AJC Decries Incendiary Racial, Religious Attacks on Memphis Congressman

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is deeply troubled by the injection of race and religious bigotry in the primary campaign in Tennessee's 9th congressional district that has sought to incite tensions between the Memphis African American and Jewish communities. "Even as voters go to the polls today, we are compelled to speak out against certain rhetoric and tactics that cross the line of civility and acceptable campaign tactics," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. Campaign ads have juxtaposed photos of Congressman Steve Cohen's picture with a hooded Ku Klux Klansman. Anti-Semitic flyers, reportedly written by the Rev. George Brooks of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charging that "Steve Cohen and the Jews hate Jesus," have been circulating in the election district. "Incendiary... [read full story]