Teresa Shook, Founder of the Women’s March released a statement Monday calling for several prominent co-chairs to step down. In particular, Shook took aim at the organization’s Farrakhan groupies.
“Bob Bland, Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez of Women’s March, Inc. have steered the Movement away from its true course. I have waited, hoping they would right the ship. But they have not. In opposition to our Unity Principles, they have allowed anti-Semitism, anti- LBGTQIA sentiment and hateful, racist rhetoric to become a part of the platform by their refusal to separate themselves from groups that espouse these racist, hateful beliefs. I call for the current Co-Chairs to step down and to let others lead who can restore faith in the Movement and its original intent. I stand in Solidarity with all the Sister March Organizations, to bring the Movement back to its authentic purpose.”
As National Review points out, the Farrakhan love exhibited by the co-chairs has been a growing problem for the organization:
Mallory and Sarsour have been routinely criticized by public figures from across the political spectrum for praising Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who routinely espouses anti-Semitic and homophobic views to his large following. The co-chairs have also come under fire for partnering with and endorsing anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian groups.A regional chapter of Planned Parenthood disinvited Mallory from a previously scheduled speaking event in March after she attended and celebrated Farrakhan’s Saviour’s Day address in Chicago, in which he described Jewish people as “satanic” and dubbed them his “enemy.” Ten days after posting an Instagram video lauding Farrakhan for the contents of his speech, Mallory issued a statement in which she refused to condemn him and said she holds the Nation of Islam “close to [her] heart.”
Actress turned activist Alyssa Milano refuses to speak at Women’s March events until Sarsour and Mallory denounce Farrakhan’s blatant anti-semitism or step down from their currents posts. From The Independent:
Actress Alyssa Milano said she will not speak at any Women’s March events unless Women’s March co-chairs Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory either denounce Nation of Islam (NOI) Founder Louis Farrakhan’s antisemitism or step down from leadership.“I would say no at this point,” Ms Milano told the Advocate in an interview, when asked if she would speak at any future Women’s March rallies. “Unfortunate that none of them have come forward against him at this point. Or even given a really good reason why to support them.”Ms Milano, who gained national attention for her participation in the #MeToo movement, said she is disappointed in how Women’s March leadership have been silent in Mr Farrakhan’s long history of espousing antisemitic remarks.“Any time that there is any bigotry or anti-Semitism in that respect, it needs to be called out and addressed,” she added. “I’m disappointed in the leadership of the Women’s March that they haven’t done it adequately.”
As for Shook, she’s hoping to steer the Women’s March back toward “back to its authentic purpose,” saying ” As Women’s March founder, I am stepping up to bring focus back to the Unity Principles on which our movement began, and with the support of all of those who marched and have continued to march, I pledge to support grassroots, decentralized leadership promoting a safe, worldwide community devoid of hate speech, bigotry and racism.”
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