“Parts of southern Israel were flooded on Sunday (May 4), amid heavy rains and strong winds that picked up strength in the afternoon, leading police to close several main routes to traffic, including the main entrances to the southern city of Eilat,” The Times of Israel reported.

In the southern city of Dimona, heavy thunderstorms also brought hail, the outlet said. Authorities warned people not to enter the flooded areas.

Several news outlets reported that the flooding caused major damage to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve in the Judean Desert. “Within a short time, approximately 35 millimeters (1.4 inches) of rain fell over the reserve, triggering a sudden and violent surge of water.

The flooding resulted in massive erosion and widespread destruction. A preliminary assessment by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority revealed significant damage across the reserve:

Numerous hiking trails were either destroyed or heavily impacted, the ancient synagogue was flooded and will require preservation and restoration work, and infrastructure such as footbridges, handholds, and signage was ruined,” reported Israel National News on israelnationalnews.com.

Ein Gedi is located about 55 miles from Gaza, where the Israeli government is continuing its invasion and assault and committing atrocities against the Palestinians.

The flooding caused infrastructure damage to  Ein Gedi. “Ein Gedi is considered one of Israel’s most significant and unique natural areas, due to its rare combination of arid desert landscapes, flowing freshwater springs, and lush plant life. The reserve is a natural oasis, home to a variety of rare plant and animal species—some of them endangered.

The delicate ecological balance that has existed there for thousands of years has been severely disrupted by the unusual flood event, with restoration potentially taking years to fully return the area to its original state,” noted israelnationalnews.com.

The floods came on the heels of a wildfire that also struck Israel. According to reporting by Somoy Full News, a Bangladeshi news channel, “In late April 2025, a massive wildfire erupted in the hills near Jerusalem, marking one of the most severe fires in Israel in recent years.”

“The blaze scorched approximately 5,000 acres of land, leading to the evacuation of several communities and the temporary closure of the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem,” noted en.somoynews.tv on May 6.

The fire caused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a state of emergency, the UK-based media outlet, The Independent, reported. “The blaze erupted in the hills west of Jerusalem on Wednesday (April 30), starting in the Eshtaol Forest near Mesilat Zion and rapidly spreading due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds,” the outlet stated.

“This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,” Jerusalem’s district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters, noted independent.co.uk.

The Associated press reported that at one point, the wildfire shut down the main highway that linked Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and sent at least a dozen people to the hospital. Several countries had to be called in to help battle the fires, AP reported. According to multiple media outlets, the fire was the most significant to strike Israel in at least 10 years.

“The fire broke out around midday in the hills outside Jerusalem on Wednesday (April 30), fueled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through pine forests.

Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem gray,” AP reported. Several countries sent planes to battle the fires, including Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Romania, the new service noted.

“Israel often sees fires in the summertime, but such strong fires this early in the year are unusual. Many of Israel’s forests are planted rather than natural. One of the organizations that manages Israel’s forests said that the fires had perfect conditions to spread:

A winter with little rain, hot and dry weather, and exceptionally strong winds that are shifting direction constantly,” AP reported. The source of the fires is under investigation, although according to Al Jazeera, several people have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

The post Floods and fires strike Southern Israel appeared first on Final Call News.

In a released statement, Mr. Biden, a Democrat, said in part, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” 

Later in the day on X, formerly Twitter, Mr. Biden stated: “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats—it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.” 

After a shaky presidential debate performance on June 27, there were immediate public and many reported behind-the-scenes calls for Mr. Biden to step down from wealthy Democratic donors and others within the party. 

Almost immediately political observers, pundits and former and current elected officials reacted to Mr. Biden’s decision. Former President Bill Clinton and his, wife, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and other prominent Democrats came out in support of Vice President Harris and thanked Mr. Biden for his accomplishments and service.   

“We are honored to join the President in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” the Clintons said in a joint statement. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also threw her support behind Vice President Harris. Longtime Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee, Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) who is head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also endorsed Ms. Harris. 

“The Congressional Black Caucus PAC (CBCPAC) joins President Biden in fully supporting Kamala Harris as our party’s nominee,” said CBCPAC chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks and caucus chairman Rep. Steven Horsford in a statement. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus also endorsed the vice president.  

At Final Call presstime, there had been no public endorsement from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) or former President Barack Obama of the vice-president. Mr. Biden served as President Obama’s vice president for two terms. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) also stopped short of endorsing the Vice President Harris. 

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Vice President Harris said in a statement. Before becoming vice president she served in the U.S. Senate representing California, was Attorney General of California and district attorney of San Francisco. According to The Hill, the House Democratic Caucus is scheduled to meet for its weekly meeting on July 23 when additional discussions are expected to take place. 

What remains to be seen is if the Democratic Party will coalesce behind Vice President Harris, 59, a Black woman, ahead of the upcoming Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago, August 19-22. Whoever is selected to go head-to-head with former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, will be determined by delegates that will vote at the convention. If elected, Kamala Harris would be the first Black female president in United States history.

The Final Call will continue to monitor this story as it develops.

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What was also evident, is that this was no ordinary human being. “He had a lot of love and even the police is going to be here for him. Everybody loved him. He was 20 when he started the restaurant in downtown Fayette. Everybody here loved him. He was a good guy,” said Marquell Bridges, activist, and Carter family liaison. The small majority Black town of Fayette is situated in Jefferson County and located approximately 80 miles from the capital city of Jackson.

“Rasheem was an exceptional person with a good heart, a rare heart that wanted to see everybody win in his community. That’s why you see the love out here; you see the Elmer Geronimo Pratt Gun Club, the Southern Region Black Panthers, me with Building Bridges and his classmates,” Mr. Bridges told The Final Call.

Rasheem’s dismembered body was discovered in a wooded area a month after he disappeared in early October 2022 near Taylorsville, Mississippi, where he worked. Taylorsville, a majority White town, is a little over 100 miles from Fayette. Rasheem was able to communicate with his mother Tiffany Carter prior to disappearing and according to her, he had been looking for a ride back home after reportedly being kicked out of a hotel room he had been sharing with a co-worker.

His car had broken down earlier, so he was without transportation. According to Ms. Carter, her son sought help at the Taylorsville Police Station but was turned away (See Final Call Vol. 42 No. 19). Rasheem expressed fear to his mother prior to disappearing that there were three truckloads full of White men trying to harm him. Mr. Bridges stated that the FBI is now looking into the case.

Rasheem’s mother has exemplified a godly strength as she continues to fight to find out what happened to her son, explained Mr. Bridges. “She said this strength and what you see is not for her, it’s for everyone else. Every time I think about my child in this situation, I can’t even do it without breaking down. Just imagine a mother’s strength to not only stand firm but to do what needs to be done—make the calls, show up for the protests, talk to the FBI … just anything that needs to be done and show no fear in a situation where it’s very fearful. So, she’s amazing; just godly strength,” he added.

“We are seeking justice for Rasheem. We don’t know what has taken place over in Taylorville but we do know that something horrific took place. Family as you look around you have a full church and some are on the outside. We are here to support you. The Bible says, “you seek and ye shall find, ask and it shall be given, you knock and the door will open, you caste all your burdens unto me (God) and I will take care of you.” If you believe in them words, justice will be served, said Jefferson County Sheriff James E. Bailey, a friend of Rasheem’s during remarks. 

During the service, emotions ran high as family members and classmates wiped away tears. Several resolutions and condolences were read including one presented by Rasheem’s classmates from Jefferson County High School class of 2015. They wore the colors of red and white to honor their fallen brother.

His friend and classmate Kayla Carpenter described Rasheem as the one that kept them together and described him as a faithful and dutiful classmate. He is the first of their classmates to die, she said. To honor his memory, the class of 2015 created the “Rasheem R. Carter, Greatest of All Time Memorial Scholarship Fund” in his honor that will be awarded to a high school senior who plans on opening their own business in Fayette. The Grieving Mothers and Fathers Organization also issued a resolution.

During his eulogy, Bishop Curtis Smith of Locust Grove Baptist Church admitted that when he was approached by Rasheem’s family he felt “somewhat honored” but he also felt “some type of way.”

“Brothers and sisters it is no secret that we live in a world where it seems as though certain people have certain rights that other people are not supposed to have. It’s been going on for a mighty long time,” said Bishop Smith. “We as a people, we’ve been marching for years and years trying to just get the right to exist in God’s world!”

