Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro has not learned the key lesson about Muslim clerics: listen to what they say to their own within the security of their mosques, not what they say in public to ecumenical groups: "Gov. Shapiro Shows Up, Speaks at Radical Imam Thanksgiving".
The speeches were innocuous, including the one made by Imam Bilaal, who called for “spreading the peace.” Yet, recent speeches made by Bilaal have been anything but peaceful.
Following the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, Bilaal appeared repeatedly at anti-Israel rallies. One, a December 10, 2023 demonstration outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Bilaal prayed for Allah to “liberate… Jerusalem, Gaza and Philistine” and denounced world leaders, including Americans, for “contributing to this genocide.” The watchdog group Canary Mission described the rally as “pro-Hamas,” as speakers promoted “resistance” and chanted for Israel’s destruction.
Days later, Bilaal headlined a “Gala for Gaza” fundraiser, where he attacked what he called “the Zionist lobby” and pushed conspiratorial claims. At the 2025 “Gala for Gaza,” Bilaal called for “complete liberation of Gaza and Philistine.” Both galas were sponsored by Human Appeal, an organization alleged of having deep ties to Hamas.
If government officials want to meekly offer their own throats to assassins, that's one thing. I hope Shapiro's constituents draw the line somewhere short of this when it comes to themselves.
