Politics

ADL calls on universities to strip former White House correspondent Helen Thomas of all professional honors following anti-Jewish speech

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In response to former White House correspondent Helen Thomas’s latest anti-Jewish comments, the Anti-Defamation League is calling on all journalism schools and professional organizations to rescind the honors they have granted her.

On Thursday in Dearborn, Mich., Thomas defended the comments that resulted in her abrupt resignation from Hearst Newspapers (telling the Jews to get out of Israel) and went on to assert that Zionists controlled America’s foreign policy and institutions.

“Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists. No question, in my opinion,” Thomas said. “They put their money where their mouth is. We’re being pushed into a wrong direction in every way.”

Abraham Foxman, ADL national director, expressed his displeasure and called on those who have honored Thomas to revoke their support in a statement released Friday

“Helen Thomas has clearly, unequivocally revealed herself as a vulgar anti-Semite,” Foxman said. “Her suggestion that Zionists control government, finance and Hollywood is nothing less than classic, garden-variety anti-Semitism. This is a sad final chapter to an otherwise illustrious career. Unlike her previous, spontaneous remarks into a camera, these words were carefully thought out and conscious. It shows a prejudice that is deep-seated and obsessive.

Thomas has received more than 30 honorary degrees and has had several awards named in her honor, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement.