Women’s March leader Tamika Mallory, who has herself been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism, rushed to the defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) late Tuesday, decrying allegations that Omar is virulently anti-Semitic and smearing Omar’s critics as “racist” and abusive.
Omar has been repeatedly caught using anti-Semitic slurs. Most recently, though, Omar tweeted that she believed her Congressional colleagues were under the spell of AIPAC, the “American Israeli Political Action Committee” and that they profited greatly from Jewish money, which led them to represent Jewish interests. Omar was roundly criticised for the tweet, by both Republicans and her Democratic colleagues, who demanded she apologize.
But Women’s March leaders, including Sarsour — who rushed to Omar’s defense Monday — and Mallory lashed out at Omar’s critics on both sides of the aisle, demanding Omar be heard and respected, even if her views are abhorrent.
Mallory posted her critiques on both Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter, Mallory ranted endlessly about President Donald Trump and Republicans, whom she claimed were “trying to destroy” power women of color.
“I can’t sit back silently as a Black woman and watch the attacks on @IlhanMN. I am sick and tired of watching Black and Brown women be used as scapegoats for white nationalism. Enough is a DAMN-NOUGH. We must all speak up and speak out,” Mallory tweeted.
“Trump has the nerve to be telling anyone to resign. He is a racist, abuser, colluding with foreign countries, alleged corruption, stripping LGBTQIA ppl of rights, caging babies, targeting the undocumented, banning Muslims. He needs to take several seats & look in the DAMN MIRROR,” she continued.
“Trump has promoted hate, antisemitic conspiracy theories that I learned about that inspired white supremacists to engage in violence against Jewish people. He is the most powerful man in this country and his words matter. A BBC reporter was beat up just yesterday at his rally,” Mallory went on.
“Women of color are held to unreachable standards and scrutinized in a way no one else is. People have said and done way worst. We are also not given benefit of the doubt. Just based on who we are, people assume ill will. This is NOT okay. There’s racism at play,” she added.
“We all have much to learn about all forms of racism,” Mallory continued. “But if we keep going down this route by trying to destroy progressive women of color meanwhile giving a pass to white supremacy we will not be able to build a nation for all of us and win in 2020. We can’t allow this to go on.”
Finally, Mallory wrapped up her rant by expressing complete support for Omar and her fellow Women’s March leader, Linda Sarsour: “I will stand with Ilhan, they will not break us. No matter what they try to do we will stand bolder, stronger and more determined. #StandWithIlhan #IstandwithLinda.”
Mallory, of course, is no stranger to anti-Semitism. In a pair of exposés, published late last year, Mallory was revealed to have pushed out Jewish women who helped found the Women’s March, “confronting” them in foundational meetings over what she considered to be Jewish “racism” — ideas Mallory apparently gleaned from her close relationship with the virulently anti-Semitic preacher, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
The Women’s March has its own cozy relationship with the Nation of Islam, but Mallory’s relationship may be even cozier. She has referred to Farrakhan as the “GOAT,” or “greatest of all time,” credits Farrakhan with improving minority communities, and has visited Farrakhan’s Chicago mosque several times. Last year, she was in the audience for the group’s annual “Savior’s Day” event, when Farrakhan preached that the Jewish people were the spawn of Satan.
Mallory has never denounced Farrakhan, and she and the other Women’s March leaders have made no effort to break their relationship with Farrakahan’s organization, despite issuing a handful of vague, mealy-mouthed “apologies,” for their open embrace of Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic behavior.