DETROIT—On February 21, the Nation of Islam celebrated the Saviours’ Day 2026 F.O.I. and M.G.T. Graduation Class at the Huntington Place convention center. It’s an annual celebration that is now a staple of Saviours’ Day.

People who desire to become members of the Nation of Islam submit a Saviours’ Letter. Once the letter passes inspection, they proceed to the next stage and eventually fulfill all requirements to enter the ranks of the Nation of Islam.

“We congratulate you, the new converts, new registered members of the Nation of Islam. You don’t become registered to be a member of the Nation of Islam.

Our Saviour declared every Black man, woman and child is a member of the Nation of Islam,” said Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and member of the N.O.I. Shura Executive Council.

“There is, to my knowledge, no house of worship, no faith community that has as its primary object … to raise people from death into life. There are no other people or church, mosque, synagogue, house of faith that has as its primary goal the Kingdom of God, all its righteousness and the establishment of a new civilization,” he said.

As the N.O.I. Honor Guard procession began, the crowd cheered loudly. At certain points, some even shed tears; attendees as well as graduates.

Additional congratulations and comments were offered by Shura Executive Council members, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Student National M.G.T. and G.C.C. Captain Naeemah Muhammad, and Student National Secretary Sa’ad Alim Muhammad.

In closing remarks, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan shared with the audience that their presence, including the new graduates bore witness to his mission and work.

“You are my witnesses that I stood up for God! That I stood up for righteousness! That I stood up to make you stand up! So, I can say it is a graduation. You’re taking the test or rather I’m taking the test and I go to My Father and I hope He’ll say, ‘well done.’ You are my witnesses that I have been a faithful teacher to you and I thank you, all of you,” Minister Farrakhan said.

Two videos were shown, highlighting the value placed on our responsibility of raising the dead and sharing the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad with our people.

“It was a process,” 15-year-old, new M.G.T. and G.C.C. Vanguard from Atlanta, Sister Zakiyah Muhammad, told The Final Call. Her inspiring journey to graduation began last fall. She emphasized the patience learned during the letter-writing class and how she persevered after an initial application rejection.

“We learned about what to do with our minds, and how to prepare for when we start to write a letter. How we should be observant and studious and know that we are capable of anything.

Even if we didn’t grow up writing cursive. For me on my process and my journey in writing the letter, I really had to learn that everybody has their own timeline and their own process,” she said.

Buffalo, New York, new M.G.T. and G.C.C. Vanguard, Sister Aaliyah Muhammad, 15, expressed pride in reaching her goal and being inspired by Minister  Farrakhan’s words as well as the other speakers.

“I was born in the Nation, so graduating was one thing I always saw and hoped to accomplish as well, Through the class. Even though I’m born in the Nation, I still work hard to prove to myself that I’m worthy to take on this mission and being able to sit down with all the others,” she went through the process with. 

Graduates left with cherished memories and an unwavering optimism for their future service in making our communities a decent place to live.

New F.O.I., Brother Isaiah Muhammad, an 18-year-old from Atlanta, discussed his registration process and how he persevered to fulfill his goal of becoming registered. He was also deeply impacted by Minister Farrakhan’s message.

“I will say to any, new brothers and sisters, just keep with it, because it’s going to be a hard process, and you’re going to feel the pull of the world, it’s going to happen inevitably. It doesn’t matter how good you are. Don’t take it for granted. Come to the mosque. Apply yourself. Just stay there … and you’re going to be great,” he said.

—Eric Ture Muhammad, Guest Writer

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Flags across Michigan flew at half-mast on Oct. 22 to honor her lifetime of public service and her influence in Detroit politics. Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick died Oct. 7. She was 80. Her son, former Detroit mayor and now pastor Kwame Malik Kilpatrick, delivered her eulogy.

A Democrat, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2010, where she was a member of the House Appropriations Committee. She chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2007 to 2009—the first woman to hold the position—and secured billions in federal funding for Detroit.

That funding supported major projects including public rail transportation improvements, education initiatives and the $1.5 billion Detroit Riverfront development.

She also became the first Black member of Congress appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board. As an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, she championed efforts to raise the federal minimum wage, support minority-owned businesses and provide millions in aid to Haiti and several sub-Saharan African nations.

Before serving in U.S. Congress, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick spent 18 years in the Michigan House of Representatives, beginning in 1979. She was the first Black woman to serve on the chamber’s Appropriations Committee and was mentored by others, such as then-Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and former U.S. Rep. John Conyers.

“The Clay Evans family and the Cheeks Kilpatrick family go back an awful long way,” Wayne County Executive Warren “Clay” Evans said during the service. “We covered a whole lot of miles together. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was the matriarch of a political dynasty—and that’s important, and that’s true.

The family has been strong and active. Any good thing that’s happened in the city of Detroit happened to Wayne County,” he said, noting that Detroit is one of 42 communities in the county. “So, everything good she did for the city of Detroit, she did for the county of Wayne.”

Before entering politics, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick worked as a public school teacher for more than a decade. She is the mother of two children, son Kwame and daughter Ayanna.

Her passing drew tributes from political leaders and organizations around the world, recognizing her decades of public service and advocacy for Detroit. Paying respects included Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer via video and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who offered remarks in person.

In a statement regarding the lowering of the flag, Gov. Whitmer called the former congresswoman “a stalwart voice for Detroit.”

“Whether it was civil rights or humanitarian aid, Congresswoman Kilpatrick was never afraid to break barriers and stand up for what she believed in,” the statement said. The governor also called Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick “ a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.”

 The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies also issued a statement calling her “an unwavering public servant who left a lasting impact on Black communities in Detroit and across the United States.”

The Detroit Caucus Executive Board also released a statement, noting, “Detroit has lost one of our greatest champions. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was a force of nature—a trailblazer whose voice carried the hopes of her community from the streets of Detroit to the halls of Congress.

She fought fearlessly for justice, equity and opportunity, breaking barriers and opening doors for many of us who have the honor to serve today.” 

“Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our city and our state: a legacy of courage, compassion and unshakable faith in the power of public service. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones, and we pledge to carry forward the passion she so wholeheartedly pursued.”

“I shared a very special bond,” said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the 119th Congress, in remarks at the service. “The year that I was elected to Congress was 2007, and that was the year that Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick became chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

I was the only Black woman elected to Congress that year, and I was the youngest one—and that sister grabbed me up right away. Powerful.” Rep. Clarke described the chairwoman as a “force of nature.”

“Her commitment to the people of Detroit, Michigan, was only superseded by her deep, passionate love for her family,” she said. “There wasn’t a day when the Honorable Cheeks Kilpatrick was not thinking about her family—and, by extension, the beloved community she served for so long.

Her passion for Black people was empowering, uplifting and lasting. That sister understood how Congress worked—and she worked it. She worked it on behalf of the people of Detroit.”

