LANCASTER – Criticism continues against a Lancaster commissioner who has repeatedly apologized for using an anti-gay slur at a recent public gathering.
A global Jewish human rights organization is now calling on Lancaster Vitalization Commissioner Stan Muhammad to apologize for making “mean-spirited and anti-Semitic references.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center has taken issue with Muhammad’s reference to the “Synagogue of Satan” while speaking at the July 20 Community Prayer and Call to Action.
In criticizing the rap music industry for setting a negative example for young people, Muhammad said young people were following “faggots” who were paid by the “Synagogue of Satan” to keep people “deaf dumb and blind.”
Specifically, Muhammad said:
“… the young people is following behind faggots in this industry, straight up. Individuals who have sold their soul to the devil for a piece of paper. This is why when you listen to rap music, what do you hear? Degrading of black women, because they are being paid by the Synagogue of Satan, to keep our people deaf dumb and blind…”
View that portion of Muhammad’s speech here:
Muhammad later returned to the podium and apologized for the anti-gay slur, saying he did not intend to offend the gay community; but he, again, made reference to the “Synagogue of Satan.”
A statement issued by The Simon Wiesenthal Center this week reads:
“The Simon Wiesenthal Center commends the organizers and coordinators of the recent Community Prayer and Call to Action event for condemning and disassociating themselves from the mean-spirited and anti-Semitic references made by Lancaster Commissioner Stan Muhammad at the July 20th event. Mr. Muhammad’s remarks were hurtful and divisive and have no place in civil discourse. We call upon Commissioner Muhammad to apologize for those remarks, and the civic leadership of Lancaster to make it absolutely clear that the community will not tolerate any form of bigotry, especially from its public servants.”
Contacted Friday, Muhammad said he would not be making any other statements on record. He indicated that he was committed to tolerance and to serving at-risk members of the community.
Previous related stories:
VIDEO: Lancaster commissioner should resign, resident says
Controversy continues over slur, LGBT leaders call for diversity training
sikntired says
Care to clarify that remark?
Scott Pelka says
Anybody noticed that Rex seems to have disappeared. He wasn’t even on ask the mayor on cable yesterday.
sikntired says
Yes,waiting for the dust to settle again.Unfortunately he seems to be the Teflon Mayor,everything just bounces off him.I guess people of Lancaster are just too busy or demoralized to boot him out,and absence of decent replacement.
Boycott Lancaster,Shop Palmdale until this stops.
You can ask.... says
Listen. I don’t know if you’ve figured this out, but religious issues have almost no impact on any of Rex Parris’ thinking, except as to how he can manipulate that feeling into power for himself. He’s claiming that he can’t “do nothin’ ’bout nothin’ no way, no how about Stan Muhammed. He can, however, fabricate a bribe claim against a former commissioner who voted against Wal-mart (a charge that was completed cleared by the Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force), and get them off of a commission in a hurry. He would rather have one of the City Council members make the proposal so that he can appear to have his hands clean of the matter. When will people figure out that Rex says whatever Rex needs to say at any given time to appeal to whichever voter base he’s talking to?? But…..Lancaster voters will keep voting him in like sheep because he intimidates all candidates who doesn’t give a blessing to.
Son of the Anti Rex says
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
Everybody just take a breathe says
Ok, lemme get this straight, at a rally calling for justice and unity, a man (his race is immaterial) made a slur against a minority, as he is an appointed representative of the city of Lancaster?
Here lies the hypocrisy, if the anti-gay slur (or racists) statements had been made by a white person, how many milli-seconds would have lapsed before Mr. John Ervin (president of local chapter of NAACP) Ms. Waunette Cullors (V.P of local Chapter of NAACP), Rev. Henry Hearns, Xavier Flores (president of the United Latin American Citizens) would hold a press conference to hoop and holler and denounce the statement and call for the person to be removed from his city post?
Yet, so far…….not a peep out of condemnation publicly from their mouths. Why? Did they all get laryngitis at the same time? Where they all getting spine surgery together?
Mr. Ervin calls for accountability from the black community, yet is silent when it occurs from within, by someone he considers a friend and colleague? The NAACP website says they want, “to fight for social justice for all Americans.” Where’s the fight, Mr. Ervin? Where is the self-righteous indignation that a city official made a bigoted remark in public?
To the aforementioned, your silence exposes you for what you are.
And why is Mr. Stan Muhammad’s affiliation with the Nation of Islam (NOI) even mentioned in the original article? Why are NOI people standing behind Mr. Muhammad? NOI is considered by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a “hate organization”, (just like the Nazi’s and the KKK) I don’t want ANY hate groups getting any publicity in Lancaster.
Go to http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/nation-of-islam. Go to the NOI’s own website http://www.NOI.org to see what they (and apparently Mr. Muhammad) believe.
I guess they find themselves in a bit of a dilemma, condemn one of their own for being a bigot, or stay silent, and hope nobody notices. In the meantime, everyone else can see it very clearly.
Sad.
sikntired says
Yes,they are noticeable by their silence.
*** says
Jesse Smith is the president of the local NAACP. Johnathon Ervin is the President of a Democrat club. And he’s busy over in Korea defending his country this month. Maybe he can be your personal tool next month.
Everybody just take a breathe says
I apologize for the error, would you care to comment on the point of the double standard? Would anybody care to address the hypocrisy?
