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Surprisingly, he also called for a 鈥渘eed to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.鈥� Such statements, coming from a leading presidential candidate, are only the latest examples of anti-Muslim rhetoric making the jump from the firing of hate groups to mainstream political discourse. But such jumps are not random and, in fact, have come after years of planning.

The Center for Security Policy, a hate group that serves as the anti-Muslim movement鈥檚 premier think tank, has worked hard to earn the ear of elected officials and has sadly succeeded in this strategy. Of the eight people appointed as advisors to 2016听candidates听Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz, all have connections to CSP and half hold ranking positions within the group, including its founder, Frank Gaffney.

Listed below are detailed profiles of the eight anti-Muslim advisors Cruz and Trump have appointed to advisory roles in their campaigns.

Frank Gaffney, president of Center for Security Policy, appointed to Ted Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition on March 17

Frank Gaffney is the founder of the anti-Muslim movement鈥檚 preeminent think tank, the (CSP). He also is one of the most outspoken anti-Muslim activists in America today, propagating conspiracy theories about the Muslim Brotherhood infiltrating the White House and producing reports calling for a ban on all Muslim immigration to the U.S.

When asked at an event in 2015 about Somali refugees working at meat processing plants in the U.S., for example, Gaffney stated, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know about you, but it kind of creeps me out that they are getting jobs in the food supply of the United States.鈥� Gaffney has also made efforts to associate with loud-and-proud racists. In September of 2015, Gaffney invited on his radio show Jared Taylor, one of the most prominent white nationalists in America, to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis. During the interview, Gaffney called Taylor鈥檚 openly racist American Renaissance website 鈥渨onderful.鈥�

Despite such ties to known racists, Gaffney does not operate on the political fringe. In recent years, he and his organization have grown closer to Cruz, with whom he has frequently shared a stage at anti-Muslim events.

In February 2014, Gaffney on a panel titled, 鈥淎merican Security and The Iranian Bomb: Analyzing Threats at Home and Abroad鈥� with Cruz. A month later, Cruz at a 鈥淣ational Security Action Summit鈥� organized by Breitbart News, which featured a host of anti-Muslim activists including Gaffney and three other members of Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition. In September 2014, Cruz via video at another CSP co-sponsored Action Summit.

A year later, in February 2015, Cruz spoke at the CSP鈥檚 鈥�.鈥� Gaffney also held four 鈥淣ational Security Action Summit鈥� events last year in , , and , all key primary states. Cruz attended the first, in South Carolina, and submitted a video speech for the other three. The CSP summits featured a number of GOP presidential hopefuls speaking alongside notorious anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant figures.

In September 2015, Cruz teamed up with his rival Donald Trump to a rally in opposition to the nuclear treaty signed with Iran. CSP co-sponsored the event in D.C.

Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin (Ret.), Executive VP of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council, Appointed to Ted Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition on March 17

Boykin works for the anti-LGBT Family Research Council (FRC), but is more known for his activism in the anti-Muslim world.

In the past, Boykin, who brings with him a decorated career in the U.S. Army, has worked closely with the Center for Security Policy and has openly stated that Islam should not be protected under the First Amendment. In 2012, Boykin infamously claimed, 鈥淭he continent of Europe is dark, it is hopelessly lost and it鈥檚 going to get worse. Every expert will tell you that by the middle of this century the continent of Europe will be an Islamic continent, and they can鈥檛 reverse it, they can鈥檛 stop it. It is because they took Jesus out of their societies and it鈥檚 been replaced by darkness.鈥�

Last month, Boykin Ted Cruz for president, claiming Cruz was 鈥渁 man of character integrity and courage.鈥� It wasn鈥檛 a surprise, considering Boykin and Cruz have shared the stage before. In February of 2015, Cruz and Boykin both spoke at the CSP鈥檚 鈥淒efeat Jihad Summit鈥� in Washington, D.C. In March last year, Boykin participated in Frank Gaffney鈥檚 National Security Action Summit in South Carolina. A year earlier, both Cruz and Gaffney spoke at the Breitbart-sponsored National Security Action Conference in DC.听 Boykin also attended and spoke at the Cruz/Trump anti-Iran nuclear deal rally in D.C. in September of 2015.

Clare Lopez 鈥� VP for research and analysis at the anti-Muslim Center for Security Policy, Appointed to Ted Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition on March 17

Lopez, a longtime Gaffney ally, is a key figure at CSP, previously serving as a fellow before becoming vice president of the think tank.

Like her boss Frank Gaffney, Lopez peddles anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. She has long claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood has 鈥渋nfiltrated and suborned the U.S. government to actively assist 鈥� the mission of its grand jihad.鈥� In 2013, she wrote a report linking Huma Abedin, deputy chief of staff to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to the Muslim Brotherhood 鈥� a favored allegation that has never been proven. Also in 2013, she stated at a speaking engagement, 听鈥淲hen people in other bona fide religions follow their doctrines they become better people 鈥� Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews. When Muslims follow their doctrine, they become jihadists.鈥� In 2014, she said that because Obama鈥檚 father was Muslim, that 鈥渄e facto makes him [Obama] a Muslim,鈥� which in turn explains why the president 鈥渁ttacks and punishes Israel while allowing the Islamic State to grow and conquer.鈥�

Lopez has also participated in a number of events featuring Cruz, including the March 2014 National Security Action summit in Washington, D.C. and the 鈥淒efeat Jihad Summit鈥� in February of 2015.