Rep. Clarke praised Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s mastery of the appropriations process and her ability to secure vital federal funding. “She negotiated, she intimidated when necessary, and she made sure that Detroit got what it deserved,” Ms. Clarke said. “Congresswoman Kilpatrick leaves behind a legacy of service that shines as an example to all who knew her. May she rest in power and everlasting peace,” she closed.

Pastor Kwame Kilpatrick delivered a heartfelt tribute to his mother. He spoke of her unwavering support and influence; her dedication to education; her role in his political career; and her prophetic insights.

Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s impact was evident in her community work, legislative achievements, and her ability to inspire and motivate others, he said. He shared personal anecdotes, including her efforts to ensure his academic success and her visits during his incarceration.

As her son concluded, “I thought about the fact that God’s word is not bound by the dimensions that He created. He’s not bound by height, width, depth, or even time. And I thought about where my mother is right now, and I said, ‘Walk, Mama.

But then, sitting there, I saw her sister come up; she’s still walking. I saw her grandchildren come up; she’s still walking. I saw her niece and her nephews come up. She’s still walking. And when you see me and you see my big tall sister over there (Ayanna), she’s still walking. Walk Mama. Walk Mama. Glory to God,” he closed.

The tribute concluded with a prayer led by Reverend Robert Brumfield, emphasizing Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s legacy and the enduring impact of her faith and service.

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“Dr. Woodson would make sure that ASALH came to Atlanta every 10 years, because [of] the energy of the importance of our history, and the people who were here … and you know that has just been so important to us. You know, in these trying times, we tend to want to get closer together. This is because we are feeling isolated in our communities. Black history and labor conference brings scholarship, history together Now what we are doing is saying, ‘we need to come together,’” she told The Final Call.

“Black work and workers built Atlanta from the bottom up, resulting in powerful institutions,” said ASALH Academic Committee Chair Dr. Augustus C. Wood. “Gathering this year at the Omni helps us trace the history of transformation and struggle that resulted in modern-day downtown Atlanta. Positioning the Black worker at the center of our history adds a critical layer to scholarly rigor and critique. Black labor in the U.S. is at a critical crossroads today and Atlanta continues to be a decisive battleground,” he said.

Recognized as the “Father of Black History,” Dr. Woodson and ASALH, created Negro History Week in 1926, which grew into Black History Month, and continues today as the leading organization preserving and promoting Black American history and culture, while remaining the intellectual and institutional force behind the organization’s mission for nearly 35 years until his death in 1950.

From Carter G. Woodson’s perspective, the connection between Black Americans and labor is both historical and ideological. Black people are defined by their labor under slavery and segregation, but the path to true freedom comes from reclaiming the dignity of work, mastering both trades and professions and building independent economic power.

He emphasized that Black people were brought to the U.S. as laborers and that their forced labor built America’s wealth. Black history, he would argue, could not be separated from the story of labor, since their exploitation in slavery and later in sharecropping, domestic service, and menial jobs reflected how America defined Black people primarily through their work.

This year’s conference featured a range of programs, scholarly sessions, workshops, historical tours, film festivals, author book signings, exhibitor booths, cultural performances, and networking opportunities. 

“I love this conference,” Dr. Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman College, and first woman president of ASALH, told The Final Call. “I love it because there’s a lot of interaction, a lot of research. But one of the things that must happen, there must be a strategic coming together,” she said.
The conference this year drew scholars, educators, students, and community leaders from across the country to meet, greet, and engage the public. With more than 1,300 paid registrations and 300 scheduled events over the course of five days (many of which were free to the public). It demonstrates the progressive expansion of Dr. Woodson’s vision from over a century ago. Youth from across the country were a primary focus for organizers, ensuring they received daily lessons in and exposure to Black history and culture during the conference.

The volunteers played a pivotal role in the conference’s success. Of the 180 registered volunteers, they faced the challenge of covering more than 600 shifts over the five-day period. The conference included themed luncheons, receptions and banquets honoring distinguished leaders, reaffirming ASALH’s commitment to Dr. Woodson’s vision to make lasting contributions to scholarship, advancing historical awareness and cultural pride, and driving home the importance of understanding responsibility and required action in this current political climate with the passing of various executive orders to the attacks on and threatened removal of Black history from schools and museums.

“I offer my word of welcome as the president emeritus of Morehouse College and as a graduate of Morehouse College way back in the year 1975,” began Dr. Robert M. Franklin in his remarks and prayer offered at the Woodson Luncheon held during the conference. “I want to thank all of the members of the Atlanta University Center who are here, who are part of this organization, part of the bedrock of keeping alive the stories, the truth-telling. You are the stewards of hope. These are challenging times, and these are times where we need the work that you do. Your work is underfunded in most colleges and universities, and yet you are the intellectual and moral aristocrats of the campus. Don’t forget that you are the aristocrats who keep alive knowledge and pure inquiry and service and blended with a commitment to social justice,” he said.

“You are the Renaissance men and Renaissance women with social conscience and global perspective, and our children are looking at you just as we in an earlier day looked at Carter G Woodson, other scholars and torch bearers he acknowledged, who helped to bring us to this point.”
The work and mission of ASALH also provides an opportunity for teachers and students of Black history in areas of research and academia to learn and share their works.
“Take ASALAH as a trade association of people that love African American history,” said Ms. Gaynelle Jackson, ASALH conference meeting planner, to The Final Call.

“There really is this effort to give people who want to present their research the opportunity to qualify their work. Papers are submitted then they are added to the sessions, scholars can then utilize the sessions to add the presentations to their CVs (Curriculum Vitae). A curriculum vitae is a detailed, comprehensive document that serves as an in-depth, chronological overview of a person’s academic and professional accomplishments, skills, and experiences.
“Presenting in a peer review environment says to their college administration, yes; this work is sound, because you’re getting enough places. Scholars coming here and presenting their work [it] can now be a part of their CV,” executive director Cyrus noted.
Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, known by most as “Dr. Kaye,” is the 30th president of ASALH and the eighth woman to hold the position. “I think we have an opportunity to really make it clear to people that when you come after Black history, then we’re going to stand up and say, ‘No!’” she said to The Final Call, referring to the defunding and dismantling of U.S. agencies, such as Parks and Recreation, the removal of Black artifacts from museums, the removal of Black history and the right to educate that history from curriculums.

“This is our moment,” she said. “We are under attack. When we’re under attack, what do we do? We stand up and we fight it. This is what our thing is. When we are under attack, number one, we need all warriors in the battle. We can’t leave anybody behind. And number two, every single voice counts. If we fight all over the place, all the time, all together, all at once, that’s how we win. And then when I get tired, I kind of think of this like a bird. If I’m out in front leading, when I get tired, I fall behind, but there’s another one right there to take my place. That’s how we fight,” she closed.
The next conference will be held Sept. 23-27, 2026, in Norfolk, Virginia.

For more information, visit asalh.org/conference.

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His Janazah (funeral) service was held at Mosque Maryam in Chicago on June 20, where his family members and those who loved and respected the longtime newsman came to pay their respects.

