UDC criticized for inviting Josh Lopez, tarnished by anti-Semitism scandal, to speak
The event occurred last week.
UDC stands by Josh Lopez as a speaker after some lawmakers' complained about his role organizing a rally with anti-Semitic hate speech. One rabbi is telling them to quit dragging anti-Semitism into their political feud
D.C. Politics
UDC criticized for inviting Josh Lopez, tarnished by anti-Semitism scandal, to speak
By Fenit Nirappil
February 20
Several D.C. lawmakers are urging the University of the District of Columbia to revoke a speaking invitation to Joshua Lopez, a former city official who was involved in an anti-Semitism scandal last year.
Lopez, a UDC alumnus, political operative and ally to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), is scheduled to speak Thursday morning at the schools Founders Day event.
He was forced to resign from the D.C. public housing authority board after organizing a unity rally to defend D.C. Council member Trayon S. White Sr. (D-Ward 8). The rally included a Nation of Islam representative who blasted a Jewish lawmaker as a
fake Jew while Lopez held the megaphone and later referred to Jews as termites.
Lopez nudged the man after his slur and asked him to stay positive, but did not take away the megaphone or immediately condemn the remarks. He later said he did not want to spark a confrontation.
Members of the council who also have sparred with Lopez during their campaigns called the event part of a broader pattern of divisive behavior and called for him to step down.
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Joshua Lopez, left, stands with Abdul Khadir Muhammad as he denounces Council member Elissa Silverman as a fake Jew at a unity rally. (Fenit Nirappil/TWP)
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Fenit Nirappil covers D.C. government and politics. Before he joined The Washington Post in 2015, he covered the California statehouse for the Associated Press and suburban government outside Portland, Ore., for the Oregonian. Follow
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