Shaun King's 11 Best Excuses for Not Denouncing Farrakhan

Angry social justice activist Shaun King has many reasons for not denouncing Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. Like, Farrakhan's son just died. Also, I never met him. Almost too many reasons to count. (Aside from the fact that if you're this white, you need as much cred as you can get.)

But here are 11.

1. It's racist to ask Shaun King to denounce Farrakhan

The more I speak up for the human rights and dignity of Palestine, the more Jewish leaders ask me to speak out against Louis Farrakhan.

I’m sorry but that’s preposterous.

It’s racist for you to even ask me this. I’m not responsible for a single word that comes out of his mouth

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 3, 2018

2. Instead of asking me to denounce Farrakhan, look at how Israel is killing people

I’ll be frank @JGreenblattADL.

This brave beautiful soul, Razan al-Najjar, a Palestinian medic, was just shot & killed by an Israeli sniper.

If today you’re more bothered by a sermon from Louis Farrakhan than this, I’m deeply concerned by how differently we see the world. pic.twitter.com/pK9wjVc7er

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 3, 2018

3. Being asked to denounce Farrakhan is some sort of Jewish conspiracy

What I see is leaders who speak out and speak up for the human rights of Palestine keep being linked to Louis Farrakhan in some bizarre strategy to discredit us.

I refuse to be in some perpetual state of denouncing and apologizing for the words of random Black folk.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 3, 2018

4. Shaun King never even met Farrakhan

I have never met Louis Farrakhan.

I am not responsible for anything he says or does.

I am also not responsible for other people who may respect or admire him.

If that issue is critical for you, and that's your business, you will have to take that up with them.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) May 31, 2018

5. Farrakhan's Son Just Died

Minister Louis Farrakhan’s son just passed away. Yet here I am, drowning in tweets from Jewish folk asking me to denounce him today. I won’t.

I’m just not responsible for him. Never have been. Never will be.

Can you take one day off on this while they grieve?

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 3, 2018

6. You're just saying Farrakhan is anti-Semitic

Someone said, "Shaun - you can't tell us what is or is not anti-Semitic."

OK.

Defining your oppression for yourself is your privilege.

But if me not rejecting a person who did not reject a person who you say is anti-Semitic makes me anti-Semitic, then we do have a problem.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) May 31, 2018

7. Shaun King is not responsible for things you think Farrakhan is saying that may not even be anti-Semitic

Sorry that you saw all that I have said and just see weakness. I'm not flip flopping.

I'm openly saying that I am never responsible for whatever Minister Farrakhan says or doesn't say - whether someone deems it anti-Semitic or not.

This is true.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) May 31, 2018

8. Tamika Mallory isn't responsible for supporting Farrakhan either because she doesn't control his Twitter

You can talk about Farrakhan all you want. She doesn’t manage this man’s social media and isn’t responsible for it.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 3, 2018

9. Shaun King fights Neo-Nazis so you can't call him anti-Semitic

I'll be frank.

The moment you call me anti-Semitic, we part ways.

I've put the safety of my whole family on the line fighting Neo-Nazis.

I'll fight for you - whether you like me or not, but call me anti-Semitic - or foolishly compare me to Trump or Bannon - and we're done.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 10, 2018

10. Tamika Mallory's anti-Semitism is a black church thing

Again. I’ll say it a thousand times.

What Tamika tweeted was not anti-Semitic. It wasn’t even about Jewish people in general.

In the Black Church tradition we often compare our enemies to the enemies of Jesus. I’ve done it.

It has NOTHING to do with hate speech.

Stop. https://t.co/Z9R17YK1Ew

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 3, 2018

11. Loving Farrakhan doesn't make you a bigot

I want you to see this tweet and all 3 photos. For context. Look closely.

What I want you to understand is that while it is true for many of you that @LouisFarrakhan represents bigotry, this man’s love of him has absolutely nothing to do with anti-Semitism or bigotry. https://t.co/YzUnOceoh9

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 10, 2018