Jews, the Nation of Islam and the Discrimination and Hate Crimes Commission

Dave McKinney:

Gov. Blagojevich's anti-discrimination panel seethed with acrimony Thursday as two leading Jewish members resigned, refusing to serve alongside a Nation of Islam official who was unwilling to condemn controversial remarks by Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Lonnie Nasatir, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, and Richard Hirschhaut, director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, stepped down from the governor's Discrimination and Hate Crimes Commission after Blagojevich refused to oust his embattled appointee, Claudette Marie Johnson.

Also known as Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, Johnson is the Nation of Islam's minister of protocol who has resisted calls to criticize Farrakhan for his weekend Saviours' Day speech.

At a packed United Center on Sunday, Farrakhan hit "Hollywood Jews" for "promoting lesbianism, homosexuality" and other "filth." He also said conservatives and Zionists manipulated President Bush into war.

"When she didn't come out and repudiate these incredibly bombastic, insulting and racist remarks, it really left me no option but to distance myself and recuse myself from the commission. We won't be silent in the face of bigotry," Nasatir said.

"It's a sad time for us. But at the same time, we felt this was an appropriate course given the lack of repudiation and leadership by this administration," he said.

Reacting quickly to Nasatir's midday resignation, Blagojevich issued a tersely worded statement naming Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) to the open seat. The statement failed to recognize Nasatir's unpaid service but praised Lang.

"The administration continues to support the important work of the hate crimes commission. We accept Mr. Nasatir's resignation and are naming Rep. Lou Lang to take Mr. Nasatir's place. We appreciate Rep. Lang's support for combating discrimination and hatred," Blagojevich said.

No announcement emerged from the governor's office in response to Hirschhaut's resignation.

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