Joy Reid Ignores Calls to Apologize for Anti-Muslim Comments

Muslim Advocates Launches MoveOn Petition Calling for MSNBC & Reid to Apologize for Equating Muslims with Extremist Violence

Washington, DC — Earlier on Tuesday, MSNBC host Joy Reid was criticized by Muslim Advocates and other Muslim leaders for her false, harmful comments equating Muslims with violent radicals. Reid has also failed to address posts on her old blog that shared similar, anti-Muslim sentiments and stated that “current iterations of Islam are largely incompatible with Western notions of free speech and expression.” Even though Muslim Advocates reached out to producers at MSNBC and Joy Reid’s staff, she failed to apologize tonight on her show the ReidOut. Muslim Advocates is reiterating its call for Reid and MSNBC to apologize and is also launching a petition on MoveOn condemning Reid’s anti-Muslim comments. The following is a statement from Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates’s special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry:

“It is deeply disappointing that Joy Reid failed to even dignify the pain of American Muslims tonight. She spent much of the show discussing racism, however Reid failed to acknowledge the harm she caused, did not apologize for stereotyping Muslims as violent radicals and failed to address her history of anti-Muslim comments. Deranged white nationalists who believe the same thing that Reid said to her audience of millions have threatened, bombed and gunned down Muslims. By refusing to apologize and disavow her anti-Muslim comments, Reid is continuing to put Muslims in danger.

Hate and bigotry should not have a home on MSNBC. Joy Reid and MSNBC must take responsibility for what they have unleashed by apologizing on air and agreeing to meet with Muslim leaders to ensure this does not happen again. We will not be silent and we will not let this fall by the wayside. Lives are at stake. We will continue to reach out to them and now we are also asking the American people to speak out.” 

 

 

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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