By Gregory Muhammad
During the “Ask Farrakhan,” Twitter and Social Media townhall held at The Final Call Administration Building in Chicago in Twitter 2013, this writer asked the following question: “What is the importance of The NOI Prison Reform Ministry?”
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s answer: “Some of our greatest minds are languishing in prison, not because we are wicked by nature, but we are wicked by circumstance. And others are there who are absolutely, innocent! Prison has been used by the wicked to trap and imprison minds that are rebellious to their system. So, what we would like to see happen to those in prison is what happened to Brother Malcolm as a perfect example. So, we should demand that books are in the libraries that can inspire us to greatness–and it can start with The Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.”
On behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s National Prison Reform Student Minister Abdullah Muhammad and the NOI Prison Reform Ministry regions across our nation, we thank you for supporting our vending table at one of the “Best” Saviours’ Day celebrations ever. Our vending table was set up to help raise money to sustain the National Prison Reform Ministry. Our number one project is to secure property to open a “Transition House.” The Transition House will be established in Chicago and then duplicated in cities across the country. What is the purpose of this Transition House? It will serve as a refuge for our incarcerated family. Many of our brothers and sisters are being released from prison daily. Many of these prisoners were incarcerated for 20, 30, 40 years and have lost family members and friends.
This loss creates problems for some prisoners who are going through the process for pre-release. That process includes a “Home Plan.” Part of the plan is “stable housing.” If this is not satisfied, the eligible prisoner is denied release until it can be satisfied. This must stop! We must care for our own people behind prison walls. The establishing of the “Transition House” can become the answer to this problem. So, the NOI Prison Reform Ministry is on a “national drive,” not a “fundraiser,” because once we secure the “Transition House,” it can only be sustained by the continuous generosity of our people.
The NOI Prison Reform Ministry vending table offered to the many hundreds and thousands of people walking through the area, information about the work of our prison ministry and testimonies from prison ministry members who served decades inside of prison and also student prison reform ministers who never served time in prison, but they go into prisons to share the Life-Giving and Life-Saving Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan with the Nation of Islam Prison Study Group and the general inmate population.This writer remembers being in prison, sitting in my cell meditating on the day of my release and going forth to help the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan with the “resurrection of our people,” as I, myself, continue to go through the “resurrection process.” What a blessing to be at Saviours’ Day, standing behind the vending table of the NOI Prison Reform Ministry. Being inside prison and thinking about doing something like this is “like a dream.” But it is a “dream come true.” I truly thank the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad for letting us serve as “Student Regional Prison Reform Ministers.”
In closing, I wish to share some words from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in a letter, the Minister sent to me dated August 13, 1983:
“Beloved Brother, I do not believe that you will see death or long imprisonment for your past actions while you were without the knowledge of yourself. Demonstrate to the officials of this prison that you may help keep your brothers and sisters in the streets from having to go to prison.”
The Minister’s words to me also applies to the hundreds and thousands of men and women who are sitting in prison as these words are being written.
We thank Student Minister Abdullah Muhammad for his dedication and commitment to carry out his commission given to him from Min. Farrakhan, to take the NOI Prison Reform Ministry to every jail, state prison, and federal prison throughout this country. All praises are due to Allah for the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan!
To everyone that desires to support “their” prison reform ministry, visit page 25 of The Final Call newspaper where you will find how you can make a contribution today.
Again, a “big thanks,” to all who supported the NOI Prison Reform Ministry vending table.
Gregory Muhammad is the Nation of Islam Student Regional Prison Reform Minister for the Delaware Valley Region.