The award-winning journalist, author, podcaster and consummate communications professional, who traveled the world reporting stories of interest and impact to the Black diaspora as Editor-in-Chief of The Final Call newspaper, returned to Allah, June 6, 2025. He was 63.

Bro. Naba’a is survived by his sister Patricia Pace, brother, Sean Bryant Sr., six children, Richard (Nadelyn) B. Ali Jr., Emmanuel (Ariel) Ali, Kopano Muhammad, Kabelo Muhammad, Karabo Muhammad, Kamohelo Muhammad, and three precious grandchildren: Jammer Ali, Ariel Ali and Richard Henry Ali III, and a host of family, friends, and the Nation of Islam.

Brother Naba’a was a dedicated follower of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership and guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Upon hearing of his editor’s passing, Minister Farrakhan, publisher of The Final Call, wrote: “I feel a great loss. Brother Naba’a was a very special human being. Having him as a brother and a companion in our struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality was a great blessing to me and all of us whom he served.

But the greatest gift I received from knowing him was that he was a friend, a genuine friend of those whom he loved and to those who loved him. I consider Brother Naba’a as a friend in service of our people.”

Speaking of Brother Naba’a’s family and his “beautiful children,” Minister Farrakhan wrote in closing his statement, “lift up your heads and throw your shoulders back, and know that your father was a friend of God.”

Over social media, those who knew and were impacted by and worked with him expressed their reflections, shared stories and offered their condolences to his family and the Nation of Islam.

Bro. Naba’a Muhammad’s journey began in Baltimore, Maryland. Born Richard Bryant, he was raised by his mother, Mattie Drummond Muhammad. According to his obituary, he was a voracious reader from an early age.

During the era of public-school proficiency testing, he was recognized for his high scores in vocabulary and encouraged to pursue a career in journalism. He received an English/journalism scholarship and attended Doane College in Nebraska.

He later attended Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland, where he majored in journalism and pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He was known as “Pretty Boy from Park Heights.”

“My heart is saddened by the news of the passing of my double brother Richard Muhammad,” began Mr. Gary Rahman, a supporter of The Final Call and a fraternity brother and friend of brother Naba’a in a Facebook social media post on June 8.

“He wrote an article on me when I was a province officer as a young undergraduate of our fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. It was from this talk (that) we formed a connection that would grow for 33 years. We talked regularly. He was always the big brother.

I got a text from him almost weekly and I said to myself earlier this week I needed to call and check in with my brother. He was a true servant of our people and someone I could call for advice,” he said. “Rest well Brother Richard a true and faithful servant of Allah,” he closed.

Bro. Naba’a was committed to serving Black people and demonstrated that love for his people, even as a youngster growing up in Baltimore. His life was transformed in 1986 when, after glancing at a poster featuring Minister Farrakhan outside a Nation of Islam bookstore near Howard University.

He walked into the one-and-a-half-story building known as the Tape Connection in Washington, D.C. He purchased an audio cassette tape and returned to the Tape Connection every day that week, and the rest became history.

“I’m honored to have been there and be befriended by him and befriend him as well,” said Student Minister Jamil Muhammad. “I was in the Tape Connection that first day and those first days, and he came in looking very serious. He had not been brought there by anyone,” he said.

“He came himself, having heard, whatever he heard, and seen whatever he saw. He would come in and decide which tapes he would take home. And when he took his view of those things, well, he was very serious.

That word serious, keeps coming back to mind when thinking on my brother,” Student Min. Jamil added. “He was a fair man, an honest man, an uproariously funny man.”

He joined The Final Call staff writing from Washington, D.C., then promoted to East Coast Bureau Chief. under then Editor-in-Chief Abdul Wali Muhammad. He eventually became managing editor to Editor-in-Chief James G. Muhammad after Bro. Wali’s untimely passing.

Bro. Naba’a would take a brief hiatus from truly what he loved to do most and then return to the paper after a strategic persuasion executed by Shura Executive Council member and N.O.I. General Counsel, Student Minister Abdul Arif Muhammad and Final Call General Manager, Student Minister Abdul Rasul Muhammad.

“He left The Final Call for a period of time,” said Student Min. Rasul, a longtime friend and companion of Bro. Naba’a, who is also from Baltimore. “So, Bro. Arif Muhammad became Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of The Final Call. So, one day, I tell him, let’s call Brother Richard (Naba’a), he’d be a great asset, and he knows the paper,” Student Min. Rasul recalled.

He said he recommended to Bro. Arif that they ask their brother to come in one or two days a week to help get the paper out and be responsible for a few pages of The Final Call’s 40-page total.

“If you put it to him that way and it will get his foot in the door. He would never—not, complete an assignment,” said Student Min. Rasul as he chuckled at the memory.

“He can’t look at 10 pages and not see the other 30 through. That’s not who he is. He got in the door and before we knew it, he was full steam ahead.”

Nation of Islam Mid-Atlantic Regional Protocol Director Brenda Muhammad commended Bro. Naba’a for his “unwavering commitment, sense of duty, and deep love for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam.” Sis. Brenda expressed those sentiments in a letter she sent on behalf of the Mid-Atlantic Region Student Protocol Department.

She recounted how, during the 1995 Million Man March, before becoming a registered member of the Nation of Islam, she worked with him and then-Editor-in-Chief James G. Muhammad on media outreach and what she and others learned from that training.

“His mentorship equipped us with media, marketing, and public relations skills that were not only effective, but also ‘down to the modern times,’” her letter said in part.

“Brother Na’ba was a dedicated journalist, teacher, fighter for Islam, and one of the best friends a Believer could ever have. You could not have known a better brother, and he loved his Baltimore family,” she added.

Bro. Naba’a was appointed the Final Call Editor-in-Chief in 2009, and was dedicated to his labor, Minister Farrakhan and The Nation of Islam. He was never short on commitment and would always be found on his post even when he was not physically feeling well.

During Saviours’ Day 2020 many significant events happened in his life. It was the year that, during the annual Nation of Islam convention, The Final Call also celebrated its 40-year anniversary. It was during that convention that Minister Farrakhan gave “Brother Richard” his holy name, “Naba’a.”

Translated in Arabic, “Naba’a” means “news,” “the announcement.” Surah (Chapter 78) of The Holy Qur’an is called Al-Naba’ or “the Message of Importance.” It was also during the convention that an ambulance was called.

Hotel staff had to perform a wellness check and gain access to Brother Naba’a’s hotel room. The editor-in-chief was very ill and was transported to the hospital. It was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. His diagnosis was pneumonia, flu and an upper respiratory virus.

He spent more than a week in the hospital and Student Min. Rasul was assigned to stay in Detroit to be with his brother. Upon Bro. Naba’a’s release, Student Min. Rasul and Detroit Fruit of Islam Captain Emeritus Abdul (Roy) Muhammad (May Allah be pleased), were preparing to drive him home from Detroit to Chicago.

