Diverse collection of groups respond after ADL director equates Palestinian human rights advocates with white supremacists
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/16/2022) – Dozens of major American Muslim organizations united today to issue an unprecedented joint statement expressing their unified support for Palestinian human rights and their unified rejection of Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Director Jonathan Greenblatt’s recent “slander” against prominent Muslim, Jewish, Arab, and Palestinian human rights activists.
On Sunday, May 1, Greenblatt sparked widespread backlash by falsely equating Palestinian human rights activists with white supremacists and J6 insurrectionists.
Greenblatt also claimed that the ADL now considers any criticism of Zionism to be anti-Semitism.
SEE: Religion News Service: ADL chief’s attack on left-leaning organizations criticized as dangerous
SEE: The Nation: The ADL Goes Full Bully
SEE: Truth Out: ADL CEO Misrepresents Report on Antisemitism to Attack Palestinian Groups
SEE: The Forward: Anti-Zionism is not (necessarily) antisemitism
In response, a wide array of American Muslim organizations have come together to issue a joint statement rejecting the ADL’s attacks and expressing support for Palestinian human rights.
Signers include CAIR, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), the Islamic Networks Groups (ING), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim Advocates, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC), the Muslim Students Association (MSA National), and the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), among numerous others. Jewish, Arab and Palestinian organizations have also co-signed the statement in solidarity.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“This is a historic moment for both the American Muslim community and the broader struggle for Palestinian human rights. Major American Muslim organizations have come together to express our unified support for the human rights of all people, including Palestinians, and our united opposition to slanders against our community by voices such as ADL Director Jonathan Greenblatt.
“For far too long, American Muslims and others who support Palestinian freedom have been unfairly singled out and attacked. Comparing supporters of Palestinian human rights to white nationalists was a dangerous and disgusting lie from Mr. Greenblatt. As we were reminded over the weekend in Buffalo, white nationalists pose a unique and unprecedented threat to people of color and other minorities. People of different races, faiths and backgrounds must continue uniting to confront this threat.
“We commend our fellow Muslim community leaders and organizations for taking this important step, and we thank our Jewish, Christian, Palestinian and Arab-American friends for standing with us. All of us must now move forward, united, to advance justice for all people, including Palestinians, and counter the bigotry that threatens all of our communities.”
The ADL has faced increasing criticism for its conduct in recent years, including attacking prominent Muslim leaders like Keith Ellison, embracing the Trump Administration’s anti-Palestinian policies, attacking human rights groups like Amnesty International and discrediting Human Rights Watch for reporting Israel has become an apartheid state, supporting unconstitutional anti-boycott laws, attacking Ben & Jerry’s for ending sales in illegal settlements on Palestinian land, arranging for U.S. law enforcement to train overseas with Israeli police, standing by anti-Arab racists like Morton Klein, and joining anti-Muslim hate groups in opposing the Park51 mosque.
FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
Muslim & Allied Community Statement in Response to the ADL’s Recent Attack on Groups Supporting Palestinian Human Rights
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
We, the undersigned Muslim American organizations, express our unified support for the human rights of all people, including Palestinians. We also express our unified rejection of attempts to smear and silence members of our community who advocate for Palestinian human rights.
Far too often, Muslim Americans and others come under attack for daring to call on our nation to stop supporting the Israeli government’s human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. ADL Director Jonathan Greenblatt’s decision to attack prominent Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian human rights activists, including college students, was only the latest example of this unacceptable pattern.
This must end. Groups like the ADL must not marginalize and slander members of our community working for human rights. As Muslim Americans, we stand united with each other in upholding justice. We also stand with the Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Arab Americans, Palestinian Americans, African Americans, and many others who have been unfairly attacked for supporting justice for all.
The American Muslim community has vocally, collectively, and consistently stood up against all forms of hatred, including racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism. We have also worked closely with our friends and partners in the Jewish community and other communities to confront such threats.
That’s because our faith teaches us to support justice for all people. No matter what attacks we face, we will continue to do so–together, God willing.
Statement Endorsers:
Muslim Community Organizations
Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action)
Arizona Muslim Alliance
American Muslims for Democracy
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC)
Birmingham Interfaith Human Rights Committee
Burlington Masjid
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
Free Uyghur Now
ICNA Council for Social Justice
Islamic Center of Detroit
Islamic Center of San Diego
Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)
Islamic Networks Group (ING)
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Islamophobia Studies Center
Justice For All
Majlis Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council of New York
Mosque Foundation
MPower Change
Muslim Advocates
Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA)
Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC)
Muslim Community Network
Muslim Forum of the Pacific Northwest
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
Muslim Students Association (MSA National)
Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA)
National Muslim Law Students Association (NMLSA)
North Hudson Islamic Educational Center
San Francisco Muslim Community Center
The Mosque Cares Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
The Muslim Network
US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
Young Muslims
Allied Community Organizations
API Equality-LA
Arab American Civic Council
Asian Law Alliance
Aurora Commons
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)
Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jews Say No!
OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
Palestinian American Community Center
Palestinian Youth Movement
No Separate Justice
Peace Action
Revolutionary Love Project
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530,