A candidate running for Montgomery County executive pulled one of his television ads after News4 asked the campaign about a man in the ad who organized a 2018 event where someone made antisemitic comments.
In the ad, Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who is Jewish, is pictured walking alongside Joshua Lopez, a longtime D.C. politics insider who was an advisor and campaigner for former Mayor Adrian Fenty and an appointee of Mayor Muriel Bowser.
In 2018, Lopez resigned from the board of D.C.’s public housing authority after he organized a unity event on the steps of the Wilson Building in support of Councilmember Trayon White after White posted an antisemitic conspiracy theory on social media.
“It became clear that this issue was becoming highly politicized and people were using it as an opportunity to attack my family and people I care about,” Lopez told the Washington Post at the time.
He later told the Post, “I’m now a private citizen and can return to my political activism without having it unfairly associated with anyone else.”
At the 2018 event, Lopez held the microphone for a representative of the Nation of Islam, who made antisemitic comments.
That same year, Lopez later denounced the remarks and apologized, telling the Washington Post, “I do not stand for any level of hate and I want to offer my sincerest apologies — especially to my Jewish brothers and sisters — for not having better mechanisms in place to ensure the spirit of the rally — solidarity and peace — was preserved.”
In a statement, Friedson’s campaign manager told News4: “Andrew Friedson has an unimpeachable record as a leading champion for the Jewish community and the most vocal local advocate in the fight to combat antisemitism. We immediately removed the image and updated our ad once we became aware of the issue so we can continue to focus this campaign on how to stop constant tax hikes and make Montgomery County more affordable.”
Friedson’s spokesperson did not tell News4 how Lopez was chosen for the ad or what relationship they have.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington honored Friedson last year with its Community Champion Award. CEO Ron Halber reached out after Friedson told him News4 was asking questions about the ad.
“Andrew has been an extraordinary ally and friend in advocating for the values, interests, and priorities of Montgomery County’s Jewish community and has been a leading voice in combating antisemitism,” he said in a statement.
News4 reached out to Lopez but has not heard back.
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