Judge Dismis Farrakhan’s $4.8 Billion Lawsuit Against the ADL Regarding Claims of Antisemitism

(VINnews)- The dismissal of Louis Farrakhan’s $4.8 billion lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) marks a significant legal decision. Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, had accused the ADL of falsely labeling him as an antisemite, but Manhattan federal court Judge Denise Cote ruled otherwise.

In her decision, Judge Cote stated that Farrakhan failed to provide evidence linking the actions of the ADL and the Simon Wiesenthal Center to any injuries sustained by him or his organization. She also pointed out that Farrakhan did not prove that his alleged exclusion from speaking at Morgan State University in 2023 was directly caused by pressure from the ADL.

Additionally, Judge Cote noted that the ADL’s writings on Farrakhan and his statements about Jewish people were considered non-actionable opinions and did not constitute defamation. She mentioned that Farrakhan did not demonstrate “actual malice” on the part of the ADL.

The ADL welcomed the judge’s decision, emphasizing their commitment to combating antisemitism and stating that truth serves as their defense. They also shared a blog post highlighting Farrakhan’s controversial statements to support their stance.

This ruling underscores the complexities of defamation claims and the importance of evidence in legal proceedings concerning allegations of hate speech and discrimination.