A Southern California interfaith coalition today expressed “deep shock and alarm” over the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ decision to offer a platform to the leader of an anti-Muslim hate group.

Pamela Geller, who will deliver a lecture this morning on “Islamic Jew-Hatred: The Root Cause of the Failure to Achieve Peace,” is co-founder of Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), an organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and author of a book offering step-by-step instructions on how to stop mosque construction in America.

The interfaith coalition released the following statement:

“We are extremely shocked and alarmed to see a mainstream Jewish organization associating itself with one of the nation’s leading Islamophobes who doesn’t hesitate to share the podium with European racists and whose admirers apparently include Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik. Religious leaders and institutions have an increased and urgent responsibility to promote tolerance and mutual understanding among all Americans, instead of giving aid and comfort to fear-mongers like Geller. Imagine how hurt Jewish community members would be, and rightly so, if they discovered American Muslims hosting an anti-Semitic speaker.”

CAIR press release, 23 June 2012

See also Richard Silverstein, “Los Angeles Jewish Federation hosts, endorses Pam Geller’s Islamophobia”, Tikun Olam, 23 June 2012

Via Loonwatch

Update:  Good news! See “Jewish surrender: LA Jewish Federation submits to Hamas-linked Muslim groups, cancels Geller event”, Atlas Shrugs, 24 June 2012

Update 2:  See also “Calif. coalition commends Jewish Federation for canceling anti-Muslim hate group leader’s speech”, CAIR press release, 24 June 2012