A delegation from the Nation of Islam which included Student Minister Abram Muhammad of Jackson, Mississippi and Student Regional F.O.I. Captain Oliver Muhammad attended the service. After the ceremony, Student Captain Oliver greeted Ms. Carter and extended condolences and support on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Rasheem Rayelle Carter was born October 28, 1996 to Tiffany Carter and Robert Frye Jr. and raised in Harriston, Mississippi and a 2015 graduate of Jefferson County High School. He played football, baseball and had a passion for music. Rasheem was also an entrepreneur and opened a seafood restaurant in Fayette called Callie’s Express.

At the time of his death, he was working to reopen the restaurant and had dreams of opening several more in Mississippi and other states. Rasheem is survived by his daughter Cali Ryelle Carter, his mother Tiffany Carter, his brother Christopher Carter, his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a host of family and friends.

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CHICAGO—The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, like his father and teacher the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, continues to demonstrate an unequaled love and unparalleled commitment to the resurrection and upliftment of Black people, and he also continues to prove that he is the greatest defender of Black people.

This was the central theme of a message delivered by Student Minister Daniel Muhammad at Mosque Maryam in Chicago. He set the tone of the presentation by explaining the importance of Black people understanding who we are in the eyesight of Allah (God) and how and why the enemies of righteousness work to keep us connected to Satan’s world.

There are divine qualities of Allah (God) and He deposits these same special characteristics—called attributes—into human beings, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad explained. When the Supreme Being brings forth new life, He shares His Essence with that life.

“Well, we are direct descendants of Allah (God) and being His children, those 99 Attributes that He has are also shared with us. Of course, He is Supreme in those Attributes, but we carry them to a smaller degree, as well.

And this is why in the Nation of Islam, we believe in carrying the names of God because we have His attributes and we are His children,” the Chicago-based student minister stated, during his message titled, “Farrakhan: Our Defender,” at Nation of Islam headquarters on November 20. The address was also streamed online.

“So, you see a bunch of us walking around with the name Muhammad (one worthy of praise, one praised much), with the name Kareem (generous), with the name Ali (high, elevated), because we want to be named after our Father and our Creator, which is Almighty God Allah but the enemy wants us to have his names,” he told the audience.

The enemy of Black people wants to disconnect us from our relationship with God and connect us with him, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad explained. “So, during the time of slavery, he removed all of the names of our ancestors, and he gave to us, his names. So, some of us are walking around in 2022, named after colors:

Mr. Black, Mrs. White. Some of us are named after fabrics: Mr. Cotton, Mrs. Cotton. Some of us are named after our oppressors themselves: Jones, Johnson, and Thompson. And the last time I checked, you put your name on that what you own.”

In the Nation of Islam an “X” is given upon becoming an official member of the Nation to replace the slave master’s name, disconnecting us from our enemy, and we are awaiting our Holy Names which reconnect us back to our love and those 99 Attributes of Allah (God), he explained.

In His monumental book, “Message to the Blackman in America,” the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam, includes a chapter called, “A Good Name Is Better Than Gold,” Student Minister Daniel Muhammad continued.

One of the Attributes of Allah (God) is Al-Muhaymin, which means The Protector, The Guardian, The Defender. Throughout the scriptures, explained Student Minister Daniel Muhammad to the audience, the servants of Allah (God) exhibited this unique attribute.

When examining the long line of divine men and women, when we look at the servants, prophets and messengers of God, we see that all of them take on this attribute of Allah which is to be a protector and a defender of their people, he continued.

Giving examples contained in the Bible, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad spoke of Abraham, Moses and those servants who were defenders of their people. Today, it is Minister Farrakhan who demonstrates this divine attribute in his nearly 68-year history—47 years absent his teacher—of being a defender, protector, and guardian of Black people.

“When God chooses a servant, He is looking for one who has the same quality of heart that He has, that will do everything in their power to try to reach and conform the people. He will do everything in his power to get the people to repent of their sins and to turn from their wicked ways, and, because every effort would have been put forth when history is written, the people will see that God was justified in rendering His judgment,” he continued.

“See some of us, we get so impatient with God because we don’t have the heart of a defender. So, some of us fall out of faith because we want God to execute judgment on our time,” stated Student Minister Daniel Muhammad.

Throughout his presentation, the audience was shown various slides with scriptural references and examples of Minister Farrakhan fitting this description of having a heart fashioned after God’s heart, and of one who exemplifies the function of a “watchman,” as referenced in chapter 33 verse 7 in the book of Ezekiel. This verse states, “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

A watchman is the first layer of defense in a nation’s military and their job is to keep watch and warn the people of impending threats and to keep them from harm, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad continued. “The watchman is vital as a defender of the people because he is the difference maker between an onslaught and a proper military defense,” he stated.

A watchman must also be fearless and willing to risk their lives for the sake of their people. There are those who claim to be watchmen for Black and oppressed people but then when the people are attacked, they fail to show up.

“They don’t sound the alarm. They sit by quietly waiting for things to play out. This is why we thank Allah for men like the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who are willing to risk it all in order to defend our people!” stated the young student minister, husband, father and businessman.

Giving examples of their sacrifice, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad shared with the audience that in the late 1950s and early ‘60s the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was a “watchman” by warning Black people not to take the polio vaccine.

“The beauty of that guidance from that watchman is that we can now look back in hindsight and see that he was 100 percent correct and was on post, as a watchman. Because the scientists now bear witness that the polio vaccine was cancer itself. So, for those who took it, it was like injecting cancer into your body,” he explained.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was not afraid of the consequences or repercussions faced due to His sacrifice as a watchman, and His top student, Minister Farrakhan is the same as his teacher.

“Did we make the mistake of thinking that Elijah Muhammad was some scatterbrained conspiracy theorist? Did we not trust the watchman? And did we not trust the defender that God has raised for us? See if the villages don’t believe the watchman when he blows the trumpet, they are putting themselves in serious danger,” Student Minister Daniel Muhammad told the audience.

“And just like his father, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is also the watchman. He also told us as meaning within the last few years, do not take the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, they have drastically slowed down the bombardment of propaganda in regard to this vaccine.

But the reason for that is that there are studies being done all over the world, where there are teams of doctors and scientists saying that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was correct all along. Did we shrug him off? Did we cast him aside? Because again, if the villages don’t believe the alarm of the watchman, we are putting ourselves in a very precarious position.”

During his presentation, Student Minister Daniel Muhammad also shared examples of the many times over the decades when Min. Farrakhan has been at the forefront of defending Black people in general but also including Black politicians, entertainers, athletes, clergy, other public figures, and even Black institutions and countries around the world.

With the Minister’s recent defense of basketball star Kyrie Irving and hip hop artist and businessman Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from false charges of anti-Semitism, he continues to exhibit the attribute of the Defender and he is an example of why and how Black people should treat one another. It is critical that Black people establish oneness with God and oneness with one another, explained Student Minister Daniel Muhammad.

“It behooves us to really study this attribute of Allah, Al-Muhaymin, The Defender, and we should study the life and the example of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. He is that son of man of the scriptures, that great Defender, the Watchman over the house of Israel.”

To view the message, “Farrakhan: The Defender,” in its entirety, visit media.noi.org

The post Minister Farrakhan: Our Defender and a Servant After God’s Own Heart appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is no stranger to controversy for speaking his mind on a variety of topics, whether his assessments are correct, incorrect, or somewhere in between. The 45-year-old billionaire, father, hip-hop artist, producer, and businessman has participated in several recent interviews where he has referred to his former last name as a “slave name,” spoken on the problem of obesity in the Black community; talked about Margaret Sanger, a eugenicist and founder of Planned Parenthood; expressed his concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and many other newsworthy subjects.  

Yet, the topic that has seemingly sparked the most anger and backlash is his observations about members of the Jewish community and the power and influence they hold over Black artists and entertainers. Ye has also stated that Black people are the true Jews. The condemnation has been swift and unrelenting.

“Ye is caught up in a controversy with those that say they are Jews. What did Ye say?” said Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad during an October 23 message from Nation of Islam headquarters at Mosque Maryam in Chicago. “Now they want to punish him because he’s been outspoken.

