NAACP leader who honored Biden invited antisemite to church multiple times

The NAACP leader who introduced President Biden in Detroit on Sunday night faced criticism for his association with notorious antisemite Louis Farrakhan. Rev. Wendell Anthony, President of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP, presented Biden with a lifetime achievement award at the NAACP Detroit Branch’s 69th annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner. This event was where the president reiterated his message of unity and criticized former President Trump’s divisive approach.

Anthony’s history of connections to Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, dates back to at least 2013 when he invited Farrakhan to speak at his church, Fellowship Chapel. The Anti-Defamation League condemned this move, citing Farrakhan’s promotion of antisemitic rhetoric during his speeches at the church. This history of association with Farrakhan has raised concerns and sparked backlash against Anthony and other leaders who have engaged with the controversial minister.

During Farrakhan’s speeches at Fellowship Chapel, he spewed hateful, anti-Semitic remarks, referring to Jewish people as ‘Satanic’ and accusing them of controlling major institutions. Despite the inflammatory nature of his speeches, some prominent figures, including U.S. Rep. John Conyers and Detroit City Councilmember JoAnn Watson, attended and even praised Farrakhan’s views during these events.

Congressman John Conyers, Jr., eventually regretted his attendance at Farrakhan’s speech and apologized for the minister’s racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic statements. Another follower of Farrakhan shared a quote from Anthony, showing support for Farrakhan’s controversial views and actions.

In addition to his appearances at Fellowship Chapel, Farrakhan also spoke at various events hosted by organizations associated with Anthony. This includes a religious leaders’ breakfast in 2004 and a “Freedom Weekend” organized by the Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment, a think tank founded by Anthony. Despite criticism, Anthony has spoken positively about Farrakhan in the past, praising his leadership and vision.

At the recent NAACP dinner in Detroit, Anthony was not the only figure with ties to Farrakhan in attendance. Troy Muhammad, known as Troy X, identified as a representative for Minister Louis Farrakhan and Minister of Muhammad Mosque #1, was present at the event. While some attendees, including Muhammad, supported the NAACP’s efforts, others expressed concerns about the connections to Farrakhan’s network.

This is not the first time the White House has faced scrutiny for ties to Farrakhan’s network. Last year, President Biden participated in a radio interview on a show that promoted Farrakhan’s teachings, raising questions about the administration’s associations.

Despite the controversy surrounding Farrakhan and his divisive rhetoric, the issue of leaders engaging with him and his supporters continues to be a topic of debate. The connections between public figures and individuals with extremist views highlight the challenges of navigating political affiliations and maintaining a stance against hate speech and discrimination.