*** says
Haven’t those who promoted this event been all over this Stan dude? I believe it was Brandon Zavala and Veronica Fields who were the promoters, and they put out a press release calling for Stan’s removal from Rex’s city commission. Both are what the PC crowd call “of color”. Both are younger than the established activist you name.
Don’t know why the older guys haven’t backed them with the same demands. Guess you would have to ask them.
OT says
Ervin has backed the 2 kids involved and their call for Stan’s removal from Rex’s revitalization committee. He went with them to the outreach center. And you’re right ***. He’s either serving overseas right now, or shipping out in the next week. But I’m not sure if he’s a member of the NAACP.
Diane says
This commissioner needs to resign. However, please don’t insult other fair minded community leaders. I believe Reverend Hearns is out of town, I do not believe he would back these comments no matter who made them! Where is Rex?
^*^*^ says
This is a lot of smoke and mirrors to deflect from the real issue of prejudice and racism in the AV. You claim race is immaterial but you immediately cut to race and name individuals for not speaking out. You’re throwing needless criticisms up in the air hoping that something will stick on the way down.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. Sometimes life and ethics and accountability is just that simple.
MAYBE if you and yours were effected by these comments. Maybe if you simply had a handle on how people in this city should behave, you would be justly appalled.
Alas, you keep posting needless information on people not related to this situation and neglect the clear antisemitism and anti-gay slurs made by a man who holds public office.
You are an honorable human being. Carry on.
Sick Of It says
Stan Muhammad Must GO!
Stinger says
Parris’ history shows that he is aligned with the remarks made by his commissioner. This means that he shares the hatred towards the LGBT portions of the community as well as being an anti-semite.
“We’re growing a Christian community, and don’t let anybody shy away from that.” – R. Rex Parris, 2010
Never forget…
sikntired says
Thanks for reminding us of that remark.I think his philosophy is whatever way the wind blows .
Resident Cynic says
Didn’t Parris also support Sherry Marquez and her bigoted remarks about Muslims?
Diane says
We are a growing American Community Mr. Mayor… all races , religions and sexes are welcome. We need fewer criminals and bigots tho.
sikntired says
http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_23788320/lancaster-commissioners-bigotry-cant-be-fixed-magical-thinking
J. Ripper says
Actually, in this case, I’m not convinced that “Synagogue of Satan” is enough to accuse him of anti-Semitism. I’m inclined to give him a little bit of benefit of doubt that he was just making a cute alliteration there. Except that the guy’s a moron and doesn’t deserve the benefit of doubt. Not just because of one word he used, but the entire way he speaks.
Jason says
Very well said.
Fred Gispachio says
I disagree completely. Why didn’t he state it to be a Mosque of Satan instead. It would fit a lot better that way anyway.
Palmdale_Steve says
@Ripper
Well San is just parroting what the Nation of Islam spews in terms of Hate Speech each and every day. Nothing new in his terminology, his speech reflects the every day speech of the NOI and does not really reflect values that represent almost no one in the AV. Well I guess maybe Mayor TRex endorses these values, at least while using Stan and whatever people align with Stan in his crusade against Palmdale.
^*^*^ says
Well said. But my problem with Stan is that, if he was not committed to that statement, he would’ve apologized. He refuses to comment at all on the “synagogue of satan” but has apologized for “faggots”. IMHO, that tells me that he is not at all apologetic for that comment, so I don’t give him a break at all.
He does need to go but he will not. Parris needs to go. I hope he does. This AV is better than him and we deserve much better than him.
T-Bone says
Step Down Hater!!
Palmdale_Steve says
February 25, 1996, Louis Farrakhan o fthe Nation of Islam stated:
“And you do with me as is written, but remember that I have warned you that Allah will punish you. You are wicked deceivers of the American people. You have sucked their blood. You are not real Jews, those of you that are not real Jews. You are the synagogue of Satan, and you have wrapped your tentacles around the U.S. government, and you are deceiving and sending this nation to hell. But I warn you in the name of Allah, you would be wise to leave me alone. But if you choose to crucify me, know that Allah will crucify you.”
I don’t know, but this sounds like the very same brand of NOI Hate that Stan Muhammad is trying to sell here in the AV.
sikntired says
Well,gosh darn, I believe you are correct. Stan is the token, included by the man to keep his people in line.
Imho.
Will says
You pull a quote and call it “hate” without disputing ANY of what was said in the quote. Puppet.
rome says
Revelation 3:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
sikntired says
Wonder what the “civic leadership “of Lancaster has to say.Simon Wiesenthal Center is held in high regard by most.
Should have been nipped in the bud but I guess someone didn’t think it would go so far.
Resident Cynic says
That “someone” is standing by his man. It is the least he could do for Stan after all Stan did for him in getting the voting rights lawsuit going.
sikntired says
Well,now the whole world is watching.
^*^*^ says
Yes!
sammy p says
Its the story that wont go away. What a shame, I think any publicity is good publicity for this group, whom I have never heard of before this story appeared on this site.
All the problems we have in our world.. over population, nuclear weapons, genocide, people who have nothing to eat, tobacco and alcohol deaths, disease and war…
And Stan Muhammad stands at a podium and talks about what he is passionate about, the issues he sees as important, and that issue is…. gays?
Will says
You might want to actually watch the entire speech BEFORE making ignorant remarks.