True-See Allah, Director of Community Engagement/Strategic Partnerships at the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in Boston, has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review. This action follows the unearthing of antisemitic comments made by Allah during a 2016 podcast interview, brought to light by a Fox News investigation.
In the interview, Allah recounted an interaction with a Jewish businessman involved in bringing a Reebok store to Boston. Allah's description of the man as having "short arms and deep pockets" has been interpreted as perpetuating a harmful antisemitic stereotype. Further adding to the controversy are Allah's public expressions of admiration for Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader known for his history of antisemitic rhetoric. Allah has shared photos with Farrakhan on social media, referring to him as the "Undisputed Champion for all of humanity."
The Suffolk County DA's office, which initially defended Allah after previous reports highlighted his praise of Farrakhan, has now taken action. A spokesperson for the office emphasized their zero-tolerance policy for prejudice and bigotry, stating that a thorough review of the situation is underway.
This incident comes after the Middle East Forum previously uncovered Allah's positive portrayal of Farrakhan. At that time, the DA's office maintained that Allah had never endorsed Farrakhan's inflammatory statements. However, the recently revealed 2016 podcast interview contradicts this assertion.
During the 2016 interview, Allah described Farrakhan as an "illustrious leader" and "the embodiment of righteous conduct." He also detailed his own introduction to the Nation of Islam while serving time in prison for a gang shooting, crediting Farrakhan's influence on his personal transformation.
In a more recent podcast from September 2022, recorded three months after Allah joined the DA's office, he recounted a visit from Farrakhan and praised the positive interactions between the Nation of Islam leader and local police. He also discussed his efforts to introduce the new leader of his mosque to officials like District Attorney Kevin Hayden and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
The Anti-Defamation League has labeled Farrakhan as the "most popular antisemite in America." The Nation of Islam, while estimated to have around 50,000 members, holds a significant influence that extends beyond its membership base.
