Farrakhan adviser on Illinois hate crimes panel refuses to quit

I blogged about this story last week. Claudette Johnson, also known as Sister Claudette Muhammad, was appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to serve on the state's Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. She is the minister of protocol for the Louis Farrakhan's group, the Nation of Islam. Her role within that organization became known when she invited other members of the state hate crimes panel to Minister Farrakhan's annual "Saviours' Day" speech in Chicago last weekend.

The Chicago Sun-Times has a follow-up story. Johnson won't step down:

"Why should I step down? What have I done? That's a foolish question," Claudette Marie Johnson said when asked whether she intends to remain a member of the governor's Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. "If you were appointed by the governor, would you step down?"

Blagojevich's office, surprisingly, still supports Johnson/Muhammad, claiming she brings "diversity" to the commission. Perhaps "Blago" might want to return to the Daily Show to discuss this issue.

Too bad David Dukes doesn't live in Illinois, his diversity would add, well, something to that panel.

Depending on your view of things, Farrakhan's latest Saviours' Day speech last was an abomination, or a great success.

Once again from the Chicago Sun-Times:

On Sunday, before about 15,000 followers at the Nation of Islam's Saviours' Day speech at the United Center, Farrakhan hit "Hollywood Jews" for "promoting lesbianism, homosexuality" and other "filth" and said conservatives and Zionists manipulated President Bush into war.

Technorti tags: Farrakhan Nation of Islam louis farrakhan Illinois Blagojevich