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Mar-a-Lago Won’t Host Anti-Muslim Group’s Gala, Trump Organization Says Mar-a-Lago Won’t Host Anti-Muslim Group’s Gala, Trump Organization Says
(about 11 hours later)
An anti-Muslim organization had planned to host its annual gala next month at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla., before an apparent reversal on Sunday, a day after news reports appeared about the event.An anti-Muslim organization had planned to host its annual gala next month at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla., before an apparent reversal on Sunday, a day after news reports appeared about the event.
The group, ACT for America, claims to be the nation’s largest grass-roots national security organization, and is considered the largest anti-Muslim group in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks such groups.The group, ACT for America, claims to be the nation’s largest grass-roots national security organization, and is considered the largest anti-Muslim group in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks such groups.
Michelle Malkin, a conservative columnist, author and television commentator, had been the planned keynote speaker, according to an invitation that was posted on the organization’s website.Michelle Malkin, a conservative columnist, author and television commentator, had been the planned keynote speaker, according to an invitation that was posted on the organization’s website.
On Sunday, the invitation was removed from the website and a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said in an email, without elaboration, “This event will absolutely not be taking place at Mar-a-Lago.”On Sunday, the invitation was removed from the website and a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said in an email, without elaboration, “This event will absolutely not be taking place at Mar-a-Lago.”
She did not respond to additional questions and organizers of the event could not be reached. She did not respond to additional questions.
Ms. Malkin said on Twitter on Monday, “I am disappointed at the cancellation of my 11/7 speech at ACT for America’s annual banquet, but I will not be deterred.” ACT for America confirmed the gala’s cancellation in a statement on Monday and said the organization was not an Islamophobic hate group.
She added: “There is a chilling ‘cancel culture’ campaign being waged against patriotic journalists & activists, and apparently, not even Mar-a-Lago is a safe space.” “While we are disappointed in the decision made by the Trump Organization attorneys, we do not blame President Trump or the Trump family,” Brigitte Gabriel, the founder and chairman of the group, said in the statement.
Ms. Malkin said on Twitter on Monday: “There is a chilling ‘cancel culture’ campaign being waged against patriotic journalists & activists, and apparently, not even Mar-a-Lago is a safe space.”
On Saturday, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, had said the gathering should not take place.On Saturday, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, had said the gathering should not take place.
On Sunday, Nihad Awad, the group’s national executive director, said in a statement: “No individual, organization or public official should profit from bigotry. We cautiously welcome the cancellation of Act for America’s hate event at Mar-a-Lago and urge other potential venues nationwide to consider the group’s history of Islamophobia and associations with white supremacist and racist organizations.” Nihad Awad, the group’s national executive director, said in a statement on Sunday: “No individual, organization or public official should profit from bigotry. We cautiously welcome the cancellation of Act for America’s hate event at Mar-a-Lago and urge other potential venues nationwide to consider the group’s history of Islamophobia and associations with white supremacist and racist organizations.”
Brigitte Gabriel, who uses a pseudonym, founded ACT for America in 2007 and has said: “America has been infiltrated on all levels by radicals who wish to harm America. They have infiltrated us at the C.I.A., at the F.B.I., at the Pentagon, at the State Department. They are being radicalized in radical mosques in our cities and communities within the United States.” Ms. Gabriel, who uses a pseudonym, founded ACT for America in 2007 and has said: “America has been infiltrated on all levels by radicals who wish to harm America. They have infiltrated us at the C.I.A., at the F.B.I., at the Pentagon, at the State Department. They are being radicalized in radical mosques in our cities and communities within the United States.”
The organization aims to protect the safety and security of Americans against foreign and domestic threats, according to its website.The organization aims to protect the safety and security of Americans against foreign and domestic threats, according to its website.
In 2017, the group organized the “March Against Sharia,” a nationwide protest attended by far-right and white supremacist groups in about two dozen cities. That year, Marriott International faced criticism for hosting ACT for America’s annual conference in Arlington, Va.In 2017, the group organized the “March Against Sharia,” a nationwide protest attended by far-right and white supremacist groups in about two dozen cities. That year, Marriott International faced criticism for hosting ACT for America’s annual conference in Arlington, Va.
“We have a president that likes us, President Trump,” she said at the group’s 2018 conference in Washington, D.C., according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Ms. Gabriel also said she had a standing meeting at the White House once a week.“We have a president that likes us, President Trump,” she said at the group’s 2018 conference in Washington, D.C., according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Ms. Gabriel also said she had a standing meeting at the White House once a week.