Andy McCarthy 鈥� Columnist for National Review, Appointed to Ted Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition on March 17

McCarthy, like Boykin, is not employed by an anti-Muslim group, but he is very active in the movement, especially on the anti-Muslim speaking circuit.听

McCarthy recently that Islam is not a religion and therefore may not deserve legal protections.

In 2010, McCarthy co-authored a CSP-published titled, 鈥淪hariah: The Threat to America.鈥� The report concluded with a number of alarmist recommendations, including a call for U.S. government to halt outreach to Muslim communities 鈥渢hrough Muslim Brotherhood fronts whose mission it is to destroy our country from within, as such practices are both reckless and counterproductive.鈥� Other recommendations included warning Imams that they will be charged with sedition if they advocate for Shariah in America. The report also called for dismantling so-called 鈥渘o-go zones鈥濃�攏on-existent neighborhoods where law enforcement are rumored to be unable to police because they鈥檙e heavily Muslim.

McCarthy praised Cruz in a December 2015 National Review column. 鈥淐ruz understands that the most immediate enemy the United States confronts on the world stage is Islamic supremacism, which ignites jihadist violence through its state sponsors, terror networks, and activist organizations.鈥� Like Clare Lopez, McCarthy has spoken at anti-Muslim events with Cruz, including the 鈥淒efeat Jihad Summit鈥� in 2015 and the second National Security Action Summit in September of 2014.

Fred Fleitz 鈥� Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs at the anti-Muslim Center for Security Policy, Appointed to Ted Cruz鈥檚 National Security Coalition on March 17

Fleitz is another Center for Security Policy staffer appointed to the Cruz team. Like Clare Lopez, Fleitz served as a CSP fellow before moving up the ranks.

Fleitz is a co-author of a 2015 published by CSP titled, 鈥淭he Secure Freedom Strategy: A Plan for Victory Over the Global Jihad Movement.鈥� Other authors of the report include Cruz National Security Coalition members Jerry Boykin, Frank Gaffney and Clare Lopez. The report concludes with a number of radical recommendations including stopping the immigration of 鈥淪hariah-adherent鈥� individuals to the U.S.

Fleitz recently attacked President Obama for speaking at a mosque, claiming the mosque had 鈥�.鈥�

Sen. Jeff Sessions 鈥� key politician in the anti-Muslim movement, Appointed as Chair of Trump鈥檚 National Security Advisory Committee on March 3

Sen. Jeff Sessions is one of the most outspoken anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim federal officials who, unsurprisingly, endorsed Trump last month.

In 2014, Sessions the 鈥淒aring the Odds鈥� award from anti-Muslim hate group the David Horowitz Freedom Center for his efforts to prevent undocumented youth from receiving temporary status in the United States. Previous winners of the award include Pamela Geller, who heads the anti-Muslim groups American Freedom Defense Initiative and Stop the Islamization of America. The Center for Security Policy awarded Sessions with its 鈥淜eeper of the Flame鈥� award in October of 2015.

In September听2015, Sessions attacked President Obama鈥檚 plan to resettle Syrian refugees in the United States, , 鈥淚t has also been reported that 3 in 4 of those seeking relocation from the Middle East are not refugees but economic migrants from many countries.鈥�

Walid Phares 鈥� Anti-Muslim activist and former Lebanese Christian Militia member, Trump revealed Phares is on his council of advisors on March 22, 2016

Walid Phares is a Lebanese Christian with a troubled past. After Mitt Romney announced in 2011 that Phares would serve as co-chair for his Middle East advisory group, Mother Jones that Phares, 鈥渨as a high ranking political official in a sectarian religious militia responsible for massacres during Lebanon's brutal, 15-year civil war.鈥� Earlier that year, Phares was to testify at hearings discussing radical Islam that were organized by U.S. Rep. Peter King, a close friend of a number of anti-Muslim groups. King was forced to drop Phares from the witness list after his militia ties became known.

Phares has spoken at several events organized by the Center for Security Policy, including a on in February 2015, and similar event in December of that year. He has also been a on Frank Gaffney鈥檚 Secure Freedom Radio show. Phares was also a on an ACT! for America series in 2011. ACT! is the largest grassroots anti-Muslim hate group in America, run by Brigitte Gabriel.

Joseph E. Schmitz 鈥� Senior Fellow with the anti-Muslim Center for Security Policy, named to Trump鈥檚 council of advisors on March 22, 2016

Schmitz spent three years as the Pentagon鈥檚 Inspector General before leaving under a barrage of scrutiny. to the Los Angles Times, 鈥淪chmitz slowed or blocked investigations of senior Bush administration officials, spent taxpayer money on pet projects and accepted gifts that may have violated ethics guidelines.鈥�

Today, Schmitz is a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy. He has been a on Frank Gaffney鈥檚 Secure Freedom Radio show and in June of 2013, he at a CSP event. CSP also published a book penned by Schmitz, titled 鈥淚nspector General Handbook.鈥�

Schmitz is also a co-author of two CSP reports: 听鈥淪hariah: The Threat to America,鈥� and 鈥淭he Secure Freedom Strategy: A Plan for Victory Over the Global Jihad Movement.鈥�

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