They want to punish him and twist and turn his words to make this absolutely magnificent, brilliant artist—twist his words to make it seem as though he’s a threat to them. Really?” Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad stated during his message, titled, “Atonement and Reconciliation: We Must Settle Our Differences, Part 2,” which was also streamed online.

Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, who serves as the National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, explained to the audience the motive of the attacks that are now being aimed at the Chicago artist.

“When he said ‘DEFCON 3’ on Jewish people, but he said ‘death’ d-e-a-t-h con 3 not ‘D-E-F-C-O-N 3.’ What’s the point? That’s the alert levels of the United States military. Alert! It’s the state of the country’s readiness in the face of an attack or a threat! DEFCON 3 puts the military in alert and a state of what? Readiness,” explained Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

“So, brother knew that he was saying things and he was going to be attacked for the things that he was saying. He is putting himself in a state of readiness and being alert. ‘I’m going into DEFCON 3 on all of them,’” he said, referring to Ye’s statement on Twitter, which caused the rapper’s account to be suspended.

During his presentation, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad spoke on Black people who are quick to side with Whites and others against their own brothers and sisters, particularly in public.

“So some of us (are) always an apologist for the enemy! Don’t you get tired of them always taking some Uncle Tom among us, one of their overseers to put the brother in line? It’s a modern plantation. You be strong and stand up on what you know is right or be critical of the slave master, the overseer, which is one of your brothers.”

Ye also spoke on the high abortion rate of Black babies and the problem of obesity among Black people, while referencing the popular and talented singer and musician Lizzo. Ye referred to the problem of being overweight as “genocide” of the Black race. Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad reminded the audience that obesity leads to lots of ailments, sickness and disease.   

He also addressed critics of Ye who do not like when he refers to himself as the “richest Black man in America or in history.” According to various estimates, Ye has a net worth of anywhere from $2 billion-$4 billion. 

“But if that is what one individual is assessed to have made, how much have they (Jews) made  on that Black artist, that Black celebrity, that Black talent; and make it seem like all of our athletes, artists and celebrities make more than them? They’re making pennies on the dollars that they make. He’s (Ye) talking about the greed. He’s talking about what he sees as an injustice,” he continued.

Jews are a people who learned and know the science of business, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad explained to the audience. One of the three sciences that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught that the enemy would not teach Black people were the sciences of business, warfare and mating.

“We don’t know the science of business. You’re in business school learning how to manage and administrate their businesses. But going into the school of business is not teaching you how to make a business for yourself. The science of warfare; you’ve got to be able to know and recognize your enemy! So, we’re crippled in the sciences, and you wonder why our condition is what it is. You don’t see the enemy, you don’t recognize the enemy!”

The enemy comes like a cell in the body that is diseased and cancerous, but the immune system does not recognize the disease and it is the body’s inability to recognize the diseased cell that is a problem, he continued. The science of warfare teaches you who the enemy is so that you won’t allow that enemy to wreck your house, said Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

He shared with the audience comments from the former Israeli Minister of Education Shulamit Aloni, when she was interviewed by Amy Goodman on the show, Democracy Now, on August 14, 2002, regarding the term “anti-Semitism.” During the interview, Ms. Goodman told Ms. Aloni that hers was a voice of criticism not often heard in the United States when it comes to criticism of Israeli government actions. Ms. Goodman explained that people in the U.S. are often labeled as “anti-Semitic” when critical of Israel or Jewish people.

She asked Ms. Aloni what her response was to that as an Israeli Jew? Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, reading from a transcript from the interview, stated Ms. Aloni’s response to Ms. Goodman’s question.

“Well, it’s a trick. We always use it. When from Europe, someone criticizes Israel, we bring up the Holocaust. When in this country, America, people are criticizing Israel they are called anti-Semitic,” he said, quoting Ms. Aloni. 

Labeling someone as an anti-Semite is a form of crucifixion. “It’s their way of silencing those that will be critical of their behavior,” Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad explained.  He shared with the audience and viewers that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan teaches that propagandists summon the passion of the people by giving them a reason to dislike a person, a thing, a nation, the elite or those in authority.

“Supply the people with the reason that summons the passion against the object of the authorities’ disapproval. There must always be a reason to like and a reason to dislike. He who supplies the reason directs the passion. So now Ye is a pariah. Take him off of Twitter. JP Morgan Chase Bank, gave him I think until sometime in November to withdraw his funds. This is what they do. It’s a trick!” said Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.  

“They do not want to be exposed because they portray themselves as your friend. ‘We’re only trying to help you.’ Well, if you really want to help us, teach us how we can fish to satisfy our hunger. Don’t try to cast the net and bring up everything for you to consume and you give us a few bones! Help us as you have been successful. Show us how we can be successful as an independent people. But they’re not going do that because in their eyes, you and I are their slaves!”

During his message, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad also cautioned Black people not to be so quick to judge and condemn each other. Even if there is legitimate disagreement, discourse, or corrections that must be made, there is a way it should be handled, he stated.

“Why do we have to take our disagreements, our beefs, our dislikes, even hatred of one another into the public arena? Coward! Now what?  I’m going to talk about you on social media. You know in the old days they used to say: ‘say it to my face,’ come meet me face-to-face. We hide behind a gun today. We hide behind social media. And you call that being strong? We can do that because we are programmed in self-hatred,” he said.

“You may have a legitimate grievance against your brother or your sister. But the Bible and the Qur’an give us a way by which we are to settle those grievances.”

To view this message in its entirety, visit media.noi.org.

—Starla Muhammad, Managing Editor

The post ‘They do not want to be exposed!’ appeared first on Final Call News.

The two-hour show on the Black-owned talk radio station presented the opportunity for the world to again receive divine wisdom, insight and warning from Min. Farrakhan. And it was an occasion to present the NOI Executive Council—all appointed by Min. Farrakhan—to the Black community and the world. It was the first time all members of the Council were introduced to the public.

Governing and functioning based on Allah’s (God’s) law must be rooted in love, which is critical to uplift a people and is the right way to rule, the Minister explained during the May 16 broadcast that aired live from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. CDT.

“We always think of law as something that confines us, and it does. But Jesus represented law at the highest manifestation when he said, ‘Love God first.’ And that is the first cardinal principle of the Executive Council and the members of the Nation of Islam. We love Allah (God) first with all of our hearts, soul, mind and strength. We pledge allegiance to nothing or no one, but God,” Min. Farrakhan explained during the broadcast.

“We respect the flag of the nation in which we live. We honor that flag. And we honor the independent people who are the former slave masters of our fathers, but we do not wish to govern as they govern. We do not wish to govern and guide our people as White America would make us and has made us into themselves,” he said.

Jesus did not want his disciples to reflect the governance of Rome or the hypocrisy of the rabbinical class of the Jewish people of his day and neither does the Nation of Islam, the Minister continued.

The NOI Shura Executive Council consists of Muslim men and women who are students and followers of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the guidance, leadership, and example of Min. Farrakhan. The Council is tasked with governing the affairs of the over 90-year-old Nation of Islam based on the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad.

Shura is an Arabic word meaning “consultation,” taken from “Al-Shura,” the title of the 42nd Surah or Chapter of the Holy Qur’an, the Islamic book of scripture which enjoins Muslims to consult or take counsel in important affairs particularly in governance.

“I am an extension of Elijah Muhammad, who we believe is that Jesus that every one of us has fallen in love with and have wanted to live under Jesus, follow Jesus and be made into Jesus. So that each one of us who follow Jesus become saviours under his saving grace and power,” Min. Farrakhan added.

Jesus gives us a perfect example of governance as laid out in the Bible; the Minister explained as he illustrated how Jesus serves as an example of leadership to be followed. Jesus said what God instructed and did as God commanded, making him the “perfect example of leadership” in submission to God’s will, he said.

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah (God) uses the term “we,” more than the word “I,” the Minister observed. Muslims and Christians have a responsibility to talk more about “we” as those who are in obedience to God, he said.

Many members of the Executive Council came into the ranks of the NOI as teenagers and young adults.

But today they are mature people who are “rooted in the law and Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. That’s why I chose them to be on his Council so that he (Elijah Muhammad) is on the Council,” said Min. Farrakhan.

