Michigan’s incoming Democratic governor is drawing sharp criticism for appointing a Nation of Islam official with documented ties to antisemitic rhetoric to her transition advisory team. Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson selected Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, a self-described disciple of Louis Farrakhan, for her 15-member transition council just days after winning the gubernatorial race.
The choice has reignited concerns about Muhammad’s record, which includes defending Farrakhan’s inflammatory statements about Jewish people and promoting Nation of Islam literature containing antisemitic conspiracy theories. The Combat Antisemitism Movement previously removed Muhammad from its mayoral advisory committee over these associations.
Controversial Statements Resurface
Muhammad has repeatedly amplified Farrakhan’s speeches, including one where the Nation of Islam leader called Jews “the Satan.” In social media posts and interviews, Muhammad has promoted claims about Jewish control of money and power while referencing antisemitic tropes about “the enemy.”
Perhaps most troubling to Jewish advocacy groups is Muhammad’s endorsement of Nation of Islam materials alleging Jewish involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and his comparison of business disputes involving Black Muslims to the Nazi-era Kristallnacht pogroms.
Benson’s Political Calculus
The transition appointment puts Benson in an awkward position as she prepares to lead a swing state with significant Jewish communities. While she describes Muhammad as a longtime personal friend and has appeared at his events, Jewish organizations warn against legitimizing figures associated with Farrakhan’s divisive rhetoric.
Democrats on the transition team include prominent figures like Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, making Muhammad’s selection particularly conspicuous. The move comes just five months after Muhammad was removed from the antisemitism coalition’s advisory board when his Nation of Islam affiliations came to light.
Nation of Islam Ties Run Deep
Muhammad credits Farrakhan with directly influencing his political career, saying the controversial leader encouraged his mayoral bid and advised him to decline a trip to Israel. He has also defended the Nation of Islam’s call for racial segregation as the “ultimate solution” to America’s racial tensions.
As Benson prepares to take office with Democratic control of Michigan’s government, her transition team choices are being closely scrutinized for signs of how she’ll navigate the state’s complex political and cultural landscape.
Source: www.dailywire.com โ https://www.dailywire.com/news/swing-state-governor-taps-nation-of-islam-leader-for-her-transition-team