MEDIA RELEASE

RACIST FARRAKHAN NOT WELCOME SAYS JEWISH GROUP WHICH WARNS ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY OF ATTEMPT TO HIJACK BLACK ISSUES

The following statement was issued by the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission Executive Director Danny Ben-Moshe

The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission views with grave concern the potential visit to Australia of Louis Farrakhan who has established himself as one of the most dangerous purveyors of hate of our time.

Farrakhan’s contempt for Jews, Christians and Whites is clearly established through statements such as:

• On Jews: "Narrow-minded, common Jews… The Jews cannot defeat me so I will grind them and crush them into little bits." – Louis Farrakhan, Flushing New York, May 21, 1988;

• On Whites: "You [white people] are wicked and you fear in the sickness of your mind that you must control everybody because everybody is inferior and only white people have a right to rule. I say you’re sick and need a doctor or you need to be buried." – Louis Farrakhan, Washington Convention Center, July 22, 1985;

• On Christians: "Christians preach love and practice hate and tyranny, use God to cover up their corrupt and dirty practices." – Louis Farrakhan, Northeastern University, April 20, 1985.

It is the view of the ADC, and this assessment was provided to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in an oral briefing earlier this year, that in Australia Farrakhan would:

• Seek to exploit the Aboriginal issue to his own advantage, hijacking it as part of his ‘black’ agenda;

• Undertake some kind of media stunt to win the high profile media coverage he seeks; and

• In an attempt to portray himself as an international statesman he would seek to meet with leading political figures. A visit to Australia would be as part of his ‘world tour’.

The ADC has prepared a background briefing paper for political and Aboriginal leaders likely to be approached by Farrakhan. The ADC will be strongly advising the Aboriginal community of the dangers of being exploited by Farrakhan for his political goals. The ADC will protest his visit in every legal way possible.

The ADC welcomes the consultation process undertaken by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in handling inquiries about a visa application by Farrakhan. The Department has to date demonstrated an understanding of and sensitivity to the issues involved.

The ADC is a national Jewish anti-racism organisation which specialises in the monitoring of extremist groups.

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