Listeners got to hear directly from members of the Council at the start of the program. Each member was introduced, their bio read and they spoke briefly—including Brother Sultan Rahman Muhammad, Student National Imam of the Nation of Islam; Sister A’ishah Muhammad, Student National Auditing Coordinator; Brother Ahmed Muhammad, Student Minister of Information and a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad; Sister Aminah Bayyinah Muhammad, Min. Farrakhan’s Executive Administrative Assistant; Student Minister Dr. Wesley Muhammad, author, scholar and researcher; Brother Leonard Muhammad, aide to Min. Farrakhan and former chief of staff;

Attorney Abdul Arif Muhammad, NOI General Counsel; Attorney Ava Muhammad, National Spokesperson for Min. Farrakhan and the NOI; Brother Abdul Ra’uf Muhammad, Student Chief of Protocol; Sister Naeemah Muhammad, Student National MGT & GCC Captain who oversees the training and development of women and girls; Attorney Sa’ad Alim Muhammad, Student National Secretary, and Brother Ishmael Muhammad, Student National Assistant to Min. Farrakhan and a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. The bio of Brother Mustapha Farrakhan, Student Supreme Captain and son of Min. Farrakhan, who oversees the training and development of men and boys, was read as he was unable to be on the program.

“What the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has done in establishing an Executive Council that was said earlier follows the pattern and direction of governance given by God,” said Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad at the beginning of the program.

And, Ishmael Muhammad continued, historically speaking where Black leadership and organizations are concerned, “every Black leader and organization that was systematically destroyed by the satanic forces of the United States government was unable to enjoy continuity after the leader was off the scene.”

The leaders initiated movement among Black people that was stymied by the enemy. And after a fall, the Nation of Islam rose again as an independent nation and the result will be justice, freedom, equality, and the total liberation of Black people.

Min. Farrakhan turned 89 years old on May 11 and continues to work tirelessly in the mission and work of his father, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. As he had done countless of times before, the Minister dispatched wisdom during the broadcast and answered a few callers who posed questions from the WVON listening audience. Mr. Read extended an invitation for Min. Farrakhan to come back to the show as the people, particularly Black people desire to hear more from him. But the Minister said he desired those who represent him to be afforded those opportunities.

“I have taught you well by the Grace of God. Millions of words now are out there for us to feed on. So, I want to see now a new generation rise in that word and they are coming up fast,” he told Mr. Read.

“Every one of these that you heard, including Brother Student Minister Ishmael. He’s got a cadre of young ministers, male and female, studying now and growing in the study—and so soon you will see them. Soon you will hear them. And you will hear Elijah coming through them all or they won’t speak at all. I did not live my life and offer my life for wicked, corrupt people to come to me and say they want to help me; but they really want to help themselves and use my teacher’s name to deceive the people,” said Min. Farrakhan.

The post A New Generation Rising in the Word: Min. Farrakhan and NOI Executive Council appear on WVON AM radio appeared first on Final Call News.

The sanctuary of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church was filled to capacity with long lines of mourners outside wanting to pay their respects at  the Jan. 13 janazah (Islamic funeral service) of Sister Qahharah, the daughter of Student Minister Nuri Muhammad and wife Terri Muhammad of Mosque No. 74 in Indianapolis. Sister Qahharah departed this life and returned to Allah on Jan. 3. She was 22 years old. 

Allah (God) is the Author of Life and Death, explained Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad, delivering remarks on behalf of Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. “This is indeed a heavy burden that you carry but know that Allah says in the Qur’an, that He does not lay on any soul, a burden beyond his scope, and that nothing happens except by His permission,” shared Student Min. Jeffrey Muhammad, referencing the book of Islamic scriptures.

“So, when we suffer the loss of life under these tragic circumstances, we have no one to turn and seek answers from except Allah,” he added. Min. Farrakhan explains that misfortunes, pain and suffering will come into the lives of Believers and when they do, we should give all glory and praise to Allah (God) despite the hardships and trials, he continued.

“To each and every one gathered today, especially to young folk, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said that there are three tests that prove the worthiness of life. And these three tests prove our capacity and ability to overcome any circumstance or situation that comes into our life for this life is designed by the Creator to struggle and to succeed,” said Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad. Those are the tests of: overwhelming odds, gravity and the hostile environment. There is always light in the darkness, hope in despair and when you are by yourself, call on God by whatever name you know Him, he added.

Quoting directly from Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad, Brother Jeffrey Muhammad said Sister Qahharah loved Islam. “She loved the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. She loved the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, her mother, her father, her family. She was sensitive to the pain and hurt of others. She was generous. She was kind.

She was tender hearted, very loving. She shared the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad with many of you that knew her. She knew the value of what she was taught and shared it with others. She touched many lives; she helped those that struggled with depression.” She also left a gift to the world, her first book released in 2021, “How to Heal & Hustle.”

“That was the beauty of the heart of Sister Qahharah. Yes, we’re pained. Yes, we’re saddened. But we thank Allah for this precious, precious gift. We thank Allah through this life that has helped to make others better. We thank Allah that in her life and in her death, we have lessons to learn and that she will be remembered, honored and memorialized by continuing her effort to help others overcome the struggle of depression,” shared Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad.

Her sister Haneefah, with whom she shared a close and special bond, read aloud the obituary, further sharing the accomplishments and good deeds of Sister Qahharah, who was homeschooled, attended Muhammad University of Islam and graduated from Pike High School in 2017.

Sister Qahharah’s legacy lives on through her loving parents Nuri and Terri Muhammad; sister Haneefah; brother Ishmael; grandparents, great-grandparents, a host of family, friends and the entire Nation of Islam.

It is the desire of Min. Farrakhan that young people in particular view the message delivered at the janazah service of Sister Qahharah. The replay is available in its entirety at media.noi.org.

The post The Beauty, Heart and Gift of Sister Qahharah Muhammad appeared first on Final Call News.

—Holy Qur’an 31:16

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”—Bible John 8:44 KJV

Lies and liars continue to be exposed and the treachery of the U.S. government’s deadly actions in targeting, infiltrating and attempting to destroy the Nation of Islam (NOI) is once again being brought to light.

Finally, after 55 years, a New York judge on Nov. 18 exonerated Muhammad Aziz and Kahlil Islam, two of the three men convicted of murdering Malcolm X. Both men had always maintained their innocence and the FBI and New York Police Department knew from the beginning the two were not involved and were nowhere near the Audubon Ballroom that fateful day in1965.

“We are moving today to vacate the convictions and dismiss the indictments of Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam for the assassination of Malcolm X on February 21, 1965. But I want to begin by saying directly to Mr. Aziz and his family, to the family of Mr. Islam, and the family of Malcolm X, that I apologize for what were serious, unacceptable violations of the law and the public trust,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. in front of Chief Administrative Judge Ellen Biben at the New York State Supreme Court.

A 43-page Joint Motion to Vacate Judgements of Conviction and Dismiss Indictment laid out several critical points. A nearly two-year investigation by attorneys for Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam, the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the Innocence Project revealed that prosecutors for the FBI and NYPD withheld key evidence that would have led to the men’s acquittal had it been turned over.

The third man convicted, Thomas Hagan (also known as Talmadge X Hayer and Mujahid Abdul Halim), was arrested at the Audubon that day, confessed to his role in the assassination and later stated during the 1966 trial that Mr. Aziz (known then as Norman 3X Butler) and Mr. Islam (known then as Thomas 15X Johnson) were innocent and not involved.

All three men were sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Mr. Aziz, now 83, was paroled in 1985. Mr. Islam, who died in 2009 at age 74, was paroled in 1987.  

“I apologize on behalf of our nation’s law enforcement for this decades-long injustice, which has eroded public faith in institutions that are designed to guarantee the equal protection of the law. We can’t restore what was taken from these men and their families, but by correcting the record, perhaps we can begin to restore that faith,” said District Attorney Vance.

The DA’s inquiry was prompted by the many questions raised in the Netflix documentary series, “Who Killed Malcolm X?” released in 2020 which chronicled the research and investigation of Abdur-Rahman Muhammad about the assassination.

“The recently unearthed evidence of Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam’s innocence that had been hidden by the NYPD and FBI not only invalidates their convictions, it also highlights the many unanswered questions about the government’s complicity in the assassination—a separate and important issue that, itself, demands further inquiry,” said Vanessa Potkin of Innocence Project.

