It's alarming to hear leaders of the Woman's March, preachers of inclusivity and equality, defend ties to Louis Farrakhan, a notorious conspiracy theorist with a Nazi-like hatred of Jews and gays.



Either denounce the man or step down. The choice is simple. But not to these seasoned activists, apparently - starting with Tamika Mallory, the one in attendance at Farrakhan's speech in Chicago last month.



This was where the Nation of Islam leader went on another of his vile rants. The outlandish anti-Semite, who calls Hitler "a very great man," once again blamed "the Satanic Jew" for Hollywood's "filth and degenerate behavior," which he said is "turning men into women and women into men."



"The powerful Jews are my enemy," he declared. On this, he is in perfect sync with David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan, who also accuses Jews of controlling Hollywood, the media and the world.



Like Duke, Farrakhan can't be dismissed as irrelevant at a time when neo-Nazis are on the march and anti-Semitic attacks are spiking. Now, thanks to Mallory, he's in the headlines again.



Farrakhan gave her a shout-out at his speech, and she posted about the event on social media. After getting slammed by critics, she said she was being "bullied," and denounced anti-Semitism and homophobia, but not Farrakhan.



Two other Women's March organizers, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez, took to Twitter to defend Mallory, and in the past, have also defended Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. None have apologized or rejected him or his designated hate group.



Perez has said people need to understand the "significant contributions" he's made to people of color: "There are no perfect leaders." No. These women are the perfect example.



But they, of all people, should know better. Sarsour raised thousands of dollars last year to repair Jewish cemeteries damaged in anti-Semitic attacks, yet has complimented Farrakhan on social media - along with Joanne Chesimard, famous for murdering a New Jersey State Trooper during a traffic stop in 1973.



Mallory says she has attended Nation of Islam events since childhood, so she should know exactly what to expect. She cites the group's support after the murder of her son's father and her work on the 20-year anniversary of the Million Man March that Farrakhan led. So what?



None of this is an excuse for disgracing the anti-Trump movement they helped build by refusing to cut ties with this hateful man. If they cannot embody one of its most basic principles - calling out the bigots - then they should step aside.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.