“He (Bro. Naba’a) asks to stop at Starbucks. I’m thinking he’s going to get whatever he drinks,” said Student Min. Rasul. “Instead, he plugs into their Wi-Fi, pulls out his laptop and works four hours straight on the paper because it’s press day.” The trio of brothers then resumed the four-hour ride from Detroit to Chicago to get him home.

“That was Naba’a Muhammad. He was about that business, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. He was just a beautiful soldier, and he was a soldier for Allah, His Christ and the Messiah. I loved him tremendously,” said Student Min. Rasul.

“It was an honor to be one who looked after him when he fell ill. I did my absolute best to ensure that he got what he needed and watched him day and night when necessary.

There was nothing that he could ask me for that I wouldn’t strive to do, nothing he could ask me to do, that I wouldn’t try to get for my brother, my brother for life he will always be close to my heart.

The main thing I learned from him, the number one thing, is that when you’ve got a job to do for Muhammad, get that job done. Accepted no excuses. He offered no excuses. He was beautiful as a large marshmallow, but at the same time firm and as tough as nails when necessary.”

In addition to Student Min. Abdul Rasul, Bro. Naba’a’s executive secretary, Sister Marcella A. X; Final Call contributing photographer Haroon Rajaee; Bro. James E. Muhammad; Bro. Lionel Muhammad; Sis. Nahlah (Carmella) Muhammad and others also helped to care for Bro. Naba’a.

The day before his passing, Bro. Naba’a submitted what would be his final submission to The Final Call newspaper. He was a true servant and for brothers and sisters who labored over the years with The Final Call, Bro. Naba’a was very special to them.

Sister Starla Muhammad was appointed Final Call managing editor by Bro. Naba’a in 2016. “Brother Naba’a was more than my editor-in-chief. He was my brother, my mentor and my friend.

Watching and learning from him and seeing his relentless and unwavering commitment to his craft up close is something I will cherish forever. He was the consummate professional and he taught me more about reporting, journalism and the media profession than what I ever learned in college.

He was always encouraging me to grow and develop my skills and he was always willing to listen, correct and push me so that I could be a better helper to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam and The Final Call,” said Sister Starla.

His tenacity, drive and laser-like focus on doing whatever he could to help the paper progress was contagious, she explained. “My heart hurts because I love my brother very much and will miss him tremendously.

I will miss our conversations. But I take comfort in Allah (God) and thank Him for allowing me to know and labor with the gift that was and is Brother Naba’a Muhammad.”

Final Call staff contributed to this report.

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“We are excited and overwhelmed with joy. I don’t know about you, but it brought tears to my eyes to be able to see these new soldiers,” said Student Minister Nuri Muhammad, emcee for the ninth graduation ceremony of new F.O.I. and M.G.T. entering the ranks of the Nation of Islam.

Opening with prayer, traditional color guard ceremony and procession, tears of joy and shouts of “Allahu Akbar! (God is the Greatest),” “Praise be to Allah!” and applause filled the air as the audience stood on their feet welcoming the entrance of the newly registered members of the Nation of Islam.

Student Minister Nuri Muhammad explained that material items or “the things of this world” is not the priority of the F.O.I. and M.G.T.  “Our sole purpose is the delivering of 50 million or more dead to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan so he can take them to the Lamb of God, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” he said.

In his remarks, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, helped the brothers and sisters in the audience to understand the “Shahada” process as the most sacred statement in Islam.

“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Shura Executive Council congratulate graduates on your successful completion of the required course of study to become a registered member of the Nation of Islam,” he said.

“Each of us that registered had to first write a letter and that letter is our Shahada, the profession of faith, as the first pillar of Islam. Muslims all over the world bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.

This simple yet profound statement expresses a Muslim’s complete acceptance of and total commitment to Islam and the cause of Allah. But, in the Nation of Islam, we go a little further in that Shahada than other Muslims on our planet by bearing witness that there is no God but Allah.

But since we were paid a visit by Allah, we say that there is no God but Allah, who came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad to Whom Praises is due forever, and that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is His True Servant and Apostle.”

Before remarks from Student National M.G.T. Captain Naeemah Muhammad and Student F.O.I. Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, videos detailing the roles of M.G.T. and F.O.I. were presented.

Three Shura Executive Council members had sons who graduated this year and there was special recognition of a 91 year old  brother who graduated into the ranks of the F.O.I.

The ceremony was slightly paused for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his wife Mother Khadijah Farrakhan to attend. Upon their arrival, attendees in the huge structured tent on the grounds of The National Center and those viewing from the overflow spaces via simulcast exploded with excitement as they entered the area.

After thanking Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah, Student National Captain Naeemah welcomed the newly registered class.

“This is a very special class as you are a very special group of graduates. Allah (God) has ordered the affairs such that you would enter into His Class at your Nation’s headquarters,” she said referring to the grounds of The National Center of the Nation of Islam.

“It is no accident that in this hour we are at The National Center for the re-education and the re-training of the Black man and woman, and ultimately for the totality of the human family.

It is no accident that we are here in the house that is dedicated to knowledge and the spreading of knowledge. The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad set this up to give guidance to all who would be guided as this world begins to close down.”

“I’ve been watching my father for 64 years and he has crisscrossed not just this country, but this world,” Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan shared with the believers. “With a message that is indestructible. No one can defeat what we have.”

He continued: “So many have gone before you and have paid the ultimate price. Don’t get distracted.” He reminded the brothers and sisters of the structure and leadership of the Nation of Islam, referring to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as that rock upon which the second rise of the Nation of Islam was built and cannot be destroyed.

“I don’t care how old you are. Today, all of us will be tested on what we say we believe. Know that your faith is going to be tested to the core, and we want to make a good account of ourselves.

We have to live for each other and die for each other because that’s the only way that we’re going to be free. So, let’s thank Allah for this moment. Let us savor this moment.”

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Commented Sister A’ishah Muhammad, a member of the Nation of Islam Shura Executive Council and Student National Auditing Supervisor. Sister A’ishah moderated the Saviours’ Day weekend plenary on “Disaster Preparedness: Food Storage, First Aid, Tips For Survival.” 

“A lot of us are now starting to see people that look like us,” she noted, citing the natural disasters that continue to plague America from 2024 and now in the first months of 2025, coupled with the recent spate of airplane collisions throughout North America.

Panelists at the Feb. 21 session urged attendees to remember the divine warnings from the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the books detailing America’s fall, our dietary needs, how to preserve and store foods and our medicinal needs.

Student Southwest Regional Minister Dr. Abdul Haleem Muhammad led the charge to remind the audience “not to be distracted” by world happenings and urged attendees to embrace and engage the language of Allah in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, The Great Mahdi as the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan do.

“Project 2025 requires our examination through the Supreme Wisdom in past, present and future perfect tense,” he said, adding, “We must now use the language, the mind and the Will of Master Fard Muhammad as demonstrated by His servants, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

We know now what we need to do into the future,” he said, further stressing that all Nine Ministries of the Nation of Islam need a department dedicated to emergency management.

