Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rep. King Promises "Fair" Muslim Hearings, Proud Of IRA Support
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 9, 2011
Modified Mar 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 9, 2011
Modified Mar 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), who heads the Homeland Security Committee, is getting ready for tomorrow's hearings on Muslim radicalization and was on CBS's The Early Show and tried to address criticism that they were racist. King promised to "run a good hearing. I will run an honest and fair hearing." But what about his support of those white guy terrorists, the IRA?
The NY Times devoted a lengthy article about King's pro-IRA past today, noting his comments from the 1980s, "We must pledge ourselves to support those brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry" and "If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the I.R.A. for it." And the Daily Show (video below) also wondered about it.
King said the Times article was "a last-minute attempt to take a shot at me... I was absolutely essential in bringing about that peace process. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people are alive today in Northern Ireland because of my efforts. I would be happy to discuss and debate this issue at any time." He also used the bad apple analogy to emphasize why the hearings were important, "Al Qaeda is attempting to radicalize the Muslim-American community. I have said over and over again, 99 percent -- more than that maybe - of Muslims in this country are outstanding Americans, but their community is being targeted. That's why the investigation is there."
The Daily Show - How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sharia?
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
Tagged
ira
muslim
muslim american
peter king
radicalization
terrorism
terrorist
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Judge temporarily halts overnight construction at NYC’s Chinatown jail
The order comes after Chinatown residents sued the city over noise, health concerns and years of planned after-hours construction.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 7:08 p.m. ET
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
By
Charles Lane
Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas tree is a 76-foot spruce from Upstate New York
By
Giulia Heyward
‘A killer cop lives here’: Brooklyn arrests raise questions about limits of free speech
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .