Fulop’s chief of staff apologizes for remarks he made as a student

JERSEY CITY — Muhammed Akil, chief of staff to Mayor Steven Fulop, issued an apology on Oct. 7 for a speech he made while he was in college.
“In response to comments I made 20 years ago, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies to the community,” he said. “These words in no way reflect my current mindset. Over the last two decades, I have matured into a person who knows every human being should be shown the utmost respect.”
Akil made the speech at Northwestern University at an African Mind Liberation Conference, which was reported by the school newspaper, the Daily Northwestern.
The remarks included using homophobic language, calling the Pope at the time “the anti-Christ,” and claiming that all white people have “a little Hitler” in them.
As chief of staff for Fulop, Akil is one of the most powerful people in City Hall, and has an annual salary of more than $120,000.
Akil said he regrets that he said back then.
“I have learned that words have the power to cause pain and also to heal,” he said “As I reflect on the young man who delivered those comments 20 years ago, I am greatly disappointed and realize that fortunately, that is not who I am today.”
Mayor Fulop also responded to the reports.
“Obviously, I don’t agree with the comments made 20 years ago, and personally as the grandson of Holocaust survivors myself, they are offensive. However, I also know people change and grow over time and the comments made 20 years ago is not consistent nor reflective of the person I have known for the last 10 years who has never hesitated to help people in need whether white, black, Jewish, catholic, gay or straight,” Fulop said in a statement.