Less than 24 hours after Women’s March organizer Tamika Mallory refused to condemn noted Nation of Islam leader and noted anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan on The View, the Democratic National Committee has quietly dropped its partnership with the group.
As recently as January 13, the DNC appeared on the Women’s March partner list, according to The Daily Beast, but it disappeared some time after after co-presidents Tamika Mallory and Bob Bland appeared on The View Monday morning. The DNC reportedly dropped the Women’s March over “anti-Semitism concerns,” according to a Democratic source.
This development comes two months after Women’s March founder Teresa Shook called on co-founders Mallory, Bland, Linda Sarsour, and Carmen Perez to step down from the organization because of their anti-Semitic rhetoric.
Accusations of anti-Semitism within the movement’s leadership have led more than half the organizations that were with them in January of 2017 to drop their support of the this year’s march, which is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19.
DNC Deputy Communications Director Sabrina Singh told Jewish News Syndicate that although it will not participate in the march, “The DNC stands in solidarity with all those fighting for women’s rights and holding the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers across the country accountable. Women are on the front lines of fighting back against this administration and are the core of our Democratic Party.”
Mallory, who is a regular attendee of the Nation of Islam’s annual “Saviours’ Day” event and has repeatedly lavished praise on Farrakhan on social media, was asked by The View‘s Meghan McCain to explain her support for someone the Anti-Defamation League calls “the leading anti-Semite in America.”
She cited several of his anti-Semitic statements to buttress her point.
“We did not make those remarks,” Mallory said in response. “What I will say to you is I don’t agree with many of Minister Farrakhan’s statements.”
When asked if she would condemn Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic statements, she dodged. “I don’t agree with these statements,” she repeated.
“You won’t condemn it!” McCain exclaimed.
Among the ranks of progressive groups that have withdrawn their support of the march are the National Council of Jewish Women, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, the Human Rights Campaign, Greenpeace, Children’s Firearm Safety Alliance, the NAACP, the National Abortion Federation, Emily’s List, Center for American Progress, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.
Heavy hitters still sticking by them include the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and MoveOn.org.
In a statement on their website in December, the National Organization for Women said they would continue to “participate and organize” with the group, but would be withholding financial support until some questions are resolved.
NOW will continue to support the Women’s March Unity Principles, and we will participate and organize members to attend the March. However, we will withhold direct financial support until the current questions regarding leadership are resolved.
Meanwhile, several simultaneous women’s marches throughout the country — such as in Chicago, Cincinnati, Statesboro, GA, and New Orleans — have been cancelled amid concerns over the group’s anti-Semitism.
The Jewish Democratic Committee of America applauded the groups that have ended their affiliation with the Women’s March.
“JDCA supports the objectives of the Women’s March and stands with sister marches across the country this weekend,” its executive director, Halie Soifer, told JNS. “At the same time, we welcome the DNC, SPLC, Emily’s List and other organizations’ decision to not sponsor and participate in the Women’s March and take a principled stand against anti-Semitism.”
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