackson’s 1984 campaign for the presidency. Recently, however, he has insisted he is respectful. Here’s a chance for him to prove it.

Many legitimate black leaders, most notably U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, Ben Chavis of the NAACP, William Gray of the United Negro College Fund and Mary Francis Berry, who heads the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, have publicly deplored the demagoguery. Their strong stance is admirable.

Hatemongers come in all colors. Bigotry knows no boundaries. The black Muslim who spewed this garbage should be muzzled by Farrakhan and condemned by all.