Originally Published February 25, 2006

Posted March 26, 2006

The Chicago chapter of the Jewish Defense League has announced its condemnation of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment of an adviser to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to the state's Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. The group is calling for the state's synagogue leaders to begin an immediate letter writing, e-mail, and phone campaign to Blagojevich demanding that Claudette Marie Johnson, known in the Nation of Islam as Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, be removed from the commission.

"The mere fact that Blagojevich appointed Johnson knowing her connection to Farrakhan is reprehensible," said JDL spokesman Shalom ben David. "Farrakahn is synomonous with hate and an appointment of any adviser of his makes the commission little more than a joke."

The group applauds the comments by State Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) calling for Johnson to be ousted but says Mathias' comments represent little more than a watered down political statement.

"As a Jew Mr. Mathias should be more than upset " he should be outraged," ben David said. "Farrakahn preaches destruction of the Jews, and all Mathias can say is it's not the message the governor should be sending to the citizens of the state" As a legislator, Mathias should be at the forefront in the effort to have Johnson booted off."

The JDL will be contacting synagogues throughout the state encouraging them to have their clergy and members contact Blagojevich urging Johnson's removal and, if he holds fast in decision not to remove Johnson, urge the state's Jewish population to not support the governor in his re-election bid.

"It appears that the Governor only supports the Jews when he needs their votes or money for his campaign fund. Any Jew who supports the governor at this point in time is supporting anti- Semitism," ben David said.

The Jewish Defense League is the most controversial, yet the most effective, of all Jewish organizations. Through its website and chapters, the JDL is firmly committed to its motto, "Never Again," by words, deeds and actions.

The JDL encourages Jews to follow its five principles: Ahavat Yisroel -- love of Jewry, Hadar -- dignity and pride, Barzel -- iron, Mishmaat -- discipline and unity, and Bitachon -- faith in the indestructibility of the Jewish people.