ADL LETTER PROTESTS CITY'S WAIVING FEE FOR NATION OF ISLAM.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer The Anti-Defamation League Anti-Defamation League B’nai B’rith organization which fights anti-Semitism. [Am. Hist.: Wigoder, 33] See : Anti-Semitism , citing past anti-Semitic remarks by Louis Farrakhan Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933), is the acting head of the Nation of Islam (NOI) as the National Reprensentative of Elijah Muhammad. He is well-known as an advocate for African American interests and a critic of American society. , protested on Tuesday the city's waiving of $29,000 in fees for a Nation of Islam Nation of Islam: see Black Muslims. Nation of Islam or Black Muslims African American religious movement that mingles elements of Islam and black nationalism. It was founded in 1931 by Wallace D. event in mid-February at the Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. . The letter of protest to Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California and the City Council cited remarks made by Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam, as recently as 2000 and prompted Councilman Jack Weiss to call for a review of the city's policies in waiving fees for organizations. However, Councilwoman Jan Perry, who authored the motion waiving the fees, defended the action. ``I do not support some of his comments, but this is a free-speech issue,'' Perry said. ``We have done this for a number of other groups, such as the Southern Baptists. ``They (the Nation of Islam) are bringing 15,000 people here, and it is not for a religious convention. And, from what I understand, Farrakhan will not be speaking at the Convention Center.'' The event, scheduled for Feb. 14-16, will involve training young people in conciliation conciliation: see mediation. techniques and then send them out into troubled areas of the community to work with gang members and others. The ADL letter, signed by Interim Regional Director Aaron Levinson, provided 10 pages of material with anti-Semitic comments made over the years by Farrakhan. As a result of the controversy, Weiss said he wanted a review of the city's policy in reducing or waiving special-event fees, both because of the budget and the message it sends. ``Whenever the city waives a fee, it is in effect making a donation to the sponsoring group,'' Weiss said. ``This support from the city should only be given when the event is open to the public and serves a community purpose.'' |
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