The U.S. government’s records show through its FBI Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO) under director J. Edgar Hoover that it sent informants and agents into the ranks of the NOI to foment tension and division among its members. When Malcolm X split from his teacher and benefactor, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, eventually starting Muslim Mosque Incorporated and the Organization of Afro-American Unity, law enforcement infiltration of all three organizations did not cease.  

The U.S. government has had the NOI in its crosshairs since the group’s founding in Detroit in 1930 by Master Fard Muhammad, Allah in Person, the Great Mahdi and Teacher of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Both men were arrested, jailed and viewed as a threat for their Teaching of Black independence and self-determination. 

Abdul Akbar Muhammad joined the Nation of Islam in New York in 1960 under Minister Malcolm X. That is where he met and worked with Mr. Aziz. He told The Final Call he and “Brother Norman 3X” worked together in the early 1960s. Both were tasked with assisting in training Muslim brothers in the FOI (Fruit of Islam) class. Mr. Aziz used to teach the men martial arts, shared the longtime NOI pioneer.

“I know personally that the brothers were not there at the Audubon Ballroom,” said Akbar Muhammad, who today serves as international representative for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. In a previous conversation he had with Mr. Aziz, Min. Akbar Muhammad said Mr. Aziz told him when law enforcement personnel came to his home days after the assassination,

“they went in his closet and pulled out a coat and told him to put that particular coat on,” he shared. “He didn’t understand that. You know, he was there with the police officers who were arresting them. … The last time we talked, he told me that ‘they wanted me to put their coat on,’ so that they could identify, somebody would identify that coat.”

Evidence points to U.S. gov’t

The exonerations of Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam is another step toward the full exoneration of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, said Student Minister Wesley Muhammad. Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were framed to frame the Nation of Islam and authorities knew Malcolm’s assassins were not from New York but were from New Jersey, declared the researcher, author and lecturer who holds a PhD. in Islamic Studies.

“There was a reason even though the New York Police Department and the FBI knew in early March, not a week after Malcolm X was gunned down at the Audubon Ballroom, it was known that the source of the hit squad, if you will, was not New York but was New Jersey,” explained Student Min. Wesley Muhammad.

Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were FOI from New York’s Temple No. 7 (as the mosques were called at that time). Confessed gunman Mr. Halim had been a member of Temple No. 25 in Newark however was in “F-Time”, explained Wesley Muhammad.

This means he had been put out of the temple, was not in good standing and was not active or permitted to be part of the Nation’s activities or community. 

“There was a reason this government, the prosecutor’s office, the New York Police Department, and the FBI, there was a reason they insisted on making this a Nation of Islam New York operation and so they framed two well-known New York FOI when they knew that the mechanics, if you will—that’s the intelligence community’s name for shooters, in cases like this—the shooters came out of Newark but the actual identity of the shooters linked the operation back to the New York Police Department and the FBI,” the NOI student minister explained.

Of the three gunmen at the Audubon that day, the shotgun shooter who fired the fatal first shot at Malcolm X was identified years later as William 25X Bradley of Newark. Mr. Halim later pointed the finger at Mr. Bradley (later known as Al-Mustafa Shabazz) as one of the men involved. In 1978, Mr. Halim gave the names of four men who he said were his accomplices, yet officials did not reopen the investigation of the murder. Mr. Halim was released in 2010 and is still living.

In the Netflix documentary, Abdur-Rahman Muhammad’s investigation also came to the same conclusion, that Mr. Bradley was the shotgun shooter. For years, late attorney William Kunstler also worked to reopen the case, arguing that Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were not guilty.

There was no political will to bring justice to this case, Abdur-Rahman Muhammad told Marc Lamont Hill, host of Black News Tonight airing on the Black News Channel. “It allows us to begin the process to interrogate the government; to find out just what was involved here. Why was there such prosecutorial misconduct and why as we’ve shown in our series was there such a desire to protect the man that they knew to be the shotgun assassin, William X Bradley?” asked Abdur-Rahman Muhammad.

Mr. Bradley died in 2018 and said he was not involved in the assassination. He has been described as an “enforcer” for Temple No. 25 in Newark and was featured heavily in the Netflix special, but Student Min. Wesley Muhammad said one key detail has been omitted.

“William 25X Bradley was a Newark, New Jersey, Muslim, only as a cover. He was an employee of the New York Police Department. He even had an office at the Harlem station, so he was undercover in Newark. So, his role in the assassination was not on behalf of the Newark Mosque No. 25 but was on behalf of the New York Police Department!” declared Student Min.

Wesley Muhammad. Leon 3X Davis, who was also later identified as the gunman with the Lugar, was caught at the scene of the crime but his identity at the time was protected, explained Student Min.

Wesley Muhammad. “There was no reason to protect the identity of a shooter of Malcolm unless you are protecting an asset. Leon 3X Davis, a Newark shooter but a protectee of the New York Police Department. Why was he protected? Well certainly because he was a protected asset. His gun disappeared. William Bradley’s gun disappeared. The refusing to open up the files, release key files, the disappearance of files and the disappearance of the weapons all are part of the cover up, I believe.”

The Newark connection to the assassination had to be “bleached out” because it proved the connection and link to the NYPD and FBI’s involvement, he explained. Eugene Roberts, a Black NYPD intelligence unit agent assigned to infiltrate Malcolm’s OAAU organization and eventually became his head of security, was also at the Audubon that day.

A history of duplicity

In February of this year, a press conference at the Malcolm and Betty Shabazz Center in New York was held outlining a confession by Ray Wood, an undercover NYPD officer and infiltrator of Black organizations, which cast additional light on the government’s hand in the killing of Malcolm X and prompted renewed demands that all files related to the killing of the Black nationalist leader—especially the full FBI files—be made public.

Daughters of Malcolm X and his wife, the late Dr. Betty Shabazz, were present. Mr. Wood said a federal agent directed him to go to the Audubon Ballroom and observe something that would happen. He said he watched as the fatal shooting took place and the FBI and the NYPD were involved. A letter from Mr. Wood, the onetime undercover agent was released, and he shared how he was assigned to infiltrate Black organizations throughout New York City. Mr. Wood died in late 2020 and his memoir, “The Ray Wood Story: Confessions of a Black NYPD Cop on the Assassination of Malcolm X,” was released earlier this year.

Since the early 1990s and beyond, Minister Farrakhan has called for the release of all government files about the death of Malcolm X.

During the exoneration hearing, DA Vance stated his office obtained dozens and dozens of reports, from the FBI and NYPD’s BOSSI unit. “These records include FBI reports of witnesses who failed to identify Mr. Islam and who implicated other suspects. And, significantly, we now have reports revealing that, on orders from Director J. Edgar Hoover himself, the FBI ordered multiple witnesses not to tell police or prosecutors that they were, in fact, FBI informants,” he told the judge.

According to Min. Akbar Muhammad, the objective of BOSSI was to put people inside the NOI who would spy and cause disinformation and confusion within its ranks. “They know that they did all of this, and it was the deathbed confession of one of the men that they were using (Mr. Woods) in terms of accusing the Nation of killing Malcolm. Allah (God) is the best knower. It all comes out now and we will just see how it unfolds.”

Dr. Wesley Muhammad argues the reason the government refuses to open the files into the assassination is because it will clearly show the government’s hand. Telephone records, the weapons used, and other critical evidence has been destroyed or disappeared and files that have been made public are heavily if not completely redacted.

“This is really just another example of how the Black community has been horrendously impacted by COINTELPRO. We’re talking about an effort to prevent the rise of a Black Messiah, the FBI, took outrageous action to arrest and convict and cover-up what they themselves were doing! Afterall, this was a cover-up from the FBI and agents that they had within the Nation of Islam,” said Attorney Nkechi Taifa, a longtime human rights activist. 

Demetric Muhammad, author of the book, “But Didn’t You Kill Malcolm?: Myth-Busting The Propaganda Against The Nation of Islam,” stated he had mixed feelings on news of the exoneration. While he is happy for Mr. Aziz and the families of both men that their names have been cleared, there is a clear argument that it was long overdue.

