The liberal media are forever vigilant about racism and anti-Semitism among the "white nationalists," but go very soft when hateful anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam surfaces at public events. On Thursday, Farrakhan was invited to speak at a memorial service for the rapper Nipsey Hussle, and "mainstream" media outlets either skipped right over it, or noted it without criticism. (See Farrakhan at Aretha Franklin's funeral for comparison.) Here's the Hussle rundown:
-- ABC's World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News offered anchor briefs with no mention of Farrakhan, as well as the last minute of ABC's Nightline.
-- Entertainment Tonight gave the service a minute and NBC's Access just a shout-out (no Farrakhan).
-- On Friday morning, ABC's Good Morning America offered a minute and CBS This Morning and NBC's Today did three-minute stories with no Farrakhan. Today's third hour on Friday included rapper T.I. saying Hussle stood for "encouragement and enlightenment," not an accurate label for Farrakhan.
-- CNN's "Reliable Sources" newsletter included Farrakhan under the headline "The stars align for Nipsey Hussle," and Brian Stelter linked to Elliot McLaughlin's online article, which also put Farrakhan in the "stars" category, quoting:
Calling Nipsey a "prophetic soul," Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said the artist, born Ermias Asghedom, meant to hip-hop what Bob Marley meant to reggae. Farrakhan applauded him for his efforts to forge ties between the Crips street gang, to which Nipsey belonged, and the rival Bloods.
"He lived the gang life, but he didn't stay there," Farrakhan said. "Sometimes when you can fly above the circumstances of your life, it produces envy and enmity and jealousy among those who have not learned how to fly, but Ermias was more than a hip-hop artist. He was a voice and brilliant mind, and the spirit of God was in his life."
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Emily Jashinsky at The Federalist collected "blue checkmarks" celebrating Farrakhan's eulogy, including "mainstream media" outlets.
"His body is dead but the mind of Ermias Asghedom and the spirit of Nipsey is alive," says Louis Farrakhan, the 85-year-old leader of the Nation of Islam https://t.co/ObcfCZ4REZ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 11, 2019
"When we celebrate Nipsey, we must celebrate unity." –Louis Farrakhan #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/GEji4x6OLg
— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) April 11, 2019
"His life was for the unity of the red and the blue, the unity of the hood. So when we celebrate Nipsey, we must celebrate unity." Louis Farrakhan remembers Nipsey Hussle at Staples Center memorial https://t.co/XLs71sbJQK pic.twitter.com/Lu4E7eCI3a
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) April 11, 2019
Some media outlets celebrated the "Honorable Minister" Farrakhan:
“I hope that we will never dishonor the name of Ermias Asghedom - Nipsey Hussle,” -Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. #NipseyHussle #CelebrationOfLife #NipseyHussleForever https://t.co/6fcgAxwZve
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) April 11, 2019
"Ermias was more than a hip-hop artist. He was a voice. He was a brilliant mind and the spirit of God was in his life." - The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan #NipseyHussleMemorial
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) April 11, 2019
BET tweeted out video of Farrakhan (the best part, near the end, he says "Nipsey Russell," and has to correct himself):
