Bill Maher faces fire from Berkeley; he’s ‘racist and bigoted,’ students say
Liberal comedian and "Real Time" television host Bill Maher is facing some fire from within his own political ranks — from University of California-Berkeley students who said his views of Islam are "racist and bigoted" and that he shouldn't speak at the campus.
Mr. Maher has made national headlines lately for his outspoken views of Islam, saying the religion fosters violence and that many in his own liberal camp have been turning a blind eye to the reality. He is an invited speaker at Berkeley's upcoming graduation ceremony — but some at the school said he should be uninvited, The Blaze reported.
Nearly 2,000 have signed a Change.org petition to prevent him from speaking this December. The petition was created by two members of the Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian Coalition, The Blaze reported.
"Bill Maher is a blatant bigot and racist who has no respect for the values UC Berkeley students and administration stand for," the petition stated. "In a time where climate is a priority for all on campus, we cannot invite an individual who himself perpetuates a dangerous learning environment. Bill Maher's public statements on various religions and cultures are offensive and his dangerous rhetoric has found its way into our campus communities."
The petition's authors pointed to recent statements Mr. Maher made about Islam as examples of his perceived bigotry.
One statement: "Dealing with Hamas is like dealing with a crazy woman who's trying to kill you — you can only hold her wrists so long before you have to slap her," Mr. Maher said on a previous occasion. And another he's credited with saying: "The Muslim world has too much in common with ISIS," The Blaze reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment