As Student Minister Abdul Muthakkir Muhammad and the members of Mosque No. 55 hosted the National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, in the city of Memphis.

There were also attendees from surrounding cities such as Nashville; Somerville, Tenn.; Little Rock; Monroe, La.; Chattanooga; Holly Springs, Miss.; and Greenville, Miss.

Under the title, “Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad Speaks to Memphis,” the underlying theme was clear by the onset of the program: love, unity and a return to Allah (God) with an initial tone set by the varied lineup of speakers preceding the keynote.

“One of the problems we have inherited here in America, we have been taught to magnify our labels instead of our liberation. We have been taught to amplify our differences instead of embracing our shared destiny, but the Psalmist says how good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity—not uniformity, but unity.

Unity does not require that we believe everything exactly the same,” opened Pastor Earle J. Fisher of Abyssinian Baptist Church, affectionally known as the “Blackest Church in Memphis.”

“Unity requires that we love our people to struggle enough for the common good and that’s why I am extremely honored and humbled and just glad to be here. Especially in a moment when our unity is a necessity, because our enemy has declared war on all of us, openly, and unity is the only way for us to fight back.

Unity is a spiritual power, it gives us, also, economic power and cultural power and political power. Every major advancement our people have made have come when we discovered that what unites us is greater than anything that divides us,” said Pastor Fisher. “So, I want to thank y’all for letting a Black Baptist preacher stand in this sacred space,” he concluded.

“It was stated by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad that the unity of the Black man and woman of America is a weapon that is more powerful than atomic bombs,” said Student Minister Demetric Muhammad of the Whitehaven Memphis Study Group and member of the Nation of Islam Research Group.

“And this powerful weapon has yet seemed to be so elusive for us over the years, but perhaps, in this very critical hour, where we see very powerful forces arrayed against us, seeking to roll the back the progress of the past and seeking to make sure there’s no more progress in the future, I believe, I don’t know about you but I think we are more ready for unity, now, than we ever have been before,” said Student Min. Demetric in his remarks.

Additional speakers included activist Patrick “Lumumba” Alexander of Senatobia, Miss., and Attorney Van Turner.

During the program, there was also a proclamation presentation by City Councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker to Student Minister Ishmael “for his outstanding spiritual leadership, steadfast commitment to community empowerment, dedication to mentoring future generations, and lifelong service to humanity, and extends its sincere appreciation for his many contributions that continue to inspire hope, unity, and positive change.”

In his opening remarks, Student Minister Ishmael, a son of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, alluded to the naming of Memphis after the ancient Egyptian city of the same name, which was also known as the “City of the Dead,” proclaiming to the audience that there would be no funerals today.

“[There’s] going to be some resurrection, and we do have some waters to cross and we do have the rivers of Jordan to cross and we do have to walk and march around some walls of Jericho, and bring the walls of ignorance and falsehood and enmity and hatred of self and one another down, that we may be beneficiaries, recipients of the promise of God, but walls have to be broken,” said Student Min. Ishmael.

“A heart has to be purified. There has to be repentance. That’s the message of Jesus,” he said in a message that seemed tailor-made for the city often been referred to as the buckle of the Bible Belt.

Like a skillful tailor he threaded a needle that ran from Genesis to Revelations in the Bible, revealing the fabric that makes up the wretched conditions under which Black people in America live and the necessity to change our condition and turn back to Allah (God) in repentance.

“We were slaves, brought over here to help White folks build a new reality for themselves. This is history. This is not racism. This is just actual facts, truth. So here we are, a people who have been cast out, thrown out, despised, rejected, robbed of our names, our culture, our religion, and made slaves to another people in a strange land that is not our own, 400 years ago. But we claim the land because our sweat and our blood and our tears soak the soil of this nation,” he told the standing room only audience.

“This is prophecy, and it starts in Genesis with God talking to His servant Abraham. ‘Know of assurety, Abraham, that your seed will be a stranger in a land not of their own, and they will be slaves to another for 400 years.

But after that time, I will come, and I will judge that nation which they shall serve.’ It’s not talking about a people who call themselves Jews who went into bondage in Egypt.”

During his message, Student Min. Ishmael pointed out through the scriptures that those people being referenced could not be talking about those who call themselves Jews today, referring to their response in John 8, when Jesus said, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

“Their response was, ‘How can we be set free and we have not been slaves to any man.’ We are worse now than we were when were in slavery. Worse now than the days of Jim Crow. Never has the condition of Black people been worse than it is right now.

Because in those days, we knew who the enemy was, but now we have become enemies of one another. Satan has done a job. Going up and down, to and fro in earth, seeking whom he may devour, he’s made us into himself,” he said.

“We have been made to feel good in our rebellion to God. So, the scripture asks, ‘What will He find on His return?’ And judgment starts in the House of God. (The) mosque got to get it together, church better get it together, synagogue better get it together, cause God ain’t playing.”

Throughout the course of the lecture, Student Min. Ishmael spoke on the failure of politics to address the needs of Black people, the divine value of the woman, and the power that is over our heads, the Mother Plane (Mother Wheel), as was prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel, representing the backing of God Himself against the wicked enemies of God’s chosen people.

“So, the coming of Christ is to pull us up out of bestial demonic conduct and not only give us mastery over the flesh, but to reach into that flesh to feed the divine essence that is in the flesh, so we become part of God, Himself, the sons and daughters of God.”

“I know that God could not have given Black people and the world of man, a better teacher than the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his father, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Who is teaching us the knowledge of self? Who, dear sisters, on our planet, teaches the value and dignity of the woman, and your relationship with God—you are not the woman of man, you are the woman of God.”

Student Min. Muthakkir shared with The Final Call that it was a program of community unity. “I want to thank the Memphis community for coming out and make it a success. We thank all of our community from the religious to political to grassroots.”

Dr. Telisa Franklin, State Representative-elect for Tennessee House District 96, expressed how she felt so good to see so many accepting the call to join the Nation of Islam, especially the young boys.

“You guys are going to make them a better man and a better success [in] society,” she said.

Dr. Franklin shared that one of her key takeaways was related to the power of The Wheel. “Think [the point that] struck more was to deal with these missiles and these things we got in the air, we don’t know what’s going on and we don’t know about the security over the security, because at the end of the day, what I love about what the Nation does—everybody felt secure.

Like sitting in the space, I knew without a shadow of a doubt, I was secure. The men was securing the women and the children … and I just believe this is the way it should be. … I’m glad to know I am secured.”

This was the first time State Representative and U.S. Congress Democrat nominee Justin Pearson heard Student Min. Ishmael speak and found many points in the lecture that resonated with him from the spirit of solidarity to the need to really pay attention to the moment that we are in and what is going on.

However, he said, “more than anything, though, what I really value about what he was saying, in Memphis, we are in need of healing, we are in need of transformation and it’s going to require all of us standing up and working together in unity and I think the thing that is really profound is as a Black preacher of a Black prophetic Christian tradition [myself], is how he was so easily able to intertwine with the Christian faith and Muslim faith or Islamic faith traditions and showing those similarities.”

He added, “I think it was really powerful. Because that’s what we need to know, we have a lot in common.”

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The Nation of Islam’s Sounds of Harmony Musical Ensemble lit up the city with a sold-out performance that left grown men choking back tears and children asking how they could join.

A ceremony rooted in culture

Sister Kimberly Muhammad and Brother Ameen Muhammad, the emcee duo from the Muhammad Mosque No. 12 in Philadelphia, welcomed the crowd with warmth.

The evening opened with remarks from Student Minister Rodney Muhammad, a greeting from Imam Quaiser Abdullah of the Mayor’s Office of Muslim Engagement, and words from Nation of Islam Student National Secretary and Shura Executive Council member, Sa’ad Alim Muhammad.

Then the music began

Nineteen-year-old Brother La’Meer John stepped forward. A self-taught pianist and vocalist, he worked the keyboard and sung like a seasoned professional, and the program was off and running.

“Talent at this age is a blessing,” Imam Quaiser Abdullah said. “That’s phenomenal. When young people dedicate time to honing a craft, that’s discipline. That’s diligence. And our job as leaders and elders is to support them.”

Mr. Abdullah did not mince words about why the night mattered.

“We’re here to celebrate an art form that is deeply rooted in our community. This is homegrown. This art form belongs to us. Coming together to celebrate it—that matters.”

Minister Farrakhan’s vision on screen and in sound

Between performances, videos of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan playing the violin flickered across the backdrop. His teachings on the lessons music carries filled the space between songs. The message was clear. This ensemble is the living fruit of his vision.

Ave Maria, sung as a tribute to Minister Farrakhan’s mother, Sumayyah Farrakhan, stopped the room cold.

Meditation, a tribute to Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, with Sister Amirah Hashimah Muhammad on violin and Sister Vivian Mosley on piano carried a personal weight for many in attendance. The tribute grew from a performer’s own heart.

“One of our performers, Sister Amirah, had the idea to dedicate her customary piece, Meditation, to Mother Khadijah,” said Student National Secretary Sa’ad Muhammad to The Final Call. “From there, the team gathered photographs for the backdrop, and someone else paired the music to it. That’s how it all came together.”

Sister Verna Karim knew Mother Khadijah personally. “The tribute to Mother Khadijah Farrakhan was deeply personal for me—I remember seeing her for the last time in February.  That moment meant everything.”

Then came Evolution, performed by Sister Amirah Imani Muhammad—a musical and visual collage tracing Black music from Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong to Gil Scott-Heron and James Brown.

“From the cotton fields to the March on Washington, the Black Power Movement—every evolution of our journey in America was felt in that performance,” said Bro. Roberto Rashid, who once played jazz trumpet himself. His single word for the night: Inspirational. “Tonight was a supreme love affair,” he said.

“I felt incredibly proud—proud of the performers, proud of our Nation. I felt represented,” Sister Dr. Safiyya Shabazz said. “I thought about my own brief time playing violin, and my daughter, who just told me she’s ready to pick it back up again.”

Student Minister Rodney Muhammad best summed up the evening, “One word came to me: healing. It’s one of the names for the Holy Qur’an, and the moment they began to play, that’s all I could think about. When you drink it in—when they’re actually performing—there’s nothing else. Just that feeling.”

He continued: “When it was over, I said the prayer and came down from the stage. I didn’t know what to expect. But the people looked so watered, so full. And that’s when I knew—the music had watered my soul.”

The debut of The Wheel

The ensemble unveiled a new original composition by its conductor, Brother Farrad Muhammad—The Wheel. The piece honors the Mothers of the Nation of Islam (Mothers of the Faithful) and the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Brother Farrad spoke to The Final Call about the road to this moment. The ensemble is only two years old. “The biggest hurdle was the formation of the group itself—bringing the instrumentalists together, holding auditions, managing documentation,” he said. “Now that we’ve toured six or seven cities, the program runs much more smoothly.”

He knows the reach of the work. “When we went national, young Black children—particularly those in Chicago—saw young people who looked like them playing violin, cello, and trumpet. The message became clear: this music is for us too. It’s not just about sports. We can do this.”

Sister Helen Muhammad, Nation of Islam Southwest Regional Protocol Director and event coordinator called the premiere of The Wheel her high point. “The sounding of the trumpet within the piece was deeply significant. Each time I see them, I’m more amazed. The talent is impeccable.”

The night closed with a rousing rendition of the Muslim Fight Song. Every piece was delivered with the artistry and precision of a professional orchestra.

A community that showed out

Philadelphia came, and Philadelphia showed out.

“The real success wasn’t just the concert—it was the familyhood on display,” Sister Helen said. “The warmth, the love, the brotherhood and sisterhood. Sold-out house. Sold-out venue.”

Brother Sa’ad watched the growth up close. “Tonight was nothing short of spectacular. I was choking back tears watching them. They are clearly elevating in their craft.”

The reactions poured in.

“Melodious,” said Sister Melody Muhammad of the Delaware Valley. “It sent chills through my whole body. When Brother Anthony’s 19-year-old grandson took the stage, I had tears in my eyes. These children are proof that our future is in good hands.”

“Inspiring,” said Bro. Jamal X of Willingboro, New Jersey. “I brought my children tonight because I wanted them to see what’s possible. The young brother on the violin—performing alone, making real-time adjustments with total confidence—that was powerful.”

