Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, once again, finds himself at the center of controversy after Jewish leaders and black elected officials alike expressed trepidations about a recent speech he made before an overflowing Detroit congregation.
Jewish leaders immediately blasted Farrakahn’s remarks, which included such references as “Satanic Jews” and the “synagogue of Satan” as anti-Semitic, while some black leaders condemned them as “having no place in civilized discourse.”
Throughout much of his speech, Farrakahn went on to intimate that both those groups now control most all major U.S. institutions and that even President Obama labors to appease them by “surrounding himself with Satan… members of the Jewish community.”
U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Detroit was among those in attendance for the speech delivered at Fellowship Chapel and after several days of remaining mum, he too has stepped forward to separate himself from some of its controversial overtones.
Conyers apologized this week for his participation and in a statement added: “Farrakhan made unacceptable racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic statements, which I condemn in the strongest possible terms. It was my expectation that Minister Farrakhan's speech would focus on the many challenges facing the City of Detroit.”
While in the Motor City, Farrakhan also denounced city government for abandoning crime, violence, and taking away the rights of the voting public. In that same speech before the City Council, he urged religious and city leaders, not to mention the overwhelming black population, to join him in a proposed plan to buy up neglected city property in a massive effort to revitalize a town now under state emergency.
"Why do they say that Farrakhan is anti-Semitic? I'm 80 years old," Farrakhan said in his speech. “I’ve never been arrested, not even for spitting on a sidewalk. ... Is there a Jewish synagogue I've defaced?"
Nevertheless, Heidi Budaj, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, immediately denounced the overall essence of the Minister’s message as anti-Semitic. “It is disappointing that so many Detroit leaders are apparently so willing to turn a blind eye to Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism,” he said. “Where are the voices in our community who are willing to stand up and say ‘no to anti-Semitism and racism?”
Besides Conyers, at least one of Farrakahn’s speeches was attended by Council member JoAnn Watson and the Rev. Wendell Anthony, head of the NAACP's Detroit branch.
"We acknowledge the significant challenges that Detroit faces," Budaj said. "Providing a platform to an individual with a long history of promoting anti-Semitism and racism is not the solution."
Farrakhan's visit to Detroit came as the city was preparing for major changes under state-appointed emergency financial manager Kevyn Orr.
Well intentioned as his acts may be, even Conyers seem to agree that some of his rhetoric may cross the line.
"The fact that Minister Farrakhan has engaged in important charitable work aimed at expanding economic opportunities for underserved communities does not excuse these statements," Conyers said. "I sincerely offer my apologies to my constituents and others who also may have been offended by the minister's words."
The now Chicago-based Nation of Islam was founded in 1930. Its central message of Black Nationalism remains ultra-popular in Detroit, where 83 percent of the population remains African American. In a speech he gave six years before, Farrakhan drew an overflow of more than 50,000 to Ford Field.
During his trip to Detroit, Farrakhan also spoke before the City Council and at New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church.