(From L-R): Final Call editor Naba’a Muhammad, Cephus X “Uncle Bobby,” Johnson and his wife Beatrice X of Love Not Blood with Student Minister Abdul Sabur Muhammad at 2017 awards ceremony. Photo courtesy of Love Not Blood Campaign

(FCN)—The Love Not Blood Campaign will honor its 2020-2021 Unsung Heroes in a virtual ceremony as part of the work of the non-profit group led by Cephus “Uncle Bobby” X Johnson and “Aunt Bee” Beatrice X Johnson, a husband-and-wife team that assists those who have lost a loved one to police violence or community violence.

“Uncle Bobby” is the uncle of Oscar Grant, who was shot to death on BART Fruitvale Station platform by a transit officer, lying face down and hands in position to be handcuffed in 2009. The couple also worked on and built the Oscar Grant Foundation and then turned it over to Oscar’s mom, who is Uncle Bobby’s sister.

The awards ceremony, Saturday, Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. PST, will be carried on the Facebook page of the Love Not Blood Campaign. “We do this out of love and appreciation for all those who sacrifice for a cause bigger than themselves which is our children and our communities and to secure a future rooted in freedom, justice, and equality for all. Everyone wants to be appreciated but oftentimes those who do the tedious, strenuous and the most selfless work in the community are often not acknowledged,” said the couple.

Those honored will include family members who have lost loved ones and others who have joined campaigns for justice, created programs or who work to promote peace, who advocate for changes in laws to hold police officers and perpetrators of violence accountable, who champion supportive services and help for families who lost loved ones and other important efforts to promote healing.

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Jacob Blake Sr.
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Among award honorees this year will be the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, national assistant to Min. Farrakhan, the Executive Council of the Nation of Islam, Naba’a Muhammad, editor of The Final Call newspaper, Wanda Cooper, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, Jacob Blake, Sr., Letifah Wilson sister of Nia Wilson, mother of Sahleem Tindle and many others.

Past honorees have included those impacted by police violence such as Mike Brown, Sr., and family; the parents of Andrew Joseph III, Ron Davis, the father of Jordan Davis; longtime Bay Area activist and former Black Panther Party chair Elaine Brown; Yusuf Salaam of the Exonerated 5; and Nation of Islam Student Ministers Abdul Rashidullah Muhammad of  San Francisco and Abdul Sabur Muhammad of Oakland.

Wanda Cooper
Screenshot:Youtube/TRT World

“Whether you have lost a loved one to police terrorism or community violence, or have not lost a loved one, you sacrifice your personal time and finances to make our community better. You did not stop there. You embraced other impacted families with that love you have shared with the Love Not Blood Campaign,” said the Unsung Heroes Award organizers. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Bee are also members of the Nation of Islam.

Their work includes advocacy, training, support and gatherings for the families, fathers, mothers, children, siblings and those who have suffered losses. The organization also calls for and works for legislative changes related to policing and violence and tells the stories of those who were lost and those who were left behind. Their family crisis intervention team embraces families and connects families with one another so they don’t have to feel alone.

While recognizing others this month, Uncle Bobby has been recognized for his activism, including the Black Panther Community Award 2019, Dick Gregory Activism Award 2018, the Kujichagulia Award 2017, the Fannie Lou Hamer Award 2016, the Hero of Forgiveness Award 2016, the Henry Moskowitz Award 2015, the Kwame Ture Black Star of Labor Award 2015, the Black Organizing Project Award 2014, the Martin Luther King, Jr.-Gene Young Award 2014, and many others. His wife has received many awards as well.

He was a consultant for the movie “Fruitvale Station” and has served as a leading expert on the creation of the Motherhood and Fatherhood Movement of children murdered by police. He has appeared on national and local television shows and radio stations as an expert in police brutality. He is a sought after speaker who has delivered workshops on topics such as, “Knowing Your Rights;” “How To Survive If Stopped by the Police;” and “The Criminalization of Young People by the Justice System.”

He has made presentations at major conferences, universities, high schools, community gatherings, and served as the West Coast organizer of the United Nation Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent visiting the United States in Oakland in 2016. Get more information about the organization’s work at

www.lovenotbloodcampaign.com