Keith Ellison has a Medium post denying his extensive history with Farrakhan's Nation of Islam. The post, with its references to MLK and Heschel is very blatantly aimed at liberal Jews.
Too bad it's a bizarre series of distortions, evasions and lies.
Ellison treats his time with the Nation of Islam as a conspiracy invented by the right to divide blacks and Jews. And claims that his only association with the NOI was the Million Man March.
Over the last few weeks, some political opponents have been pushing the narrative that I am somehow connected to a man named Louis Farrakhan. It’s not true. Mr. Farrakhan leads a group called the Nation of Islam and is best known for organizing the 1995 Million Man March. He’s also well-known for his anti-Semitism.
If you are a Black man from my generation, you remember the march. A huge number of Black men from all across America came to Washington to alert lawmakers to the social and economic problems facing our communities. I helped organize the march in my local community in Minneapolis. And I marched in it, along with civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson.
After the march, Mr. Farrakhan’s disparaging views on Jewish people, women and the LGBT community became clearer to me. I’ve since spoken about why I believe Mr. Farrakhan’s views ultimately divide our society.
I don't understand why Ellison would write this when there's extensive documented evidence of his time in the Nation of Islam and his defense of its anti-Semitism.
Scott Johnson at Powerline assembled a very extensive background of Ellison's NOI ties. Much of it has been documented in newspapers.
1989–Ellison publishes the first of two articles in the University of Minnesota Daily under the alias “Keith Hakim.” In the first such article, Ellison speaks up for the Nation of Islam.
1995–Ellison supports Million Man March, appears at organizing rally with former Nation of Islam spokesman Khalid Muhammed at University of Minnesota. Ellison acts as local Nation of Islam leader in march at office of U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis protesting indictment of Qubilah Shabazz for conspiring to murder Louis Farrakhan. Ellison charges FBI with conspiring to murder Farrakhan. Ellison writes article under alias “Keith X Ellison” attacking Star Tribune for criticizing Louis Farrakhan.
1997–Ellison appears under alias “Keith Ellison-Muhammad” at Minnesota Initiative Against Racism hearing in support of Joanne Jackson. Ellison defends “the truth” of Jackson’s statement that “Jews are the most racist white people.” This is the Star Tribune’s article on the controversy, which refers to Ellison’s statement:
The name change to Muhammad is fairly typical of NOI members.
1998–Ellison first runs for DFL endorsement for state representative. Ellison identifies himself as member of Nation of Islam in Insight News article on his candidacy. Ellison runs for endorsement under alias “Keith Ellison-Muhammad.”
That's a span of time covering 9 years.
The run in '98 took place years after the Million Man March.
Ellison was not only well aware of the Nation of Islam's views on Jews, but had defended its anti-Semitism in documented articles.
Contrast that with his claims on Medium.
"I ran for Congress more than a decade ago because I imagined a more inclusive, tolerant, and welcoming America," he begins. He claims, "Fighting for inclusion is what my service in politics is all about."
That and the NOI's racism.
And, back in 1989, Keith Ellison was already being condemned for anti-Semitism. The Minnesota Daily opinion editor, Michael Olenick, described Ellison’s writing as "a genuine threat to the long-term safety and well-being of the Jewish people, a threat that history dictates must not be ignored."
"Time and time again my people have been slaughtered after the words of Hakim (Ellison) and those like him influenced the masses," Olenick writes.
The media has never asked Ellison about any of this. Instead it listened to him repeat the same lies.
In 1997, he was defending the Nation of Islam’s anti-Semitism and praising “Minister Farrakhan” as a “tireless servant of Black people”.
In 1998, Ellison ran for office as affiliated with the Nation of Islam on a platform of, among other things, having Nation of Islam thugs patrol neighborhoods. He complained about a “propaganda war” being waged against “Minister Louis Farrakhan”.
In 2000, Ellison is still referring to “Minister Farrakhan” and spewing NOI conspiracy theories.
Keith Ellison keeps lying because he keeps getting away with it. And that raises serious questions about his more recent details of a meeting with Farrakhan. If he won't stop lying about his support for the Nation of Islam then, why should anyone believe his claims now?