“Today is not by accident. It is the culmination of decades of work by people who know that their time to rule has expired, but they want to cling to power regardless to the word of Allah and the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” warned presenter Sister Alva Muhammad from Chicago.

She spoke on the possibility of martial law citing the government’s ability to target cities and states to invoke civil unrest and military command of households, confiscate valuables and food supplies from homes.

“We are not used to being told when we can or cannot leave our homes, but that will be the case. Once we learn the rules of martial law, we must be able to effectively communicate with one another,” she said.

“CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the first and the baseline that everyone needs to know,” said presenter Brother Rudolph Muhammad of Detroit. It’s the basic first aid to keep blood in our bodies, he added, and lastly to provide injury or illness assessments within 10 seconds. “We must be willing to get involved and have the basic skills and knowledge,” he said.

“The Honorable Elijah Muhammad told us to grow our own food, pool our resources and buy land,” shared presenter Sister Vivian Muhammad from Indianapolis. She addressed the importance of stable food choices, growing from our homes and container food group types.

“Everyone of us can immediately begin growing container gardens. It is very doable. It’s easy. You control the soil. And the best thing is, in the event that these natural disasters take a turn and you have to leave, you can take your containers with you,” she said.

“You can take your tomatoes with you. Those eggplants with you. In the event that you have to move quickly, and you have an evacuation order, well guess what? You can take your containers with you so your food travels.”

Sister Vivian also offered freeze-dried food options as well as food growth in bags.

The post ‘It’s not if, it’s when’ Disaster preparedness plenary offers practical tips, information on survival appeared first on Final Call News.

ATLANTA—The National Business League (NBL), founded 124 years ago by Mr. Booker T. Washington, continues in its pursuit of meaningful, Black economic inclusion. Two years ago, NBL formulated an alliance creating prominence on the world stage.

Combining the organizational efforts and skillsets of The National Black Chamber of Commerce and The World Conference of Mayors, they formed the National Alliance of Black Business (NABB) with the expressed commitment to mobilize the nation’s leading Black business, political and cultural institutions.

This commitment showed up at this year’s National Black Business Conference held at the downtown Hilton Atlanta Hotel on August 21-25, with the theme, “We are Together.” 

The gathering not only built upon the success of last year’s conference, which commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the National Black Chamber of Commerce with more than 1,900 attendees, this year marks the 40th Anniversary of The World Conference of Mayors and pays homage to the 50 years since the inaugural Southern Conference of Black Mayors held at the very same Hilton Atlanta Hotel, convened by Atlanta’s first Black Mayor at that time the Honorable Maynard Jackson.

With a pre-registration of more than 2,300 persons this year, and nearly 3,000 actual attendees, this is NBL’s largest gathering, in the post-COVID pandemic era.

“Since we have launched that initiative and have unified a Black Business Agenda, we’ve mobilized more than 100 Black-led organizations focused on the Booker T. Washington model of Black economic liberation, freedom and empowerment,” said NBL President Dr. Kenneth L. Harris in an exclusive interview with The Final Call at conclusion of this year’s nearly week-long event.

What the gathering witnessed, he said, is a “culmination, of this really, infancy approach—which mobilized more than 32 Pan-African countries and their organizations from around the globe; so that we can come together and reclaim economic power in a unified dynamic by Black-led institutions.”

The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad also taught his followers in the Nation of Islam, and Black people in general, the critical importance of unity, pooling resources and doing business with one another. In his book, “Message To The Blackman in America,”

On page 197, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad writes, “As I noted previously, on matters of economics there is entirely too much distrust among us. We trust everyone but ourselves.

We, therefore, have to build or produce trust in ourselves in order to do something for self and kind. We cannot depend upon the White man to continue to care for us and build a future of good for us and our children.”

His National Representative, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, wrote in a message, “The Key to Success: Do For Self,” from an article printed in The Final Call newspaper, Volume 1, Number 4, that his teacher, “lifted up a mighty example of doing for self for the Black man of America.”

This example included purchasing thousands of acres of farmland to grow food, opening restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaning businesses and other retail shops as well as producing an independent newspaper, starting an independent school system, trucking and clothing businesses and much more which provided jobs for Black people.

Liberia is open for business

Blacks in America developing business relationships with brothers and sisters in Africa was a key component of this year’s conference  with Liberia being a focus.

“I bring you warm greetings from the Motherland!” His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai Sr., the 26th President of Liberia, said to the thunderous applause of luncheon attendees.

Assuming office just this past January, he traveled to the United States to keynote the conference’s Pan-African Black Business Luncheon on August 23 and later addressed the press at a news conference with members of his cabinet.

“It is an honor and a profound privilege to be invited to speak to this august assembly. As President of Liberia—Africa’s first independent republic—I am proud to be amidst this distinguished Pan-African assembly of visionaries, entrepreneurs, and leaders,” he continued.

“I am deeply moved by the spirit of common purpose and progress that has brought you to Atlanta —a city renowned for its rich Black heritage and a great example of Black excellence.”

President Boakai stated that he sees this conference not just as a gathering to promote Black business enterprise, but to also celebrate “the enduring legacy of the shared journey of the people of the continent with those in the African Diaspora, and the profound impact this journey has had on our mutual aspirations for progress and prosperity,” he said. 

“Our participation at this wonderful gathering is evidence of the remarkable ties that link us across the Atlantic—from the shores of West Africa to the United States, the Caribbean, and the rest of the Americas, as Liberia’s history is woven with that of African Americans and people of African descent in this region.”

Liberia’s story: unwavering determination

The country, founded in 1822  by the American Colonization Society, was envisioned as a haven for freed African Americans seeking a new beginning in their ancestral homeland. 

Among those whose legacy has profoundly shaped both Liberia and the broader Black American experience is Booker T. Washington. “His contributions transcend time and geography, creating a bridge between our histories and futures.

His vision of education, economic empowerment, and self-reliance resonated deeply across the Atlantic, influencing many, in Liberia who shared his dream of upliftment and progress,” shared His Excellency. 

President Boakai said the advocacy for vocational training and his belief in the power of hard work and enterprise by Mr. Washington “led to the establishment of the famous Booker T. Washington Institute in Liberia in 1929. The Institute, the country’s first agricultural and vocational school, had and continues to impact the country’s economic and social development.

His project in Liberia has inspired generations of Liberians to pursue education and business endeavors to improve livelihoods, sustain families, and build their communities,” but is met with a plethora of opportunities as well as challenges.

Liberia’s natural wealth offers some of the best opportunities for Black businesses to leverage and commit to fostering a business-friendly environment, encouraging investment across various sectors with the launch of the “ARREST Agenda, designed to focus on investment and development in agriculture, roads and infrastructure; as well as the rule of law, education, health and sanitation, and tourism,” he said.

During the news conference he elaborated in more detail, emphasizing a few sectors with investment potential.

