The alma mater of journalist Helen Thomas will not bestow an award that had been given in her name, making the decision after the 90-year-old scribe made more controversial comments about Jewish people.
Wayne State University, the Detroit, Michigan, institution that Thomas graduated from in 1942, said in a statement Friday that the school will no longer give out the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award.
"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 abrupty 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."
The Wayne State award doesn't fit this category, since it has been given for the past decade in recognition of Thomas -- but not to her, instead being given to journalism standouts. According to a description on the school's website, "The award was established to recognize her leadership role in promoting diversity in the media and the issues of race in America."
Thomas was considered the dean of the White House press corps, having covered every presidential administration since John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s.
The Detroit native, who is of Lebanese descent, was long known for her strong opinions and was seen as a pioneer for female journalists.
Yet her statements last spring prompted widespread condemnation -- and an apology from Thomas. Her agent dropped her, and Hearst said that Thomas would retire, effective immediately. She also lost her coveted front-row seat in the White House briefing room.
She has made no comment on Thursday's remarks.
The alma mater of journalist Helen Thomas will not bestow an award that had been given in her name, making the decision after the 90-year-old scribe made more controversial comments about Jewish people.
Wayne State University, the Detroit, Michigan, institution that Thomas graduated from in 1942, said in a statement Friday that the school will no longer give out the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award.
"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 abrupty 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."
The Wayne State award doesn't fit this category, since it has been given for the past decade in recognition of Thomas -- but not to her, instead being given to journalism standouts. According to a description on the school's website, "The award was established to recognize her leadership role in promoting diversity in the media and the issues of race in America."
Thomas was considered the dean of the White House press corps, having covered every presidential administration since John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s.
The Detroit native, who is of Lebanese descent, was long known for her strong opinions and was seen as a pioneer for female journalists.
Yet her statements last spring prompted widespread condemnation -- and an apology from Thomas. Her agent dropped her, and Hearst said that Thomas would retire, effective immediately. She also lost her coveted front-row seat in the White House briefing room.
She has made no comment on Thursday's remarks.
There is a new website on the internet made just for woman. It is created by 72-year-old actress, Marlo Thomas.
She was known best for acting in the TV Series “That Girl” way back in the 1960′s, but has played in many other roles throughout the years.
Now Marlo Thomas and teamed with AOL to create a website called “MarloThomas.com”, where she hopes to empower women. Thomas had this to say about her new project:
“I could not be more excited about partnering with AOL. The idea for this site has been humming in my head for years, and to bring it to fruition in partnership with a company that shares my core values of informing, entertaining and connecting the world is an absolute joy.”
Thomas, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, was the eldest child of Lebanese-American comedian Danny Thomas, who passed away back in 1991. She not only is an actress, but also a social activist and a producer. She is also known for a lot of non-profit work she has done for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital which was founded by her father.
The website, which launched 2 days ago has a goal in mind. It wants to bring together women from all over the world, for them to share stories, photos and videos with others.
There is a new website on the internet made just for woman. It is created by 72-year-old actress, Marlo Thomas.
She was known best for acting in the TV Series “That Girl” way back in the 1960′s, but has played in many other roles throughout the years.
Now Marlo Thomas and teamed with AOL to create a website called “MarloThomas.com”, where she hopes to empower women. Thomas had this to say about her new project:
“I could not be more excited about partnering with AOL. The idea for this site has been humming in my head for years, and to bring it to fruition in partnership with a company that shares my core values of informing, entertaining and connecting the world is an absolute joy.”
Thomas, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, was the eldest child of Lebanese-American comedian Danny Thomas, who passed away back in 1991. She not only is an actress, but also a social activist and a producer. She is also known for a lot of non-profit work she has done for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital which was founded by her father.
The website, which launched 2 days ago has a goal in mind. It wants to bring together women from all over the world, for them to share stories, photos and videos with others.
The black widow of eating gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes.
Sonya Thomas ate nearly five pounds of chicken wings Sunday to win a contest in Buffalo, New York. She even beat American icon Joey Chesnutt who was heavily favored.
Thomas says after she finished her 181 wings she was still hungry so she ate 20 more.
The black widow of eating gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes.
Sonya Thomas ate nearly five pounds of chicken wings Sunday to win a contest in Buffalo, New York. She even beat American icon Joey Chesnutt who was heavily favored.
Thomas says after she finished her 181 wings she was still hungry so she ate 20 more.
MANHATTAN — The confessed killer of Malcolm X was released from prison Tuesday, 45 years after he gunned down the civil rights icon in a Washington Heights meeting hall.
Thomas Hagan, 69, was originally scheduled to be paroled Wednesday. But because his paperwork was already in order, he was allowed to walk out of a minimum-security prison in Harlem at 11 a.m. Tuesday, New York State Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Linda Foglia said.
For all practical purposes, Hagan’s life won’t change much now that he’s out of jail.
