LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: A person holds an iPhone displaying the Facebook app logo in front of a computer screen showing the facebook login page on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) Several Jewish groups condemned the president of Philadelphia’s National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for posting an anti-Semitic meme to his Facebook page on July 23.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported that the since-deleted image Philadelphia NAACP President Rodney Muhammad posted featured what’s known as the “Happy Merchant” image, depicting a hook-nosed Jewish man with a sinister grin. That image was superimposed on a gigantic arm crushing several people. Above it were photos of rapper Ice Cube, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson and “Masked Singer” host Nick Cannon, all of whom have been criticized for making Anti-Semitic statements and social media posts.
The image featured a quote that read, “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” The image attributes the quote to philosopher Francois Voltaire, but according to JTA, the quote actually stemmed from a neo-Nazi.
Yesterday, @NAACP Philadelphia Chairman Rodney Muhammad posted this meme to his Facebook page. This is unacceptable & there must be swift action from @CornellWBrooks!
Thank you to @billy_penn's @MaxMMarin for breaking this story. pic.twitter.com/fupXAECv1i
— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) July 24, 2020
The post later was deleted.
Several Jewish groups condemned Muhammad for sharing the image.
“Disturbed and disgusted by the vile hatred coming from Rodney Muhammad, Pres. of Philadelphia NAACP,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “The historic ties between Black and Jewish communities, our ongoing work together and the partnerships we are building for the future demand our best against hate. This is not it.”
Disturbed and disgusted by the vile hatred coming from Rodney Muhammad, Pres. of Philadelphia NAACP. The historic ties between Black and Jewish communities, our ongoing work together and the partnerships we are building for the future demand our best against hate. This is not it. https://t.co/1MeppN2rJi
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) July 26, 2020
The Simon Wiesenthal Center also tweeted that Muhammad shared an “ugly anti-Semitic image. This from a leader who is supposed to lead battle against hate?”
NAACP president in #Philadelphia deploys ugly anti-Semitic image. This from a leader who is supposed to lead battle against hate? https://t.co/x2K8S6yOB8
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) July 25, 2020
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) similarly tweeted, “If you don’t understand why this image is offensive Rodney Muhammad then you have no business leading a civil rights organization like @PhilaNAACP.”
If you don’t understand why this image is offensive Rodney Muhammad then you have no business leading a civil rights organization like @PhilaNAACP.https://t.co/rWdhJgFULA pic.twitter.com/WQEg4s9n42
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) July 24, 2020
StandWithUs tweeted that the image Muhammad had posted was “a disgusting anti-Semitic meme.”
“The NAACP and Jewish community have a long history of working together to fight hatred, and one person cannot change that,” the pro-Israel education organization tweeted. “However, this anti-Semitism must be unequivocally condemned.”
The NAACP and Jewish community have a long history of working together to fight hatred, and one person cannot change that. However, this antisemitism must be unequivocally condemned.
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) July 26, 2020
The NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference issued a statement on July 26 condemning Muhammad’s post.
“NAACP strongly condemns denigrating statements regarding persons of the Jewish faith and denounces the post made on social media by NAACP Philadelphia Branch President Rodney Muhammad,” the statement read. “The illustration depicting an anti-Semitic cartoon in no way reflects the thoughts and work of the NAACP and in fact is found to be reprehensible.”
https://www.facebook.com/pastatenaacp/photos/a.2707187649312677/3406114206086681/
Philadelphia officials also condemned Muhammad’s post in statements to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I share the outrage of Philadelphia’s Jewish community to this offensive message, and I am extremely disappointed that Minister Muhammad saw fit to post it,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. “I know Minister Muhammad to be a bridge builder, and I hope he is up to the task of rebuilding the bridges that his unfortunate post has now damaged.”
Darrell Clarke, president of the Philadelphia City Council, also said in a statement, “I oppose offensive speech of any kind directed at any ethnic, racial or religious group. We must come together as a people to solve the many issues magnified by COVID-19 and the unrest over systemic racism in our country.”
Muhammad addressed the matter in a July 27 statement.
“Earlier this week, I shared a post on social media in an attempt to start a dialogue around criticism and understanding,” he said. “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 added: “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.”
According to JTA, Muhammad also is a “local Nation of Islam leader who often praises Louis Farrakhan.”
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