Nearly two months after the Boston Marathon bombing, Mike Pompeo, then a congressman from Kansas, took to the floor of the House to denounce American Muslim leaders for what he called their “silence” in response to the heinous terrorist attack.
“Silence has made these Islamic leaders across America potentially complicit in these acts,” Mr. Pompeo said, reading from prepared remarks.
In fact, more than half a dozen American Muslim organizations had issued statements condemning the bombing within hours of the attack. In the days following, Muslim groups organized news conferences, blood drives and prayer vigils. Mr. Pompeo was immediately informed that he was wrong, but did not apologize or respond to Muslim groups stung by his remarks.
Mr. Pompeo, now the C.I.A. director, has been chosen by President Trump to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. He faces what is expected to be a relatively smooth confirmation hearing in the Senate. But an array of voices are raising alarm over what they say is Mr. Pompeo’s record of anti-Muslim remarks and ties to anti-Islam groups. American Muslims, Jews, civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and former State Department officials are among those pushing senators on the Foreign Relations Committee to take a closer look.
PROGRESSIVE GROUPS URGE SENATE TO REJECT POMPEO -- Dozens of national progressive groups
are calling on the Senate to reject CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s nomination to be secretary of state. Roughly 70
groups signed onto a letter obtained by Huddle expressing opposition to Pompeo, warning that he “promotes
principles and policies that are antithetical to American values.” “His repeated advocacy for war,
Islamophobia, climate change denial, hostility to human rights, including reproductive and LGBT rights, and
support for torture make him dangerous and unfit to be a chief architect of U.S. foreign policy,” they write.
Palestinians announced their intention to hold peaceful demonstrations from Land Day (March 30)
through Nakba Day (May 15), with Gaza as the focal point. APN and Shalom Achshav respect the right of
Palestinians to protest nonviolently, and call on Israelis and Palestinians to exercise restraint and act
responsibly to avoid further bloodshed. We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to pursue a political solution.
APN hosted a briefing call Tuesday, April 10th, at 1:00
pm EST with veteran Israeli political columnist Akiva Eldar.
Washington, DC -- Americans for Peace Now (APN) is alarmed and saddened by the loss of life of
unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, and warns against further deterioration of hostilities on the Israel-Gaza
border. APN calls on both sides, Israelis and Palestinians, to exercise restraint and act responsibly to avoid
further bloodshed.
