This week, the Women’s March has faced a backlash over its affiliation with Farrakhan and criticism of Tamika Mallory, the co-chairwoman of the march. This article discusses Mallory’s relationship with Farrakhan and her support of homophobia. It also addresses Planned Parenthood’s position on the Women’s March.
Tamika Mallory’s anti-Semitism
The Women’s March is facing a number of allegations ranging from anti-Semitism to mishandling of funds. The national organization has also been accused of allowing the Nation of Islam to serve as security at their rallies. The co-chairs of the march do not seem to have had the Jewish community’s concerns in mind when they decided to recruit these leaders. Several Jewish women have declined to attend the Women’s March.
As a result, some black leaders and writers have criticized Mallory for her ties with Farrakhan. One such person is former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett. She said, “It’s part of the process that you work with people you disagree with.” However, Mallory is proud of her affiliation with Farrakhan and has no indication that her reputation would be damaged by it.
Despite the backlash, Mallory has refused to distance herself from the anti-Semitic Nation of Islam. In fact, she has boasted of her three-decade association with the group. She also said that she has a “passion for activism” and believes that historically oppressed groups must stand together.
On the other hand, Mallory also attacked a prominent Jewish organization that has been associated with the NOI. While she did not specifically name the ADL in her tweet, she also accused it of attacking black people. While it’s unclear whether Mallory intended to target the Jewish group or Louis Farrakhan, the tone of her comments was clear.
Farrakhan and Mallory have been accused of racism. While they are not Jewish, they are still black people. Farrakhan and Mallory are both exemplars of conspiratorial anti-Semitism. The anti-Semitic language of both groups is a source of shame.
Some of the Women’s March leadership has taken the issue of anti-Semitism in the movement seriously. However, Alyssa Milano and Linda Sarsour have both refused to speak at Women’s March events. The co-chairs of the Women’s March have also failed to denounce Louis Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic views.
Prominent progressives have criticized the Women’s March leadership over accusations of anti-Semitism and racism. They argued that the controversy weakens the Women’s March’s efforts to be an intersectional movement. However, organizers countered that the controversy reflected the difficulty of mobilizing different groups.
Tamika Mallory’s relationship with Louis Farrakhan
Mallory has a long history of association with Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam. Farrakhan is widely considered one of the nation’s leading anti-Semites, and Mallory has often praised the Nation of Islam leader on social media. In February 2018, she attended a speech given by Farrakhan that featured slurs against Jews. She also promoted the speech on social media. The resulting controversy has resulted in the disassociation of many affiliates of the Women’s March, Inc.
Tamika Mallory has also been a frequent attendee of Nation of Islam events, and she lavishly praises Farrakhan on social media. At the February “Saviours Day” speech, Farrakhan said that Jews control Hollywood, the media, and most of Europe. This statement is a clear case of anti-Semitism, but many have questioned Mallory’s role in such a movement.
The anti-Semitic criticism of Mallory stems from her relationship with the founder of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan is a black nationalist with a long history of controversial comments against the Jewish community. Another prominent anti-Semitic activist, Linda Sarsour, has also been accused of anti-Semitism by Jewish activists. Farrakhan’s supporters have advocated BDS, or boycott, which they consider anti-Semitic.
Tamika Mallory was the executive director of the National Action Network from 2009 to 2013. She joined NAN at age eleven and became a volunteer staff member by age 15. She was elected the youngest Executive Director of the NAN in 2011, and was forced to step down from the position in 2013. But she continues to work with the organization and has been in contact with Farrakhan since.
Despite Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic comments and his following in the black community, Mallory has refused to criticize the Nation of Islam leader. Farrakhan has long been a fixture in the black community. It is unlikely that he will ever leave.
Tamika Mallory’s support for homophobia
The Women’s March has not issued an official statement following Mallory’s comments on the issue, but many of its leaders have spoken out. One such leader, Symone Sanders, who served as the national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, deleted a tweet that described Mallory as an “anti-Semite.” Sanders wrote that “[Mallory] is not an anti-Semite” and cautioned against using the term “callously” in the future.
While the Women’s March has a history of condemning anti-Semitism and homophobia, Mallory’s remarks were still controversial. She had attended an event featuring Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has been accused of homophobia and anti-Semitism. She also promoted the speech on social media. Farrakhan’s speech contained homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks. Since then, several Women’s March affiliates have disassociated themselves from the national organization because of Mallory’s comments.
A former college student turned politician, Mallory is the co-president of the Women’s March, a protest against President Trump’s election. The March is expected to attract 60,000 people in Washington, D.C. Mallory is a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA rights and of health care reform.
In February, Mallory attended a speech by Louis Farrakhan, who is notoriously homophobic. Farrakhan has repeatedly spoken out against Jews, homosexuals, and the LGBTQ community. As a result, Mallory’s silence over the incident has sparked a backlash from feminists who feel she is complicit in Farrakhan’s bigotry.
While Mallory’s statement came as a blow to the organization’s image, it is worth noting that the Women’s March has been trying to rehabilitate itself since the controversy arose. The organization has pledged to increase the number of women participating in the march, create a 30-person steering committee, and reform its Unity Principles. It has also appointed Mallory as national co-chair, alongside Linda Sarsour and Bob Bland.
While Mallory has repeatedly said that she disagrees with some of Farrakhan’s views, some have questioned whether she should distance herself from his anti-Semitic views. On Thursday, she met with Jewish community leaders and UNCA students and staff to discuss the issues. In her response to a question about whether or not she should distance herself from Farrakhan, Mallory said, “I can still represent the values of Martin Luther King,” adding that she did not condemn Farrakhan or apologize for his anti-semitic remarks.
Planned Parenthood’s stand with Women’s March
A recent investigation found that the leaders of the Women’s March had ties to the Nation of Islam, which is known for its anti-Semitic and racist views. Despite this, Planned Parenthood stands by the organization. In fact, its communications director, Erica Sackin, told left-wing website Refinery29 that “Planned Parenthood supports the Women’s March in its commitment to reproductive health and human rights.”
Whether these allegations are true or not, Planned Parenthood’s stand is controversial. The organization has previously been accused of bribing its staff with free marketing, but the organization has denied this. This has caused controversy among activists and dissenters alike.
Despite the criticism, Mallory has spoken out in the past about Farrakhan, calling him an “honorable” leader. The organization’s chapter in the Washington, D.C., has yet to respond to the Washington Free Beacon’s request for comment.
The Women’s March continued to gain in popularity in 2016 and 2017, rallying against the Trump administration and women’s candidates for midterm elections. In February 2018, the organization reemerged under the national spotlight after allegations of anti-Semitism were made. While the leadership of the Women’s March disavowed Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic statements, many criticized the Women’s March response for being too slow and not going far enough. Moreover, Mallory and Carmen Perez have been accused of making anti-Semitic statements in planning meetings and later appeared on “The View” to defend Farrakhan.
In the wake of the recent controversy, several prominent organizations with progressive views have dropped their support of the Women’s March. Among them, the NAACP, the Center for American Progress, and the Human Rights Campaign. This includes the Democratic National Committee, which has suspended its affiliation with the organization. Several other prominent women’s rights groups have also withdrawn support from the event.
