Activist who allegedly faked her racial identity quits her day job

A woman who had converted to Islam had been doing a Rachel Dolezal and lying for years about her ethnic identify, but it finally caught up to her. She claimed to be a woman of color but it turns out that she is not a member of an oppressed racial minority, and is therefore not entitled to intersectional creds. Putting it simply, she's White and the only intersectional creds she has earned is her gender.  

The woman, Raquel Saraswati, 39, has resigned from her position as senior inclusion officer of a social justice group in Philadelphia.

“Raquel Saraswati, who is facing public allegations that she misrepresented her background and past associations, has informed us of her intention to separate from the organization,” American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) rep Layne Mullett told USA Today.

Saraswati was born Rachel Elizabeth Seidel but changed her name and religion and was the chief equity, inclusion and cultural officer of the activist group that fights “violence, inequality and oppression.”

Saraswati was outed by The Intercept for posing as a Latina, South Asian and of Arab descent. Her mother, Carole Perone, told The Intercept that Rachel is really German, British and Italian descent and has no idea why her White daughter claims to be someone she is not.

“I call her Rachel. I don’t know why she’s doing what she’s doing,” Perone said. “I’m as white as the driven snow and so is she.”

Ironically, Rachel is gay and converted to Islam, which is quite intolerant of gay and lesbian practices. In fact, if she was living in an Islamic country such as Saudi Arabia, she might be severely punished if caught 'lesbianing.'

Mullett told USA Today in an email that AFSC supports Saraswati and described her decision to leave the outfit as “difficult” and “deeply personal.”

And likely, highly embarrassing.

Saraswati, who appears to have deleted or locked most of her social media accounts, told the Daily Beast that she wanted “to maintain discretion” regarding her employment, but did not say that she was highly embarrassed over being caught as a liar.

“I have carried out my work at AFSC with integrity and sincere commitment, moving forward many aspects of organizational culture,” she lied. 

“I will be handling this phase of my relationship with AFSC with the same level of thoughtfulness, [lack of veracity] and care as I did [other] important matters,” Saraswati said.

“I am currently taking the time I need both with loved ones as well as with professional counsel to ensure that the doors are soon closed on this,” she added.

Last week, AFSC human resources official Oskar Pierre Castro, who hired Saraswati for her diversity leadership role, said he felt “conned” and deceived” by the revelations, because he was.

He believed she was a “queer, Muslim, multiethnic woman” because that’s what she said she was.

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