The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s recent claim that the racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is somehow “better than” the growing worldwide campaign for a “Free Palestine” is part of the efforts of those supporting Israel’s genocide to dehumanize the Palestinian people and those who support their call for freedom and justice.
According to The Guardian: “By saying ‘Free Palestine’, you’re not admitting what you really think. So it’s actually – compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I’m actually thinking the Klan is actually a little better here…”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“To suggest that a nonviolent global movement demanding basic human rights and freedom for Palestinians is somehow worse than the Ku Klux Klan—a white supremacist terrorist organization responsible for over a century of lynchings, church bombings, and racial terror—is morally repugnant. It is an outrageous and dangerous attempt to smear and silence a just cause by equating it with hatred and extremism.
“This kind of rhetoric is not only false—it fuels Islamophobia and anti-Arab bigotry. It is part of a broader effort by supporters of Israel’s ongoing occupation and genocide to demonize anyone who speaks up for Palestinian rights.
“We call on Jerry Seinfeld to retract his offensive remarks and issue an apology to Palestinians, human rights advocates and all those who believe in justice and equality. We also urge public figures, especially those with large platforms, to educate themselves on the realities of apartheid, occupation, and genocide before making harmful, ignorant comparisons.”
Yesterday, CAIR called for the removal of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) from Gaza after an investigation by the BBC revealed that a biker gang with a history of violent anti-Muslim rhetoric is in charge of the foundation’s security.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.