Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, called on the head of the Philadelphia National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to step down after he posted an anti-Semitic meme on July 24.
The image depicted a Jewish man with a sinister grin and hooked nose along with the quote, “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” The image attributes the quote to French philosopher Voltaire but it is believed to have been written by American white supremacist Kevin Alfred Strom in 1993.
Wolf tweeted on July 28, “The anti-Semitic meme shared by Philadelphia NAACP president Minister Rodney Muhammad is vile. Sharing this type of racist content is unacceptable — especially from a civic leader.”
He added: “I’m joining the call for Minister Muhammad to resign. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania.”
The anti-Semitic meme shared by Philadelphia NAACP president Minister Rodney Muhammad is vile.
Sharing this type of racist content is unacceptable—especially from a civic leader.
I’m joining the call for Minister Muhammad to resign. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania.
— Gov. Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 28, 2020
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro also called on Muhammad to resign that day.
“As soon I learned about Rodney Muhammad’s post I reached out to him directly to understand what happened and ask for a sincere apology,” he tweeted. “His response to me was offensive and we are all still waiting for that apology.”
He added that Muhammad posting the image and his subsequent response has inhibited efforts to fight anti-Semitism and systemic racism.
“That is just one reason why I join so many Black leaders in calling on Rodney Muhammad to resign as President of the Philadelphia NAACP,” Shapiro wrote. “The NAACP is a crucial civil rights organization that deserves better than Rodney Muhammad.”
As soon I learned about Rodney Muhammad’s post I reached out to him directly to understand what happened and ask for a sincere apology. His response to me was offensive and we are all still waiting for that apology.
— Michelle Henry (@PAAttorneyGen) July 28, 2020
That is just one reason why I join so many Black leaders in calling on Rodney Muhammad to resign as President of the Philadelphia NAACP. The NAACP is a crucial civil rights organization that deserves better than Rodney Muhammad.
— Michelle Henry (@PAAttorneyGen) July 28, 2020
Muhammad had addressed the matter on July 27, saying in a statement, “Earlier this week, I shared a post on social media in an attempt to start a dialogue around criticism and understanding. I later learned that not only was the quote I used misattributed to the philosopher Francois Voltaire, but in fact, the quote and image had been used previously by white supremacists. I immediately removed both the quote and the offensive images. It was never my intention to offend anyone or cause any hurt.”
He continued: “The NAACP strongly condemns any offensive language or imagery and stands against all forms of hate speech and anti-Semitism. I stand with all members of the Jewish faith in the fight for social justice, and I intend to use this opportunity for thoughtful conversations with both the Black and Jewish communities.”
Several Jewish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference, also have condemned Muhammad’s post.
