The Sacramento Valley/Central California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV/CC) today joined the Fresno community in urging Fresno State University to rename the Henry Madden Library after Madden’s anti-Semitic and racist writings resurfaced in a book called ‘Hitler’s American Friends.’
SEE: Fresno State Library Could Get Name Change After Resurfaced Racist, Anti-Semitic Writings
Madden is shown to express ‘Nazi sympathies’ and states in his writing: “Whenever I see one of those predatory noses, or those roving and leering eyes, or those slobbering lips, or those flat feet, or those nasal and whiny voices I tremble with rage and hatred. They are the oppressors…. Whom do I hate more than the Jews?”
CAIR-SV/CC Deputy Executive Director Sukaina Hussain said in a statement:
“Fresno State University must take action in changing the name of the Henry Madden Library. We, and others in the community, are concerned about the impact that the rhetoric will have on students attending school in a climate where hate crimes in the region and across the country are on a rise.”
Fresno State University Muslim Student Association President/Graduate Student Zena Chafi said in a statement:
“I do not feel comfortable studying in a place that is named after Henry Madden, a man who expressed clear anti-Semitic hate. The Muslim Student Association at Fresno State strongly condemns this rhetoric and urges our university to rename the library.”
The American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
