By AP/KWMU
Chicago – After days of silence, Governor Rod Blagojevich says he is trying to resolve the furor over his commission on hate crimes.
Five Jewish members of the commission resigned because Blagojevich appointed an official from the Nation of Islam to serve on the panel.
Blagojevich said Thursday that he is working with black, Jewish and gay leaders to discuss the problem. The Democratic governor says he will be personally involved in the process.
The resignations began last week, but Blagojevich has refused to discuss the dispute in detail.
He has simply said that commission member Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad is not responsible for the conduct of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Farrakhan has a long record of harshly criticizing Jews, gays and other groups.