(LOS ANGELES, CA – 10/25/2022) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the antisemitic statements made by American rapper and singer Kanye West, as well as the show of support for his remarks by demonstrators in Southern California over the weekend.
West recently made a series of antisemitic outbursts on Twitter, with the most notable being on Oct. 8. Although the social media platform eventually deleted the disturbing Tweets and locked his account, his statements were shared widely and echoed by neo-Nazis both online and in person, culminating in demonstrators mimicking the Nazi salute while standing behind banners displaying “Kanye West is right about the Jews” on the 405-freeway overpass.
SEE:
· Beverly Hills police investigating anti-Semitic flyers in the area
· In LA: Flyers Blame Jews for Gun Control; Hate Banners Draped on I-405 Overpass
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“We are appalled by this disgusting display of antisemitism, particularly as it comes from a prominent figure in the media. Kanye West’s antisemitic statements have contributed to the already alarming rise in antisemitism that we are seeing in our society and must not be tolerated. The resulting show of support for his statements is a disturbing reminder that hate must be collectively condemned and never allowed to become socially normalized, or else it will embolden others to act on their biases.
“We appreciate Mayor Eric Garcetti’s response to the matter and will continue to stand in full solidarity with our Jewish neighbors as they face this growing antisemitism.”
As a result of the increase in hate and bullying targeting people of faith as well as those of African, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, immigrant, Middle Eastern descent, CAIR-LA recently launched the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying to address these incidents more proactively.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 or click here to file a report.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com