“There’s an old saying that justice delayed is justice denied. So, I hope that what follows from this admission from the Manhattan DA, is that a grand effort be made to help make the families of these two brothers whole … they certainly are well-deserving of monetary compensation for having given many years of their lives up to incarceration and having their families broken apart as a result of that,” said the Memphis-based student minister who is also a member of the NOI Research Group.

An apology is not enough

For journalist Doshon Farad, who was outside the courthouse and caught glimpses of Mr. Aziz as he left the hearing, said this case is just one of many involving Black men and women in prison for crimes they did not commit or who are still locked up when there has been evidence if not to exonerate, to at least grant them a new trial.

There are cases across the country of Black and Brown political prisoners that need to be made known, explained Mr. Farad. “This is another case in my judgement of the criminal, criminal injustice system.”

While the Manhattan district attorney apologized, critics argue it rings hollow. Lives have been destroyed, families needlessly suffered, and pain has been inflicted on innocent parties.

Mr. Islam’s son Shahid Johnson was thankful but also saddened. “The fact that the family suffered, growing up with concerns of fear, of people coming after us … those kind of things you can’t get back,” Mr. Johnson said after the hearing. “Normality was gone when I was 10,” he said. “Right now, this is great, but not so great at the same time,” he added. 

Min. Akbar Muhammad said he last spoke with Mr. Aziz about six months ago and that all he was concerned about was one day clearing his name.

“I mean, you can’t just have an exoneration. I mean, this was these people’s lives! Decades taken away. What is the compensation? Where is the reparations that is due? Where is the healing that we need for our communities?” asked Atty. Taifa.

“When will the FBI stand charged for their actions? Not one FBI agent ever served time for counterintelligence activities? Not one. So, we can’t just sit down and say, ‘Okay, folks have been exonerated.’ The FBI needs to be put on trial! It’s a good feeling that finally, ‘justice’ has been done … But it’s not enough,” she continued.

“It’s not enough and until we really start dealing with what the genesis of what all of this was—the illegal actions of a U.S. government through its tentacles, i.e. the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there won’t be any true justice.”

Vindication of the Nation of Islam

While there are those who will still accuse and blame the NOI for the assassination of Malcolm X—even as more evidence is revealed vindicating the 90-year-old movement, its Eternal Leader the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and His National Representative and Chief Student, Minister Farrakhan—those efforts are collapsing on weak ground.

This deliberate lie of NOI involvement has caused pain not just on the families of the men wrongly accused but on the families of Elijah Muhammad, Min. Farrakhan, Malcolm X, as well as the Nation and Black America in general. It was by design, argued Min. Akbar Muhammad.

“All of the young students who were tossed between their love of Minister Farrakhan and their love of Malcolm as the patron saint of liberation struggle, these students were torn. They loved Malcolm, and they love Minister Farrakhan, and the enemy was showing them that Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad were enemies to our people, and so forth, and they planned all that and worked it for years. As Allah (God) would have it now, it comes to the surface, that we had nothing to do with the death of Malcolm. And that it was all planned and laid out,” said Min. Akbar Muhammad.

 “We need to make use of this kind of development to put it within our narrative of our complete innocence. But the Manhattan DA, and mainstream media are using this story to basically say, the Nation of Islam is guilty. We just arrested and imprisoned the wrong members of the Nation of Islam. That’s their narrative,” said Student Min. Demetric Muhammad. However, the popular and official narrative that the NOI killed Malcolm X is unraveling, he explained.

Student Min. Wesley Muhammad, also a member of the NOI Research Group and serves as a National Laborer, agreed. “They framed these well-known New York Muslims, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson at the time, well-known Muslim FOI out of New York and to seal the Nation of Islam killed Malcolm X narrative,” said Student Min. Wesley Muhammad.

“It’s right that we start with an exoneration of those two New York FOI but they were framed not just to do injustice to them. The whole purpose of their framing was to frame the Nation of Islam and in particular the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad for the murder of Malcolm X. So, the next step is a public exoneration of the Nation of Islam and an apology for all the efforts that this government entered into in order to frame the Nation for this crime,” said Student Min. Wesley Muhammad.

“Our narrative, which is not a narrative for propaganda purposes, it is just the truth is that the U.S, government is responsible for the assassination of Malcolm X,” noted Student Min. Demetric Muhammad.

The enemies of the Nation of Islam whip up this false narrative for another reason, observed Student Min. Wesley Muhammad. “They use the murdered Malcolm X against the living man that they fear, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. The government’s posthumous investment in Malcolm after killing Malcolm, they invested in his legacy so heavily, not because of Malcolm X but because of Louis Farrakhan.”

(Final Call staff contributed to this report.)

The post Plots, Deceptions and Lies of a Wicked Enemy U.S. government conspiracy further exposed amid exoneration of innocent men wrongly convicted in murder of Malcolm X appeared first on Final Call News.

A young Marcus moved from Niles, Mich., to Benton Harbor as a fifth grader to live with his father. Little did he know his experiences over the next several years in the majority-Black city with a population today of less than 10,000 would help mold, develop and shape him into a public servant who today serves as its mayor.

“I moved to live with my father from a broken home to get stability and discipline and a better quality of life. When I became a student at Martindale Elementary School, I met Rodger Triplett who became my fifth-grade teacher and sixth grade basketball coach. It was his love and passion for excellence and for the city of Benton Harbor that influenced and shaped my existence as it relates to that,” reflected Mayor Muhammad, now 46. He was a high school basketball star in Benton Harbor and played at DePaul University in Chicago before coming back home.

Mayor Muhammad served as a commissioner-at-large for two terms and mayor pro tem before success in his first mayoral campaign, winning the unsalaried position in 2015. He took office in January 2016 and was reelected in 2019. It has certainly not been an easy road.

Benton Harbor is currently in the middle of a water crisis that has thrust it into the national spotlight. Decades of disinvestment, struggling schools, crime, decline in manufacturing and crumbling infrastructure has had a devastating impact on a community where 84.7 percent of the population is Black, the median household income is barely $22,000 per year and 45.4 percent of the population lives in poverty.

The city has been under a state advisory since 2018 for having higher-than-acceptable levels of lead in some of its aging water pipes. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause irreversible harm. Even low-level exposure in children is linked to damage to the brain and nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and harm to blood cells, according to the CDC. The agency also notes that exposed adults can suffer from cardiovascular disease and adverse impacts on reproduction and kidneys, among other harmful health effects.

America’s infrastructure has been crumbling for decades. Since 2001 the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has issued an Infrastructure Report Card every four years examining and rating the condition of the country’s infrastructure in 17 categories including recommendations on needed improvements.

America’s drinking water infrastructure system is made up of 2.2 million miles of underground pipes that deliver water to millions of people, but the system is aging and underfunded, reports ASCE. Its most recent report gives America an overall C- grade for its drinking water. Michigan’s grade for its drinking water is D-.

Some of the nation’s oldest pipes were laid in the 19th century, and pipes that were laid post-World War II have an average life span of 75 to 100 years, meaning that many are reaching the end of their design life, notes ASCE. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that there is a range of 9.7 million to 12.8 million pipes that are, or may be, contaminated with lead, spread across all 50 states.

According to Bridge Michigan, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news agency, the Michigan Municipal League has estimated there are as many as 500,000 lead lines in Michigan, with a price tag as high as $2.5 billion to replace them all. Many of the pipes are 50 years old or older.

There are about 6,000 lead service lines in Benton Harbor and anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 are projected to need replacement. It will take $30 million to $35 million to completely replace the pipes in Benton Harbor.

While federal and state funds and resources are desperately needed, much of the cost is unfortunately passed along to residents through higher water bills, further burdening the very people who can’t afford it.

All these dynamics have made Benton Harbor’s water crisis a challenge, admitted Mayor Muhammad. But it is one he is not shying away from, and he is determined to tackle it head on for his city and its residents, while leaning heavily on his faith and enduring the criticism and barbs thrown his way. Mayor Muhammad is a Muslim and student of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Mr. Triplett, a lifelong Benton Harbor resident, said the same quiet, humble fifth grader who was one of his students, is the necessary leader the city needs to lead it through this latest crisis. Mr. Triplett now serves on the school board for the city.