•         Agriculture sector, Liberia’s fertile land and favorable climate offer vast opportunities for agricultural investments, particularly in rice production.

•         Cash crops like rubber, cocoa, coffee, and oil palm remain a “significant contributor to the growth of the agriculture sector.”

•         The development of livestock and fishing remains unlocked. With the nation’s youth accounting for nearly 60 percent of the population, and more than 60 percent of the agricultural population, investing in the sector holds great prospects, the government has determined.

•         Liberia is richly endowed with natural wealth. With the country boasting some of the world’s critical minerals, including gold and diamonds, the mining sector provides one of the best attractions for investment in the country.

•         The country has more than 11,000 kilometers of unpaved roads, which presents both challenges and opportunities for investment. The government is seeking to finance road infrastructure through EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts combined with long-term financing mechanisms. 

•         There are significant opportunities for investment in Liberia’s real estate market, particularly in residential and commercial properties. The demand for housing and business spaces is growing, driven by urbanization and population growth.

•         Infrastructure needs for energy production cannot be overemphasized. With increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, Liberia is exploring investments in solar, hydro, and biomass energy projects to meet its growing energy needs. Liberia’s current energy demand far exceeds its capacity, with only about 20 percent of the population having access to electricity. 

•         Liberia’s hospitality industry is poised for significant growth, with opportunities to invest in hotels, resorts, and eco-tourism ventures. The country’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage makes it an attractive destination for tourists.

“As Liberia continues to modernize its economy,” President Boakai stated, “there is significant potential for investments in technology and digital infrastructure to support business growth and innovation.

The government has initiated e-governance projects aimed at improving public service delivery, and there is a rising demand for business support technologies. According to recent data, Liberia’s internet penetration rate is around 18 percent, indicating substantial room for growth in the digital sector.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the journey of Liberia and African Americans is a story of a common aspiration—one directed by the determination to be free and take charge of one’s destiny.

As we deliberate and engage each other at the 124th National Black Business Conference, let us reaffirm our commitment to transforming our societies and communities in ways that promote development and progress. 

I challenge you to take advantage of the huge potential Liberia and Africa offer by taking the bold step to invest in the motherland. By doing so, you invest in your heritage and your future,” he said.

Conference welcomes the African Union

“I bring you the greetings from His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, (Chairperson of the African Union Commission),” began African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze. 

“Let me be clear, if we are to achieve, in general, an Africa that is prosperous, integrated and playing an important and dynamic role on the global stage, the contributions of the Diaspora are critical.

We need to leverage together more effectively the value proposition of the Diaspora in other areas, such as fire, technology development, trade investment and health.

It is crucial that we further reinforce the link between the African Diaspora everywhere and particularly in the Americas, in order to pool all of our resources and capacities to take Africa and U.S. relations to the next level,” she urged.

The inaugural 40 and under NextGen

One of the greater highlights of this year’s gathering was the inaugural of NextGen. A 40-years-of-age and under Black business-led committee of the National Conference that embraces the demographics, technologies, future economies and new monies associated with the bourgeoning of a new age.

“It is built on top of the foundation that Booker T. Washington laid to the training of young men and women’s hands—using their hands, their hearts and their heads to produce economic independence, liberation and freedom in enterprise development,” Dr. Harris said.

He reminded attendees, “There is no success without succession. And as the revolutionist Dr. Huey P. Newton always said, ‘someways remains with the youth.’

So, now we are putting the revolution in the young peoples’ hands. Our young entrepreneurs, both men and women, are to be the core catalysts of this revolution that is taking place across this pan-African global business community,” he said.

“The conference—I love it!” exclaimed Kendra Emeruem, finance partner director of the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, and lobbyist for Georgia Senators John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, in her comments to The Final Call.

“The conference has been an experience for the Black business owner whether they are a startup or a seasoned business. They’ve come to learn how to grow their business, scale their business or formulate partnerships that don’t always take capital, but it can take just a bartering type of system.

And the other thing that I love about this conference is that we are going to take from it the momentum we have built for the change that is coming. The paradigm has shifted, and the power is being passed down, and it is now time for this generation to keep moving the agenda.

We have to help. We must do our duty, making sure that our people are able to have the same opportunities that middle class families have had and that we are able to shift that mindset to generational wealth. (So) instead of just surviving we are now thriving,” she said.

Close to 80 workshops and plenaries were held reflecting this new age of leadership and budding governance. The World Conference of Mayors, led by convenor the Honorable Johnny Ford out of Tuskegee, Alabama, carved out daylong Saturday activities spotlighting the profound impact of Black mayors in fostering entrepreneurship,

Economic development, and community growth, not only from Tuskegee, but to the historic all-Black towns across the nation, with more than 1,000 historic Black towns and settlements and more than 100 Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation.

“As we celebrate the historic 40th Anniversary of The World Conference of Mayors, we acknowledge the pivotal role Black mayors play in the economic development of cities, towns, and historic settlements. These legacies trace their roots back to the visionary leadership of Booker T. Washington and pave the way for the future of Black Mayors all over the world,” he said.

Mayor Ford was honored throughout the weekend for the many accomplishments of the World Conference of Mayors and the current campaigns and trajectory they are now on, as they head to the United Nations General Assembly in September to champion trade between Black businesses in the U.S. with Africa and the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

New digital age

“The National Business League has invested more than $1.8 million to rebuild and nationalize our digital platform,” Dr. Harris said. “The National Business League is now 100 percent digital. We will be unveiling that digital platform, and we will be rechartering all of the chapters that originally existed 124 years ago.

“Most people do not know this, but by 1910, Booker T. Washington had more than 600 chapters throughout the United States and in the international communities. We are now going to digitize that infrastructure. As of January 2, the National Business League for the first time in its 124-year history received its United States Patent and Trademark approval and registration.

That allows for us to rebuild and nationalize this organization, launching chapters in every single urban city throughout the country and throughout the pan-African diaspora. This digital effort launches officially during our 125th quasquicentennial campaign on January 12, 2025,” he said.

The post Open for global business appeared first on Final Call News.

A devoted mother, grandmother and a cherished friend and sister to many, Sister Maryam transitioned peacefully surrounded by family on August 21.

Her Janazah (funeral service) was officiated by Student Minister Donald Muhammad of St. Louis, Missouri, and the closing Janazah prayer was performed by longtime family friend Imam Misbahu Ahmed Rufai from Chicago.

Brother Leonard F. Muhammad, a member of the Nation of Islam Shura Executive Council, read a statement from and on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

In the statement, the Minister detailed his years of friendship and love for Sister Maryam and Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad, International Representative of the Nation of Islam, and their seven daughters.

“To the family, friends and fellow believers in the cause of Allah. It is an honor for me to offer condolences and words of comfort from myself, family and the family, friends and extended family of Maryam Aziz,” read the statement. “While I am not there present with you, my mind, my heart and my spirit are with all of you who mourn the loss of our departed sister Maryam Aziz.

