Simon Wiesenthal Center Reaction To Rick Sanchez’s Firing By CNN

“Rick Sanchez is an experienced and earnest TV journalist and anchor. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is deeply disturbed by his embrace andexpression of stereotypes about Jews that are harmful to our community and which led to his firing from CNN,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“As he prepares for his next journalistic position, we urge Mr. Sanchez to take a tour of New York’s Jewish poorwith an expert like William Rapfogel, of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Even before the current economic woes, statistics indicated that more than a quarter of Jewish New Yorkerslive close to the poverty line. In 2010, Jewish poor are an increasing part of our community’s challenges from Miami to Chicago to Los Angeles.”

“Mr. Sanchez’s personal story of struggle and success resonated among Jews whose parents and grandparents came to America with little more than a dream of a better life. It’s a shame that facthas been lost on him,” Cooper concluded.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is anNGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

Rabbi Cooper is available for comment in Jerusalem either at Israel cell: 0524 316 448 or US #: 1310-210-9750, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updatessent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.