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CNN Contributor Marc Lamont Hill Has History Of Questionable Endorsements

Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET Networks

Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
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Advocating for the violent end of Israel is apparently part of a larger trend for CNN’s Marc Lamont Hill, who also has a history of questionable tweets.

Lamont Hill spoke at the United Nations commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday and made some eyebrow-raising comments about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“We must prioritize peace, but we must not romanticize or fetishize it. We must promote non-violence at every opportunity, but cannot endorse narrow politics that shames Palestinians for resisting, for refusing to do nothing in ethnic cleansing,” Lamont Hill said. “Justice requires a Free Palestine from the River to the Sea.”

“From the river to the sea” is a political slogan used by Hamas and Palestinian nationalists who believe in eliminating the state of Israel, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Executive producer Rob Hardy and moderator Marc Lamont HIll attend BET Presents "An Evening With 'The Quad'" At The Paley Center on December 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET Networks)

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 07: Executive producer Rob Hardy and moderator Marc Lamont HIll attend BET Presents “An Evening With ‘The Quad'” At The Paley Center on December 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET Networks)

Lamont Hill called the criticism of his comments “silly” and noted that the phrase from “river to the sea” precedes Hamas.

Lamont Hill has flirted with anti-Semites in the past and recently defended a 2016 photo-op with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has called the Jewish people “termites,” among other derogatory comments.

The CNN pundit explained away the photo-op by contending that the pair discussed Farrakhan’s anti-LGBT and anti-Semitic views during their meeting.

The photo was being used by Farrakhan to sell music box sets, apparently without Lamont Hill’s permission. Lamont Hill said he would “ask for it to be taken down as I don’t think it’s consistent with my values and my professional standards.”

Despite his insistence that he has “principled” disagreements with Farrakhan and his organization, the Nation of Islam (NOI), Lamont Hill has praised the pastor’s leadership in the past.

In 2015, a Twitter user asked Lamont Hill if he would support Farrakhan’s speech at the Atlanta University Center. Lamont Hill replied simply, “what you need, good brother?”

Marc Lamont Hill on Louis Farrakhan (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Louis Farrakhan (Twitter Screenshot)

“I appreciate Minister Farrakhan demanding that we organize and build our own institutions. He’s right,” Lamont Hill wrote in 2010.

Marc Lamont Hill on Louis Farrakhan (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Louis Farrakhan (Twitter Screenshot)

In another 2010 tweet, Lamont Hill insisted that he appreciates much of NOI’s message, but thinks it is “too conservative.”

Marc Lamont Hill on Nation of Islam (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Nation of Islam (Twitter Screenshot)

In 2014, Lamont Hill said it was “beautiful” to see NOI among a group of organizations.

Marc Lamont Hill on Nation of Islam (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Nation of Islam (Twitter Screenshot)

Lamont Hill has also repeatedly expressed support for convicted cop killers Assata Shakur and Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Shakur, whose given name is JoAnne Deborah Byron, was a member of the Black Liberation Army and was convicted of first-degree murder of a New Jersey State trooper in 1973. Shakur was present with two other members of the Black Liberation Army when the police officer was killed, but she claims she took no part in the murder. She later escaped from prison and fled to Cuba.

In 2009, Lamont Hill called Shakur his “hero” and a “freedom fighter” who he believes to be innocent.

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Lamont Hill defended his support of Shakur in 2017 and again in July 2018, claiming that he doesn’t “support cop killers” because he believes Shakur is innocent.

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

“I still stand with Assata Shakur,” he said. “I still maintain her INNOCENCE. I always will.”

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Assata Shakur (Twitter Screenshot)

Lamont Hill also called for freeing Abu-Jamal, a former member of the Black Panther Party who was convicted of killing a police officer in 1982 based on the testimony of four witnesses. Abu-Jamal’s conviction was upheld by the state Supreme Court after multiple appeals.

Marc Lamont Hill on Mumia Abu-Jamal (Twitter Screenshot)

Marc Lamont Hill on Mumia Abu-Jamal (Twitter Screenshot)

CNN did not respond to a request for comment.

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