More antisemitic hate seen in L.A. after Kanye West’s remarks
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating accusations that it tacitly condoned a “white supremacist” organization in its city.
On the heels of a speech by Kanye West last week in which he said that Jewish people were part of an “oppression” movement, law enforcement officials are being asked to investigate whether the rappers’ comments helped make their supporters even more intolerant.
During the speech, West claimed that Jews had hijacked Christianity and used it against non-Jews.
In a post-speech interview, West said the reason he said it was because “they’re doing the same thing with us.”
“I said it to let you know that their whole thing… is to separate the races,” he said.
The LAPD are asking the department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate whether the rappers’ lyrics support white supremacist groups in the Southland.
The LAPD said Wednesday afternoon they “cannot confirm or deny” the requests made by Southern California law enforcement to the South L.A. Field Office of the FBI to investigate the rappers.
West’s comments came weeks after the rapper made his most controversial comments yet.
During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the rap legend said he would like to see “the race war” break out in the South.
West’s comments were also condemned by many on Twitter, with one user tweeting “Kanye West: You were wrong. Jews are not the enemy. We are their neighbors. We’re all in this together.”
Last week, West released the song “Famous,” with lyrics about how Jews were “pimps and thieves” who had “swindled their way into Hollywood.”
He went on to tweet a picture of himself holding a sign and text “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
The LAPD are asking the department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate whether West’s lyrics support a white supremacist movement in the Los Angeles area, which is home to the city