I’ve known Sister Maryam since 1965 and for that long, I’ve also known her husband Brother Akbar, my great helper in the cause of Allah. My children grew up knowing her and her children. My wife and Sister Maryam were lifelong Islamic friends.”

As his words drew to a close, the Minister added, “May Allah grant her the promise to those who have lived and died in the submission of His will. I pray that the children whom she raised and grandchildren will receive the reward of a mother, grandmother and faithful believer in Allah.

Brother Akbar,” continued the Minister’s statement.  “I pray that Allah will strengthen you, keep and bless you and comfort you in the loss of your faithful friend and soulmate.”

Libation and obituary reading were performed by Sister Tauheedah Amon-Ra and Sister Naessa Aziz (Sister Maryam’s granddaughter). Reflections were offered by Minister Akbar Muhammad and their daughter Naja Aziz.

Words of comfort were offered by Rev. Dr. Denise Brown and expressions of gratitude were shared from Sister Maryam and Minister Akbar’s oldest daughter, Samimah Aziz, on behalf of the family.

“It’s been a whirlwind week,” she opened. She thanked Bishop Jack and the staff at Hillside International Truth Center for holding the service. “I also want to say thank you to (Student Southern Regional) Minister Sharrieff (Muhammad). Because once my mother passed, I called him. … I called him every day and every morning trying to get plans together.

I’d like to thank Sister (Student Southern Regional) Captain Nusaybah Muhammad, the MGT, the FOI of Atlanta … my dad Brother Akbar. Last, but not least, I want to thank … I affectionately call him Brother Minister, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, for just opening up his house.”

Sister Samimah spoke of love and connection with the Farrakhan family. “We don’t always connect like normal friends do. But anytime, anywhere we love you, Brother Minister. You and your family.”—Eric Ture Muhammad, Contributing Writer

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—The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, The Unraveling of a Great Nation, February 23, 2020

Timeless words from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are now manifest in the throes of this year’s presidential election cycle. Both sides of the political aisle, Republicans and Democrats, continue to trade barbs with allegations, innuendoes, and even legal proceedings in hopes of influencing outcomes. 

On March 7, the House Judiciary Committee (HJC) and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, held a nearly three-hour hearing on “Law Enforcement Use of Financial Surveillance,” highlighting an interim staff report titled, “Financial Surveillance in the United States: How Federal Law Enforcement Commandeered Financial Institutions to Spy on Americans.” 

In what was initially designed as another round of “who’s to blame,” for the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol, the hearing showed the continued political discord of those charged with legislating the country’s affairs. During testimonies witnesses found themselves being volleyed between both sides of the political aisle.  

Some political observers and analysts argue that conservatives are attempting to “sanitize” the happenings surrounding January 6 which has led to more than 1,000 convictions and 500 sentencings. During the select subcommittee it was noted, “The report reveals alarming evidence of federal law enforcement engaging in broad financial surveillance and prying into the private transactions of American consumers. This surveillance, not predicated on specific evidence of criminal conduct, targeted terms and transactions related to core political and religious expressions protected by the Constitution,” according to HJC in its press statement released just before the hearing.

Federal law enforcement, including the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the FBI, facilitated multiple backchannel discussions with financial institutions to gather Americans’ private financial information. These discussions involved some of the largest financial institutions in the United States, such as Barclays, U.S. Bank, Charles Schwab, HSBC, Bank of America, PayPal, and many others. Tactics included keyword filtering of transactions, targeting terms like “MAGA” and “TRUMP,” as well as purchases of books, religious texts, firearms-related items, and recreational stores, like Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shop, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. This surveillance extended beyond criminal suspicion, likely encompassing millions of Americans with conservative viewpoints or Second Amendment interests, argued the conservative majority of the House Judiciary Committee.

The report also details the existence of a web portal run by the Domestic Security Alliance Council, a public-private partnership led by the FBI’s Office of Private Sector and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis. This portal appears to have shared intelligence products with financial institutions that were used to identify individuals who fit the profile of criminal and “domestic violent extremists,” often because of their conservative political views or other constitutionally protected activity. Federal law enforcement used these reports and other materials they shared with financial institutions to commandeer their databases and conduct sweeping searches of individuals not suspected of committing any crimes, without a warrant, to identify individuals making certain “suspicious” transactions.
The pattern of financial surveillance uncovered in the report raises serious concerns about federal law enforcement’s and financial institutions’ commitment to respecting Americans’ privacy rights and fundamental civil liberties.

“Big government was colluding with big tech to censor Americans. That’s the first thing we learned,” began Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Chair of the Select Committee on Weaponization of the Federal Government in his opening remarks, on Mar. 7. “But now, it’s big government, colluding with big banks and big businesses to spy on everything Americans buy, everyplace they go, everything they do. Big government wants your financial data because it’s full of sensitive information about you,” he continued. “This is scary where things are headed. We have seen the censorship. Now we see what’s happening with big banks, and big government relative to your financial data … . All of this is being done with no process, no warrants, no notifications to the customers that the banks are actually supposed to serve. Big government is not supposed to use big tech to censor Americans. And big government shouldn’t be working with big banks to target Americans for behavior that is legal and constitutional. That’s the concern. This is why we are having this hearing,” Rep. Jordan, a Trump supporter, closed. 

Democrats on the subcommittee pushed back. 

“At the end of the day, the purpose of this hearing is to minimize what happened on January 6, and the lawful prosecution of individuals who were engaged in that practice,” challenged Ranking Member Rep. Stacey Plaskett D-VI, in her opening remarks refuting the reasons for the hearing previously stated. Rep. Plaskett who is Black did not support Rep. Jordan’s conclusions. “The chairman wants us to believe people are being persecuted for their political conduct rather than their criminal behavior. So basically, he is trying to tell us (that) everyone who has been indicted and prosecuted for January 6, did not engage in criminal conduct. That is the logic of what he is saying,” she said. 

“We have come so low in this House it’s frightening to me,” she said in terms of, “what people will do to try to minimize the work of those individuals who came to this Capitol on January 6,” to perform their respective duties and responsibilities, she declared. 
“When it’s people who fit your political agenda, they’re not criminals anymore?” she asked of the panel. “They’re patriots, they’re victims? They’re not” she asserted. “They’re criminals. And a jury of their peers found that when so many of them have been prosecuted in our court of law,” Rep. Plaskett said.

The report details the extent by which government, financial institutions, and retailers gathered intelligence, financial and psychological profiles allegedly profiling every visitor to the DMV (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia) area dating back at least six months before the attack on the Capitol. 

Analysts maintain that it is important to note that the January 6 debacle in which a huge crowd of mostly Whites attacked the Capitol also clearly shows the ongoing divide between Democrats and the GOP. 

However, many caution that Black people must begin to pay attention to the warring factions amongst dissatisfied White Americans who do not consider the plight of anyone other than White people. While members of the GOP are raising concerns about the overreach of the federal government into the private lives of American citizens now that it is impacting White people, for Blacks, there is a history of interference and surveillance by federal agencies.  

