The Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) called for the removal of Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, the Nation of Islam's representative on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's hate crimes commission, following Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's remarks at a Feb. 26 event at the United Center.
In a letter to Blagojevich, Lonnie Nasatir, regional director of ADL's Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Region, requested that Muhammad ( also known as Claudette Marie Johnson ) , be removed, according to an ADL release. 'The Nation of Islam is a voice that is interested in sowing discord and hatred, not unity and acceptance,' Nasatir wrote. 'It is a voice that has articulated hate and bigotry for over thirty years and will continue to do so.'
Farrakhan delivered a speech on the Nation of Islam's Saviours' Day. Muhammad had invited other members of the commission to the speech; Nasatir, who has since resigned from the commission, declined. In a talk with Windy City Times, Nasatir called the invitation 'inappropriate' and did not think it was right to be invited to hear someone 'put down my people.' When asked about considering Muhammad as her own person ( separate from Farrakhan ) , Nasatir responded that 'she could be the nicest person in the world, but there is guilt by association.'
Equality Illinois's Rick Garcia, who did attend the three-hour speech, commented that the discourse was 'vintage Farrakhan' and a mixed bag for the LGBT community. Regarding Muhammad being on the commission, he said that ' [ s ] o far, she has been nothing but the embodiment of what the committee should be about,' noting that she initiated a move to have the governor issue a proclamation welcoming participants of the upcoming Gay Games to Illinois.
However, the appointment is also being attacked by political candidates. In a release, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Edwin Eisendrath said that ' [ y ] ou can't play politics with intolerance and hate' and that ' [ t ] he governor has done serious damage to the commission. Now whether he dumps Ms. Muhammad or not, the commission is dysfunctional and its mission compromised.'
Two leading Jewish members ( including Nasatir ) resigned from the commission, refusing to serve alongside Muhammad. Along with Nasatir, Richard Hirschhaut, director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, stepped down. Responding to Nasatir's resignation, Blagojevich named Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, to the open seat.