• Coalition established for the singular purpose of trying to ban conservative talk radio personality Michael Savage from the airwaves
• Accuses Mr. Savage of bigotry against Muslims, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and women

The Hate Hurts America Interfaith and Community Coalition (HHA) describes itself as "a coalition of religious and civic organizations that was formed to address the rising problem of hatred against American minorities." "Hate hurts America by eroding our country's great traditions of religious and cultural tolerance and mutual respect," says HHA. "Hate-filled words can and do lead to violent actions."

Specifically, HHA was established for the singular purpose of trying to ban conservative talk radio personality Michael Savage, host of the popular daily program The Savage Nation, from the airwaves. "While hatemongers have a First Amendment right to spew their hate speech, Americans of all backgrounds also have a First Amendment right not to support hate speech," said HHA. "The best way conscientious Americans can stop supporting hate speech is to ask responsible companies to pull their advertising dollars from hatemongers. We therefore call upon companies to withdraw their advertisements from 'The Savage Nation' as a concrete demonstration of support for the American traditions of religious and cultural tolerance and mutual respect."

HHA expressed concern about "Savage's "history of hateful and bigoted comments against minorities including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Catholics, Jews, immigrants and women." But its chief concern was the broadcaster's critical commentary about Islam and Muslims. In an effort to persuade sponsors to withdraw their ads from Mr. Savage's program, HHA sent those sponsors a letter that read:

"It greatly disturbs us that a popular radio show host could get away with making bigoted comments. As people of diverse faith and cultural backgrounds, we realize that maligning any religion negatively impacts our country by perpetuating stereotypes and discrimination in society. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters against bigotry. Therefore we call on advertisers with the 'Savage Nation' radio show to distance themselves from Mr. Savage's hate-filled views by stopping all advertisement[s] that support the show. … As a business that cares about promoting civility, fairness, and good relations in our cities and country, we are certain that you would not want to be associated with such bigoted rhetoric."

HHA cited the following comments by Savage as being particularly egregious:

• "I'm not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I'm not gonna put my daughter in a burqa. And I'm not getting' on my all-fours and braying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don't like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don't wanna hear anymore about Islam. I don't wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I'm sick of you."
  
  
• "What kind of religion is this? What kind of world are you living in when you let them in here with that throwback document [the Koran] in their hand, which is a book of hate. Don't tell me I need reeducation. They need deportation. I don't need reeducation. Deportation, not reeducation."
  
  
• "Make no mistake about it, the Koran is not a document of freedom. The Koran is a document of slavery and chattel. It teaches you that you are a slave."
  
  
• "I think [Muslims] need to be forcibly converted to Christianity ... It's the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings."
  
  
• In 2006, Savage called for a ban on Muslim immigration and recommended making "the construction of mosques illegal in America."

HHA made no mention of the fact that the context of all these comments was the rising tide, in the United States and around the world, of violent Islamic extremism -- with its calls for jihad, Muslim dominion over the earth, the slaughter of infidels, the adoption of Muslim customs, and the institution of Sharia (Islamic law) in non-Muslim nations. Nor did HHA mention that Savage had made positive comments about Muslims who have rejected such hateful extremism.

Most of HHA's coalition members are individuals affiliated with various Protestant churches and leftist organizations, among which are the War Resisters League West and the American Friends Service Committee. Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun is one of the more well known individual members. Two notable organizations that form part of the coalition are the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Students Association - West.

As of December 18, 2007, HHA reported that the following sponsors had pulled their ads from The Savage Nation: Citrix Systems, Inc.; Trusted I.D.; Office Max; JCPenney; AutoZone; AT&T; and Wal-Mart.

HHA is headed by Sabiha Khan, who also serves as Communications Director for CAIR of Southern California.