Banks looking into people’s finances is nothing new, particularly for Black folks, author, activist, and historian Dr. Akinyele Umoja told The Final Call. Citing examples of surveillance, and efforts to destabilize Black organizations then and now; finances and the exploitation of such is par for the course, he pointed out.

“They will deny you loans or financial support to hurt activists in that way. That’s just a form of counterinsurgency,” he said. Dr. Umoja urges not to assume this is a new policy because White people are publicly acknowledging the counterinsurgency. “What happened on January 6, 2021, does represent a clear message throughout the United States, particularly those of us who thought we were in power, are not in power. We could already see the MAGA (Make America Great Again) folks assaulting education, and our ability to tell the truth of our own history in public schools and universities; challenging DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) representing a clear danger evidenced by what we see happening now in Gaza,” he said.

“Even with the Democrats in power, we see the military support of Israel. So, it’s like Malcolm (X) talked about in terms of the fox and the wolf. They’re both canines. Both are vicious canines and are carnivorous. So, we can’t get tricked into thinking that because one represents a greater threat; a more vicious threat, violent and more aggressive at the moment. They are all gangsters. They are both dangerous to us,” he said. 

Citing the threat and inherent dangers of the unleashing of such civilian surveillance, during his testimony author and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson told the subcommittee that he was not there to discuss January 6, any particular threat, insurrection, or political/ideological protest rather real, or imaginary. “I am here to talk about the already extant and the expanding collusion of government and corporations. In restricting the individual freedom and autonomy upon which the productive, generous and stable psyche economy and state are themselves necessarily founded … Governments can, and are, colluding with these corporate agents to develop a picture not only of our actions but of our thought and words so that deviation from the desired end can be mapped, rewarded, and punished,” said Dr. Peterson. 

“The development of such a digital identity and currency is nothing more than the likely end consequence of such inclinations—and the combination of both will facilitate the development of a surveillance state, the scope of which optimistic pessimists of totalitarianism such as George Orwell could scarcely imagine,” he said. 

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan warned of certain tactics implemented by the U.S. government specifically when it comes to Black groups and organizations and those who speak truth to power. He referred to Satan as “a universal snooper.” 

“If you remember the Counterintelligence Program [COINTELPRO] of the United States Government: They feared that a ‘Messiah’ would rise among Black people who would unite the nationalist element among us, and unite us as a people; and destroy their power to continue their wicked rule and oppression of us!” the Minister said in part 26 of his 58-week lecture series, “The Time and What Must Be Done,” in 2013.  

“What does it mean ‘to snoop’? Minister Farrakhan asked. “To prowl or pry; to go about in a sneaking, prying way; to investigate and look around furtively in an attempt to find out something, especially information about someone’s private affairs.” The Muslim leader explained that Satan needs to know what everyone is saying or doing so the information can be used to silence people if they come into the knowledge of truth or to even “blackmail” people to bring them into his (Satan’s) sphere of influence. He explained during his message that the FBI and NSA (National Security Agency) “is searching all of us out.” 

“You should know, Nation of Islam, that we are on ‘The Watch List.’  We should know that there’s nothing that we are saying on social media that has escaped his attention, nor in emails or on phone calls, or on Twitter!  Look at the hatred that America is showing for Muslims: Don’t you think he’s listening to all our conversations?  How do you start your conversation?  With “As-Salaam Alaikum”—and the universal snooper is quick to pick up on those specific words: ‘Ah!  That’s a code term. …  Zero in on that conversation!’ If you mention The Name ‘Allah,’ that’s a code; and when that code comes up, he’s listening! He’s spying on China, Japan; he’s spying on Germany, on Italy, on France, on Russia—he is spying everywhere!” Minister Farrakhan stated.  

As the investigation continues, the committee and select subcommittee will continue to work to understand the extent and status of this widespread financial surveillance while also exploring how Congress could enact legislation to further protect Americans’ civil liberties or if these rights will continue to be eroded amidst the unraveling of a great nation.

The post Report and hearing reveal government surveillance of Americans’ financial data appeared first on Final Call News.

Seven regions gathered, each in celebration of F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam, the men of the Nation of Islam) of the year, Top Final Call Sales and raising the dead to life with top fisherman recognitions. Additionally, those recognitions also highlighted the global expanse of the F.O.I. soldiers, with young and old emerging as leaders in Information Technologies (IT), medical and nursing; cybersecurity and logistics. 

“We know that inside of our title, we are called the Fruit of Islam,” said class host Student Minister Nuri Muhammad. “But the Saviour never called us a specific type of fruit. He didn’t call us the apples of Islam or the orange of Islam,” he quipped. “Just like there are many different types of fruit, there are many different types of soldiers.

And we have to be wise enough to know how to get the best from each type of soldier just like there is a different methodology to get the best out of each type of fruit,” he continued. “We are all types of fruits of Islam, and we need to find out how we can employ the best method to get the nutrients and the vitamins that God has placed in that fruit to help increase the body of the Nation of Islam, in health, in value and in vitality,” he said.

Honored in the class were two doctors, Brother Dr. Abdullah Hasan Pratt, head surgeon of the University of Chicago Trauma Center, and Brother Dr. Kermit Muhammad, an orthopedic surgeon.

“We are honored to have (people) who believe in the same God that you believe in when you are unable to take care of yourself and know the art and science of medicine,” commented Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan on the doctors.  

“I dealt with the worst of the worst,” began Dr. Pratt in his talk with the soldiers. “I dealt with brothers who were shot, who were stabbed; who had heart attacks. And of course, I’d take care of their families,” he said as he turned toward the Supreme Captain.

 “But I will say that to go through these last three years sir and to see the strength and the resiliency at the most vulnerable moments that any brother would have; and to handle it with care and to handle those around me with care has set the best of examples for myself,” he told Supreme Captain Mustapha.

“And when my father was on his deathbed, when I talked to him about, [how] I wasn’t getting ready as a physician, as a man; he told me that I have an example and to look no further than you and your strength. And I thank Allah for you, and I thank him for your father,” he closed.

Brother Dr. Kermit Muhammad stated that he was very humbled by the honor. “It’s one of those things that through all the years of study, the whole idea was to help the Nation,” began Bro. Dr. Kermit in his remarks to the men. “The biggest thing I can take away from the whole experience is that the whole idea of being a student and continuing to learn—because that’s what we all have to do. I’ve been a practicing physician for 20 years now and I understand there is so much more to do.”

Throughout the class, accolades were continuously poured upon the Student Supreme Captain for being that protector of the Nation of Islam and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

As he mounted the rostrum, Student Captain Mustapha couched his remarks first, by thanking Allah, the Great Mahdi, the Exalted Christ and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for allowing him to serve in this capacity. He returned the gratitude extended from his regional captains and soldiers, helping them to understand, “I never asked for this. I just want to be a good brother to all.”

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