At age 90, Helen Thomas pulls no punches on Zionist's

Helen at Wayne State University

"Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists," Thomas, 90, told an audience of about 300. "No question, in my opinion. They put their money where their mouth is."


Helen Thomas' remarks defended by Arab-American leaders meeting with Wayne State University officials

Free Press
Posted: Dec. 8, 2010

By NIRAJ WARIKOO Free Press Staff Writer

Arab-American leaders met with Wayne State University officials Tuesday, asking them to reverse their decision last week to pull an award named after journalist Helen Thomas after she made controversial remarks.

And they defended Thomas against those who say she made anti-Semitic comments Thursday in Dearborn.
"Helen Thomas is not now, and never has, been anti-Semitic," Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said Tuesday evening. "She has worked her entire career, 60 years, to bring truth to the American public, and she is simply continuing to do that."
Hamad added: "Wayne State is a friend, and we were shocked."
Robert Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit, told the Free Press that it's "ludicrous to say that her comments were anything but anti-Semitic. When they're saying 'Zionists,' they're really saying 'Jews.' These are stereotypes that have been used for hundreds of years."
Three Arab-American leaders, including Hamad, met with senior WSU officials, including a vice president and interim dean, Hamad said.
The comments at issue came during an interview and in a speech at a workshop for Arab Detroit.
"Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists," Thomas, 90, told an audience of about 300. "No question, in my opinion. They put their money where their mouth is."
The national director of the Anti-Defamation League said Thomas' remarks were anti-Semitic. Wayne State officials also said the remarks were wrong and ended the annual Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media award.
On Sunday night, Thomas told the Free Press: "The leaders of Wayne State University have made a mockery of the First Amendment and disgraced their understanding of its inherent freedom of speech and the press."
Osama Siblani, publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News and spokesman for the Congress of Arab-American Organizations, defended Thomas on Tuesday. He was in the group that met with WSU officials and has received the Helen Thomas award.

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