Wayne State encourages free speech and open dialogue, and respects diverse viewpoints,” the school’s statement said. “However, the university strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Helen Thomas during a conference yesterday.”Thomas abruptly retired earlier this year from her position as a White House columnist for the Hearst media chain after a YouTube video circulated in which she told a rabbi that Israel should “get the hell out of Palestine.” She also said Jewish people should leave Israel and go home to “Poland, Germany … and America and everywhere else.”Then, at a diversity conference Thursday in Dearborn, Michigan, Thomas voiced her opinion on Jewish people in the United States.According to the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News, she said, “Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists. No question.”Zionist is a term used to describe those who pushed for the creation — and today champion the current state and future existence — of modern-day Israel.As Thomas’ comments circulated Friday, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging all schools and groups to take back any honors they’ve given to Thomas, saying she “clearly, unequivocally revealed herself as a vulgar anti-Semite.”