“He’s an amazing man and if he believes in something, he’s going to fight for it and he’s been fighting for this city as a commissioner and as mayor. He never had any problem with showing deference. I think a lot of that is a reason that he might be experiencing some of the things that he’s experiencing right now is because of his commitment and his upbringing and his training, to give deference,” noted Mr. Triplett. He has observed Mayor Muhammad willing to listen and learn and seek counsel from others to do what is best for Benton Harbor and its residents even during the water problems.

Mr. Triplett is hurt by the attacks he sees leveled at the mayor but is confident Mayor Muhammad will keep pressing forward. “He is concerned about the citizens of this community,” said Mr. Triplet. “He’s probably one of the most astute mayors that I’ve seen in my time here in Benton Harbor. I’ve been in Benton Harbor all my life. … He is on top of what’s happening in this city. He’s on top of it!” said Mr. Triplett. 

Mayor Muhammad conceded it has been difficult. “It’s by far the most challenging difficulty of my political life, however, we are given the Study Guides with one of the units, ‘Overcoming Difficulty’ and we know that the greater the difficulty, the greater the value,” he said referring to a course of study developed by Min. Farrakhan titled, “Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development.”

A recall petition against Mayor Muhammad was rejected Nov. 1 by the Berrien County Election Commission. The petition’s reasoning for the recall stated, “For failing to tell the residents of Benton Harbor that the water was contaminated with lead.” The election commission voted to deny the petition because “the language was deemed inaccurate.” Since 2018 when the elevated lead levels were reported, Benton Harbor city officials sent out several advisory notices which were emailed to media, mailed to residents and posted at city hall. 

One of the key lessons Mayor Muhammad said he has learned during this ordeal is that he must turn inward and “absorb the slander, envy, hatred, the false allegations, the mud,” but ultimately become a better public servant. “If this is going to help me be a better Muslim, a better minister, which is a servant, then that will help me be a better man which will help create a better Benton Harbor,” he said.

“So, at the end of it all, even though it’s a terrible thing, but as the scripture says, ‘all things work for the good for those that love the Lord and are called by His name and according to his purpose.’ So that’s what I’m grabbing and leaning on, and I think that we’ve gotten off to a good start,” said Mayor Muhammad.

Mayor Muhammad has met multiple times with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pushing for the necessary resources and funds to resolve the crisis. His goal is for all affected pipes in Benton Harbor to be replaced within 18 months.

“I have the support of the governor. She signed that executive directive to take a whole government approach, $10 million has also been allocated from the state budget. I testified before the House Oversight Committee and requested another $11.4 million,” he said. Mayor Muhammad has also been in contact with Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) to work toward the possibility of FEMA being able to come in soon with other resources to help residents.

“But this is a long time coming because the $30 million that will be infused as well as the other resources is something that this community and city has been needing for long time,” he said. 

Married 21 years to his wife Abisayo and the father of seven children, Mayor Muhammad recently took a leave from his job to dedicate even more time to the water crisis. Unlike major cities where mayors and city council members receive a salary, Benton Harbor is governed by a council-manager system as laid out by its charter. As the chief administrator of Benton Harbor, the city manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the city. The commissioners who include the mayor receive a small stipend for attending council meetings.

However, Mayor Muhammad is not in politics for accolades or money, but for the people, noted Apollonia Williams, chair of Twin Cities Transportation Association based in Benton Harbor. She has known the mayor and his family several years and admired his commitment and work in the city before he held political office. She described the city as a place where “everybody knows everybody.”

As a youngster she said you would always hear about “Mr. Muhammad” volunteering at the school or working in the community. She described him as honorable and humble. “Nobody’s perfect don’t get me wrong but he’s a stand-up guy and he stands up for what he believes in, and he loves the entire city and that’s one thing that you can’t take away,” said Ms. Williams. “Everybody that knows Mayor Muhammad knows that he is for our city.” She witnessed this firsthand in 2019 when Mayor Muhammad and a delegation traveled to the state capitol in Lansing to protest a plan to close Benton Harbor’s high school.

“I was one of the ones who went up there and tried to fight for our schools with him. I saw him standing there in front of whoever, for our city,” said Ms. Williams. People applauded Mayor Muhammad when streets and roads previously in disarray began being repaired, and she hopes despite the seriousness of the water crisis that residents know he is still working tirelessly for them, she explained. The city manager, commissioners and other officials on the city and state level also should be held accountable, not just the mayor, she argued. “Just because he’s the mayor, doesn’t mean he calls all the shots.”

Regardless of the challenges that lie ahead, Mayor Muhammad said he is determined to see his beloved city through. “Though we’re looking at great difficulties and challenges, as the mayor of the city, I’m happier that the needle has moved in the way of our treasury to address the problem,” he said.

“We’re not where we were, we’re not where we want to be. But, we’re better than where we were yesterday, and that’s where I can continue to give residents hope as I work with county, state and federal government to address this problem.”

The post Benton Harbor mayor stands strong for city he loves amid water crisis appeared first on Final Call News.

“You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.”
—Deuteronomy 3:21 (NKJV)

“And fight in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is Hearing, Knowing.”
—Holy Qur’an 2:244

“Without Goliath, there would be no David,” said Rashid Nix. The longtime community activist referenced the biblical story of a young son of a shepherd who defeated an “invincible” giant as a parallel for what is viewed by many as an improbable if not unlikely task—Black folks boldly challenging two powerful British institutions and emerging victorious.

However, that is exactly what the Nation of Islam and Black activists did in the UK.

A High Court decided May 10 that Lambeth Council and the Metropolitan Police were wrong to interfere with and block the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan from addressing the Africa International Day of Action in London’s Kennington Park on August 5, 2017. It was a breach of his human rights and the human rights of 34 Black British citizens, said the court.

It is a significant ruling that could have a lasting impact on the rights of Black Brits to pursue and fight for their rights as citizens. The Council and Met Police must pay £92,500 ($130,435) as a result of the ruling.

“They wanted to cut us off; cut the free-flowing nature of Min. Farrakhan’s voice from flowing here in the United Kingdom. Therefore, they would put a total ban on the Minister if we didn’t challenge this,” said Student Minister Abdul Hakeem Muhammad, European Region Representative of the Nation of Islam. The decision to fight the unjust attack against Min. Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam and Black people by filing a lawsuit and the subsequent ruling of the High Court is significant, he explained.

“What it’s done now is it’s had the opposite effect. It’s put all the other Councils and others on notice—we will fight you, if you try. There are a group of people here, who are not scared, who have what it takes to stand up and fight you.”

Although there has been an over three-decade ban imposed by the UK government prohibiting Min. Farrakhan from entering the country, the banning of even allowing him to address Black people remotely was adding insult to injury in the eyes of his UK supporters.

So, under the leadership of Student Min. Hakeem Muhammad as the lead claimant in the lawsuit, they were determined to fight back. He along with over 30 members of the Nation of Islam’s London Mosque and two local activists stepped out on faith and truth.

Black unity: A threat to White dominance

The Africa International Day of Action had been observed and celebrated since 2014 by several Black organizations in London. The gatherings are a chance for Blacks in the city, particularly around Brixton, to come together to celebrate their history, culture, food, arts and music. More importantly, the event provides an avenue for Blacks to discuss serious issues that impact their community such as: crime, mental health, housing, poverty, employment, reparations and the enslavement of African/Black people.

According to the 2011 Census, the total population of England and Wales was 56.1 million, and 86.0 percent of the population was White. Black ethnic groups made up 3.3 percent of the population. The total Black population in London was approximately 1.1 million. Most Blacks live within the four boroughs of South London and Lambeth has the highest total Black population in the city.

Racism toward Blacks in the UK continues to be a problem. According to the 2020 report, “Young and Black: The Young Black Experience of Institutional Racism in the UK,” 95 percent of young Black British people have witnessed racist language in education and two-thirds say they do not trust the police to act fairly toward them among other findings. Blacks in the UK are also disproportionately at the bottom of the rung when it comes to economic opportunities. 

The push toward Black unity is an ongoing one. Although the Nation of Islam was an active participant in previous Africa International Day of Action gatherings, 2017 was the first time the NOI were event co-sponsors and the issue of reparations was front and center. The theme of the Minister’s address was “Reparations: What Does the U.K. and Europe Owe Us?”

However, despite almost a year of meeting, conversations, and planning with local political leaders, who controlled the park permit for the annual event, organizers were informed of major restrictions at the last minute.