Since 1989, he has been allowed to leave prison on a work-release program in which he spends several days working and visiting his wife and children in Brooklyn. At the time of his release, he was spending two days a week behind bars.
“He’s been living in the community without any problems for many many years,” Foglia said. “He’s probably going to keep the same job, keep the same residence, the same friends and habits.”
Thomas Hagan, 69, killed Malcolm X on Feb. 21. 1965. (AP Photo)
In 2008, Hagan was living in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and working in a fast-food restaurant, according to the New York Post.
A state parole spokeswoman said Hagan will have 24 hours to meet with his parole officer, who will set the conditions of his supervision.
Prior to his release, Hagan had tried more than a dozen times for parole. He was finally approved earlier this year. In a March 3 interview with parole officials, he said he was sorry, and that the things that motivated him to kill Malcolm X on Feb. 21, 1965 were wrong.
“I’ve had a lot of time, a heck of a lot of time to think about it,” Hagan said, according to transcripts obtained by DNAinfo.
“Being more educated in terms of social events and so forth, I understand a lot better the dynamics of movements and what can happen inside movements and conflicts that can come up, but I have deep regrets about my participation in that.”
In prison, Hagan obtained a master’s degree in sociology. He hopes to become a substance-abuse counselor when he gets out. He has also been volunteering at a mosque, according to the transcripts.
Hagan was a 22-year-old rank-and-file member of the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X split from the group and went public with allegations that its leader, Elijah Muhammad, was fathering children out of wedlock.
Nation of Islam ministers responded with charges that Malcolm X was a lying hypocrite, and was planning armed attacks against group members. So Hagan and a couple others got together in New Jersey and planned to assassinate him.
On Feb. 21, 1965, they gunned Malcolm X down as he spoke at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights.
“Of course, as we know as history has revealed, a lot of what [Malcolm X] was saying was true,” Hagan said, according to the transcripts.
Hagan has maintained that the two other Nation of Islam members who were convicted with him — Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Kahlil Islam — were not part of the plot. In his parole interview, Hagan repeated claims he made in a 1970s affidavit that his accomplices were two other men who were never charged.
Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20100427/central-harlem/malcolm-x-killer-thomas-hagan-released-from-prison#ixzz0mLgCOiC1
MANHATTAN — The confessed killer of Malcolm X was released from prison Tuesday, 45 years after he gunned down the civil rights icon in a Washington Heights meeting hall.
Thomas Hagan, 69, was originally scheduled to be paroled Wednesday. But because his paperwork was already in order, he was allowed to walk out of a minimum-security prison in Harlem at 11 a.m. Tuesday, New York State Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Linda Foglia said.
For all practical purposes, Hagan’s life won’t change much now that he’s out of jail.
Since 1989, he has been allowed to leave prison on a work-release program in which he spends several days working and visiting his wife and children in Brooklyn. At the time of his release, he was spending two days a week behind bars.
“He’s been living in the community without any problems for many many years,” Foglia said. “He’s probably going to keep the same job, keep the same residence, the same friends and habits.”
Thomas Hagan, 69, killed Malcolm X on Feb. 21. 1965. (AP Photo)
In 2008, Hagan was living in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and working in a fast-food restaurant, according to the New York Post.
A state parole spokeswoman said Hagan will have 24 hours to meet with his parole officer, who will set the conditions of his supervision.
Prior to his release, Hagan had tried more than a dozen times for parole. He was finally approved earlier this year. In a March 3 interview with parole officials, he said he was sorry, and that the things that motivated him to kill Malcolm X on Feb. 21, 1965 were wrong.
“I’ve had a lot of time, a heck of a lot of time to think about it,” Hagan said, according to transcripts obtained by DNAinfo.
“Being more educated in terms of social events and so forth, I understand a lot better the dynamics of movements and what can happen inside movements and conflicts that can come up, but I have deep regrets about my participation in that.”
In prison, Hagan obtained a master’s degree in sociology. He hopes to become a substance-abuse counselor when he gets out. He has also been volunteering at a mosque, according to the transcripts.
Hagan was a 22-year-old rank-and-file member of the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X split from the group and went public with allegations that its leader, Elijah Muhammad, was fathering children out of wedlock.
Nation of Islam ministers responded with charges that Malcolm X was a lying hypocrite, and was planning armed attacks against group members. So Hagan and a couple others got together in New Jersey and planned to assassinate him.
On Feb. 21, 1965, they gunned Malcolm X down as he spoke at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights.
“Of course, as we know as history has revealed, a lot of what [Malcolm X] was saying was true,” Hagan said, according to the transcripts.
Hagan has maintained that the two other Nation of Islam members who were convicted with him — Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Kahlil Islam — were not part of the plot. In his parole interview, Hagan repeated claims he made in a 1970s affidavit that his accomplices were two other men who were never charged.
Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20100427/central-harlem/malcolm-x-killer-thomas-hagan-released-from-prison#ixzz0mLgCOiC1