For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022
Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org
Jewish Community Relations of Greater Phoenix Doesn’t Accept Kari Lake’s Weak Excuse for Endorsing Antisemitic Republican
Kari Lake Endorsed Homophobic, Antisemitic Candidate Who Says “All Jews Will Go to Hell”
PHOENIX– Last Wednesday, Jarrin Jackson, an Oklahoma state Senate candidate with a history of making racist and anti-gay remarks, announced that he won the endorsement of Kari Lake, who said, “We need fighters in EVERY state, that’s why I’m proud to endorse Jarrin Jackson for Oklahoma state senate.” Lake’s response to endorsing Jarrin? “Let me be clear: Our great movement welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to fight for a better future.”
It wasn’t till after receiving a deluge of bad press and outrage that Lake’s campaign gave a halfhearted answer for her support of the extreme candidate.
Then today, the Jewish Community Relations of Greater Phoenix responded, saying,“Kari Lake’s tepid renunciation is wholly insufficient. Lake cannot be bothered to speak, or even tweet, the slightest denunciation of Jackson, let alone his bigotry & antisemitism. For someone who wants to head our state gov, Lake seems remarkably afraid to show any leadership.”
Even after facing questions and criticism, Lake has declined to acknowledge Jackson’s sordid history as true and while she’s now attempted to walk back the endorsement, Jackson still proudly displays Lake’s endorsement on his website.
See Below for Coverage on Lake’s Endorsement of Jarrin Jackson:
- The Jewish Community Relations of Greater Phoenix– “Kari Lake and Mark Finchem’s endorsements of the antisemitic Oklahoma State Senate Candidate Jarrin Jackson is appalling. We are judged by our relations, and the company we keep.”
- Laurie Roberts: Still waiting for Kari Lake to rescind her support of a gay bashing, antisemitic ‘patriot’–It’s now been three days since we learned that a gay bashing, Jew hating candidate for the Oklahoma Legislature won the Kari Lake seal of approval.
- Phil Boas: Kari Lake will disavow gay-bashing antisemite or the election is over–If she continues to endorse the man who says “all Jews will go to hell,” she’ll prove without any doubt she is unfit to be governor of Arizona.
- EJ Montini: The Oklahoma bigot backed by Kari Lake is no different from her bigoted buddies in Arizona– Jarrin Jackson of Oklahoma is vile. But is he any worse than, say, Arizona’s Wendy Rogers? Or the other swimmers in Lake’s political cesspool?
- Salon: Reactions roll in after Kari Lake endorses Jew-hating Jarrin Jackson–In the days following Lake’s decision to back Jarrin, the internet flooded with reminders of Jarrin’s personal views and past statements regarding racial, religious, and LGBTQ+ issues.
- Congressman Ruben Gallego–“Only reason Kari Lake supports an antisemite or a homophobe for office is because she is both.”