Min. Farrakhan was scheduled to deliver remarks remotely from the U.S. and his message was to be broadcast on a jumbo screen in the park. Hundreds of people had assembled in the park Aug. 5 expecting to hear from the Muslim and world leader.

That day the address by Min. Farrakhan was prohibited by last minute restrictions imposed by the Lambeth Council, a local governing body similar to a U.S. city council.

Additionally, Student Min. Hakeem Muhammad and members of the Nation of Islam were barred from speaking and distributing any literature as part of the restrictions. People were directed that day to view Min. Farrakhan’s message on his Facebook Page. 

Authorities justified the Lambeth ban by saying there were worries about public or counter protestors from the far right, gay groups and Jewish organizations opposed to Min. Farrakhan’s words. To add to the insult, Metropolitan Police were in full force that day at Kennington Park at what is historically a peaceful family event.  

“What was happening here was you had a local Council, that was basically telling Black people who you can and cannot listen to; who can and cannot speak. Keep Min. Farrakhan out of the equation for a second and you’re telling us that we can’t speak or the brother (Abdul Hakeem Muhammad) that I know for years, he can’t speak on a platform in his own community? This is the height of disrespect,” said Mr. Nix.

Four years ago, Mr. Nix was a presenter with Genesis Radio in London with a show called, “The Peoples Talk Show.” “We covered the event for Genesis Radio, so we saw everything, how it unfolded, where different people came down to the park to speak. But there was a ban on Brother Abdul Hakeem from speaking and other members of the Nation of Islam,” Mr. Nix said.

The UK doesn’t even respect its own laws, he argued.

“Why the local government was acting so fearful I don’t know. I think they just fear the idea of Black people having a conversation. We’re not even supposed to talk to each other. It’s very strange. Very strange.”

Stepping out on faith and truth

There were no second thoughts by Student Min. Muhammad that he would pursue legal action against Lambeth Council and Metropolitan Police in the aftermath of what took place. He immediately discussed it with Muslims of the London NOI mosque and those who were able to sign on to be a part of the suit. Mr. Nix and Abu Akil, of Global African Congress UK, also joined on as claimants. Student Min. Muhammad, the lead claimant, began looking for a legal team.  

“There are loads of procedures and that’s why this case, it took four years because that’s the kind of case that you have to be bringing. It has to be strong, because once you get there, it will make or break you. If you don’t win and you’re a civilian, you will be bankrupt,” he explained.

“Had we lost this case we would have been in for fees, well over probably a million dollars, because the, the fees of the police and Lambeth jointly would have been at least £500,000-700,000 ($704,000 to $986,600), which would have taken it to a million dollars if you translate it.”

Solicitor Andre Clovis assembled the legal team and he was up to the task. There are certain rights British citizens have under the Human Rights Act, he told The Final Call. “The first of those rights is under Article Nine, which is essentially the right to religious expression; your own social and political views; Article 10, which is the right to free speech and Article 11, which is the right to assembly. When we talk about assembly, we talk about that in terms of being able to stay with your community, or being able to stay in a group and share a common view. Those are fundamental rights,” he explained.

In addition to Mr. Clovis, the legal team included, Iain Daniels, Barrister; Martin Forde, QC; Tamara Muhammad, Barrister; Lucinda Hawthorne and Caroline Bayyoud.

What the Lambeth Council and Metropolitan Police did in barring Min. Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam from speaking at the festival violated those rights, the attorney continued. The Human Rights Act in the UK is similar to certain amendments laid out in the U.S. Constitution. However, in the UK, these are not “absolute rights.”

The last human rights pursued in the case was Article 14 which is the “right not to be discriminated against based on a particular characteristic,” and against government misfeasance. The claim against Lambeth was in relation to the issuance of permits but the claim against the police was slightly different, said Mr. Clovis.

A senior police commander wrote a letter stating the Metropolitan Police would only withdraw their objections to the Aug. 5 event if the Nation of Islam would “accept that the view and opinions of Min. Farrakhan are divisive.”

“Now that’s clearly never going to happen,” said Mr. Clovis.

Though there may be some limits on free speech in the UK, you cannot control what people think, argued the lawyer. “That’s what the commander was trying to achieve. Both Lambeth and the Met Police amended their defenses once it became clear they were not solid or sustainable.

“We were always willing and made various invitations to sit down and talk to us to try and mediate a way out,” said Mr. Clovis. The settlement required Lambeth and the police to admit to breaches of Articles 9 and 10. “They did that. They admitted the breach of infringing our right to religious, social and political expression and they admitted to breaching our rights to free speech.”

A big part of the settlement also includes a declaration which is something that can only be agreed to and granted by the High Court. The court must look at the issues and consider whether it’s sufficiently serious enough to warrant additional intervention.

“What we’re asking the courts to do is to make a declaration that the claimants Articles 9 and 10 rights were breached. After some argument, the defendants in the end conceded that there should be these declarations made. Even though they conceded it, it’s still not open to the parties to agree, the court has to come to its own conclusion; and it did come to a conclusion that the claimants rights and the articles were breached. So that’s a matter of party record, it’s a public finding against both defendants (the Lambeth Council and Metropolitan Police) and the declarations are not given easily,” explained Mr. Clovis.

Mr. Nix respects Min. Farrakhan so when he was asked about signing on to the lawsuit against Lambeth Council and the Metropolitan Police, he had no second thoughts. “Everyone knew that it was an absolute disrespect to our community. So, when the brother (Abdul Hakeem Muhammad) said, ‘there’s a case going on, who’s interested?’ I said, ‘Hell yeah! Hell yeah, I’m in,” Mr. Nix said.

“There was a lot of police present on that day. And people, Africans present were in an uproar about it. We were deeply upset about it. This claim is a powerful, powerful statement of our solidarity as African family and the strength and determination of the Nation of Islam in driving forward basic principles around our human rights that we have,” explained Mr. Akil.

“I’ve known and labored alongside these brothers for years. They are stalwarts in the community, and we are indebted to them for the support they have given the people of Brixton. It was a great honor to be part of this magnificent group that took on the two major UK institutions and won a historic victory. It will take a few days to properly sink in, but we really won. God is real and we give thanks!” said Mr. Nix.

The UK does not put a high value on peoples’ rights or lives, explained Mr. Clovis. The country has a culture of protected estate and laws are designed around that so £92,500 is quite an exceptional outcome plus the defendants must pay all legal costs for all the winning parties in the lawsuit. 

“I think it was a huge victory,” said Mr. Clovis. “Because the Nation, really for the first time in the UK, stood up to the authorities in the sense of being engaged in litigation. They held them to account. When it came down to it the authorities didn’t have the wherewithal to actually want to go to bat in the courtroom. And in that sense, this victory tells the authorities that no longer will the Nation tolerate mistreatment.”

Since the victory, Mr. Clovis said he has been contacted by other Black lawyers in the UK who did not know he was working on the case. There will be no shortage of Black lawyers now willing to take on these types of cases, he stated. 

“In the future, if there are other fights to be had … I think there will be no limit of Black lawyers wanting to take this up and take these fights to the authorities. I think it’s given everybody courage because I think, even within the Black community, there’s still a bit of nervousness around the Nation of Islam. I think this is shown as nothing to be worried about,” continued Mr. Clovis.

The willingness to take on this fight was not just for the Nation of Islam, explained Student Min. Muhammad. “The fight was for our community to have the freedom to hear God’s man whenever they so desire, or if they decide to put on an event and have him as the keynote speaker or broadcast one of his messages, then they have now the freedom to so do,” he said.

“That’s what we secured, not for us, but for any member of the community who wants to showcase the Minister. You can go in Lambeth now and do it without fear of them trying to shut you down,” continued Student Min. Muhammad.

“The community has recognized that this is the victory for the Black community, led by the Nation of Islam. This is not a victory for the Nation. It’s a victory for the community. We are just at the vanguard of pursuing this; just like David. When the children of Israel were at war, no one wanted to take on the big Goliath.

But, David, who was represented by the Nation, took on the challenge. The Nation jumped into the position of David and slew this big beast that seemed unshakeable,” he added. “Allah (God) gave us a victory and we used our belief and faith and trust in the God of the Minister and He blessed us with a victory.” 

(Final Call staff contributed to this report.)

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