L.A. GIVES TOLERANCE AWARD TO ISRAEL HATER

LA County Commission Will Reward Maher Hathout (LGF)

Looks like the LA County Commission pulled a fast one today, approving hate-spewing faux moderate Maher Hathout for the John Allen Buggs Award for human relations despite his well-documented extremist opinions, which he has not repudiated. [LGF] received this press release [yesterday] from the American Jewish Committee:

American Jewish Committee Disappointed by Commission Decision

Los Angeles – The American Jewish Committee (AJC) Los Angeles Chapter expressed disappointment with a decision by the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations not to seek a more appropriate honoree than Maher Hathout for its prestigious John Allen Buggs Award.

"Hathout, like every American, is free to say what he wants," said AJC/LA President Sherry Weinman, "but, like every American, he must take responsibility for his words. When Hathout speaks to ardent critics of Israel and calls her a nation of 'butchers' and a 'racist, apartheid state,' one must appreciate such hate speech can have consequences, even violent ones. A true humanitarian and man of peace does not have to worry about his words or actions being used by someone, however misguided, as justification for violence."

"By not acknowledging his caustic statements, Hathout rejects moderation, no matter how affable he appears or who he finds to support him," Weinman said, referring to a series of local radio advertisements voiced by actor Mike Ferrell attacking the AJC.

Weinman said the AJC appreciates the awkward position the Commissioners found themselves in after choosing a recipient whose selection created such discord in the community – counter to the mission of the Commission on Human Relations.

She urged the Commission to create a more thorough and transparent selection process that would result in more appropriate choices in the future. "If not," Weinman commented, "the stature of the John Allen Buggs Award forever will be diminished."

Celebrating its Centennial anniversary, the American Jewish Committee is the oldest human relations organization in the country and has been active in Los Angeles since 1945. Weinman said that the Los Angeles AJC would continue to work with its partners in the Muslim community and all Southern California communities that share American values of tolerance and pluralism.

And another LGF reader sent this note:

In a very underhanded move, the Commission today voted to rescind the Award to Hathout because of Brown Act violations concerning the way that the Commission conducted its meetings without properly alerting the public of the meeting agenda, etc. Immediately afterward, they brought up Hathout's nomination for consideration again, which was legal under the Brown Act. After a short discussion, without public comment on the new motion, Hathout was again voted on to receive the Buggs Award. The vote was 4 Yes votes and 5 abstentions. 6 of the Commissioners were not present. The final straw came when we were kicked out the room so that Hathout could have a private press conference with all the press, without allowing our voices to be heard.

WHO IS MAHER HATHOUT? HE'S A HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTER WHO HAS CALLED ISRAEL A "RACIST APARTHEID" NATION OF "BUTCHERS" AND CALLED FOR AN "INTIFADA" AGAINST ISRAEL. HE HAS ESPOUSED THE VIEW THAT THE U.S. IS UNDER THE CONTROL AND OCCUPATION OF ISRAEL. SOUNDS VERY TOLERANT. MORE DETAILS HERE AND HERE AND HERE .