Paid advertisement in the November 1, 1995 Village Voice p. 5.

Paid by Jews For Farrakhan

Written by Dr. Fred Newman, member of the Transnational Radical Party

The Million Man March was an historic moment for all Americans. For Jewish Americans, it was a chance to see and hear Minister Louis Farrakhan for ourselves, uncensored and free from distortion by the official Jewish leadership.

Minister Farrakhan's message to Jewish America was clear. In the presence of millions, he extended an offer to the Jewish leadership to sit down and dialogue. He pointed out that the Jews have already sat down with Yasir Arafat, although there were rivers of blood between us. No blood has been spilled between Black America and Jewish America, and the Minister saw no reason we could not meet. I agree.

But the leaders of the Jewish establishment have not responded positively, nor are they likely to do so. They continue to abuse Minister Farrakhan and seek to wreck the possibility of dialogue. To this moral and political outrage, we say Never Again.

I had the privilege of meeting with Minister Farrakhan on two occasions last year. Our discussions were wide-ranging and frank, as we looked at Black-Jewish tensions, the corruption of Zionism, the dangers of anti-Semitism, the opportunistic use of the charge of anti-Semitism used by Jews, and the difference between ordinary or common Jews and the corrupt Jewish leadership. At that time I said publicly that Jews should welcome Minister Farrakhan into our homes. For this statement I was immediately attacked by Nat Hentoff of the Village Voice, as I had been many times before by the Anti-Defamation League, because of my support for the Minister.

With skill, dedication and commitment, Minister Farrakhan has brought the Nation of Islam out of many years of isolation. He has catalyzed and encouraged dialogue among the broadest possible range of Black leaders. He used his October 16th speech to reach out to all Americans, and in particular to Jews. It would be unconscionable for us, as Jews, to reject that overture.

Those Jewish leaders who have said that sitting down with Minister Farrakhan is equivalent to sitting down with Hitler are the most racist liars and opportunists of all. They are in the ugly tradition of those Zionist leaders who did sit down with the enemy to say the wealthy Jews, while six million ordinary Jews died. As always, the liberal Anti-Defamation League to the American Jewish Congress and the terrorist Jewish Defense League (which is publicly condemned while privately protected by the Jewish establishment) does what is best for the preservation of those organizations, not what is food for the Jewish people. Indeed, there is a profound danger for us now. African Americans, like other Americans, are on the move and are building bridges. If we do not seize this moment to abandon the corrupt liberal ship and join with them as independents, we will be left isolated and vulnerable once again.

To Minister Farrakhan we say, we respect you and applaud you. While we know that you may have said things in anger that some Jews resented, we know well that kind of rage and we will follow your lead in insisting that it not keep us divided.

To the Jewish leadership we say Never Again! Never Again will we allow you to manipulate us by determining whit whom and under what conditions we may ally ourselves.

To the ordinary Jews of America, we say, join with us. There is no need to repudiate Minister Farrakhan. There is a need to repudiate our own leadership. Never Again must mean Never Again for all Americans.