After more than a year of pressuring the federal government to examine contracts with Nation of Islam-affiliated businesses, critics of the relationship appear to be making headway.
Several Jewish groups welcomed last week’s action by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, who ordered the Baltimore Housing Authority to cancel its contract with a security company affiliated with a private company run by members of the Nation of Islam.
“I’m hopeful that the investigation and determination in Baltimore will mark the turning of the corner by HUD and by other branches of government in terms of taking these complaints seriously,” said Mark Pelavin, director of the governmental and public affairs office of the American Jewish Congress.
Pelavin said HUD should hold “the Nation of Islam-affiliated companies to the same standards as others who seek to do business with the federal government.”
HUD has been under fire since 1994 from Jewish activists and members of Congress to investigate Nation of Islam-affiliated business that receive funding through contracts.
They charge that the organization – headed by Louis Farrakhan – is not an equal opportunity employer and stands in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.
Critics further object to the racist and anti-Semitic views espoused by Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, saying that taxpayer’s funds should not be used to subsidize bigotry.
Since March, when HUD began a compliance review of 15 contracts with Nation of Islam affiliates, contracts have expired or been terminated by local governments in six cities.
Although HUD said it canceled the Baltimore contract because the company violated federal procurement regulations – not employment practices – Jewish groups portrayed the action as an encouraging breakthrough.
Several Jewish organizations sent letters to Cisneros commending him for his decision to cancel the Baltimore contract.
“What is important is that your canceling of those contracts ensures that the racist rhetoric of the Nation of Islam is not rewarded with government largesse,” the American Jewish Congress said in its letter.
The ADL, in its letter, called on HUD “to act promptly and decisively to ensure that other Nation of Islam-affiliated security films are in compliance with the full range of civil rights and equal employment laws.”
In a related development, the House Banking Committee recently approved an amendment to public housing reform legislation that would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate contracts with Nation of Islam affiliates that provide security services to low-income federal housing projects.
The amendment – approved at the urging of Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), one of the Nation of Islam’s loudest critics in Congress, would require HUD to either certify that the security companies are in compliance with federal regulations or terminate them.
“Cisneros has stonewalled Congress at every turn and refused to comply with my requests for a thorough accounting of his agency’s dealings with Louis Farrakhan’s organization,” King said in a statement.
In a letter to King, Cisneros defended his department’s investigation and criticized the House Banking Committee’s amendment, saying that it is unnecessary and “would have us duplicate the comprehensive, time consuming and expensive investigation we have already undertaken.”
Jewish activists praised the House committee’s action as a significant step forward in efforts to investigate the security contracts.
The full House is expected to vote on the bill later this month.
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