“Magnificent,” said Brother Lamond Muhammad of the Allentown, Pennsylvania Study Group. “These young people were focused, disciplined, and deeply talented. They represented high civilization.”

“Stupendous,” said Sister Verna Karim of Camden, N.J. “Tonight left me energized—ready to move, ready to conquer, ready to pour more into our young people.”

For Brother Keith Muhammad, student minister at Muhammad Mosque No. 102 in Chester, Pennsylvania, the night hit home. His grandson, a saxophone player, came along.

“After watching these performances, he leaned over and asked, ‘How do I sign up?’ That moment gave me a profound sense of fulfillment. The young violinist wasn’t reading his music. He had closed the book. He was playing from somewhere deeper.”

A day of culture before the curtain rose

The excellence did not begin at showtime. Before the performance, according to Delaware Valley Protocol Director Arlene Muhammad (wife of this writer), “the young musicians explored Philadelphia’s cultural landmarks—Joe Frazier’s statue, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the October Gallery, a space devoted to African and Black world art.”

The October Gallery left a mark. One young sister could not stop thinking about a woman she had learned about (Ona Judge)—a formerly enslaved woman who had belonged to U.S. President George Washington and became a pioneering figure in American history.

“I’m not going to forget her,” the girl said.

They didn’t want to leave. But the curtain was waiting—and so was their moment to make history of their own.

The road ahead

The ensemble is not slowing down. Phoenix comes at the start of September. Washington, D.C. follows by the end of September. The tour rolls on.

“They’re traveling the country,” said Brother Sa’ad Muhammad. “We’re grateful that the Nation of Islam can provide the platform for them to demonstrate what God has blessed them to do.”

Imam Quaiser Abdullah put the mission in the plainest terms. When young people are engaged, communities thrive.

“Art programs activate a different part of the mind. They keep young people engaged, productive, and connected. They give communities something to be proud of.”

The future is not coming. It already took the stage.

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The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, cautioned and warned about what he called “The Deathstyle of the American People.”

In his 1993 book, “A Torchlight for America,” on page 125, Minister Farrakhan writes: “We are living relatively short lives as a result of our careless lifestyles. Sixty to 70 years is the lifespan of a typical American, and if we are fortunate to live even that short period, our lives are still riddled with every type of disease.”

In the same chapter, he notes, “According to the Bible, we live in a world that is called ‘death.’ The lifestyles of the people reflect this world of death. This world of death is caused by rebellion against Allah, God, who is the source of good life.”

Minister Farrakhan continues, “The lifestyles of the people reflect this world of death. In Proverbs it reads, ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.’ (Proverbs 14:12) Most of us believe our lifestyles are correct, and we have prided ourselves in the lifestyles we live no matter how degenerate they may be according to the standard raised by Almighty God.”

Statistics on the problem of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) serves as proof and verification that this “deathstyle” among Black people is continuing. 

Recent government data show that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a serious problem in the United States, particularly among Black and non-White youth populations.

While reported infections declined slightly between 2023 and 2025, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) said that compared to past data, the number of overall cases is higher than those reported a decade ago.

According to their report from September 2025, “Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2024 (Provisional),” the CDC said serious challenges remain with the overall rate of infections and that additional efforts must be made to reach certain groups that have fallen through the cracks.

“There were still more than 2.2 million reported STIs in 2024, and compared to a decade ago, overall cases are 13% higher; congenital syphilis is nearly 700% higher,”  the CDC said of these alarming numbers.

Congenital syphilis, which occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth, is of particular concern because it can harm future generations with birth defects, brain and nerve problems, blindness or deafness. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Other data revealed that young people between the ages of 15–24 bear the highest numbers of new STIs in the U.S. and that from this age group, females are the highest for chlamydia infection, while males aged 25–34 are the highest for syphilis and gonorrhea.

CDC statistics compiled by worldmetrics.org further state that:

•        Racial/ethnic minorities in the U.S. have higher STI rates than White individuals: Black individuals have a 2.5 times higher chlamydia rate.

•        Latina women in the U.S. have a two times higher gonorrhea rate than White women.

•        Rural areas in the U.S. have a 30% higher syphilis rate than urban areas.

•        Individuals with multiple sexual partners have a six times higher risk of chlamydia.

•        Racial disparities in STI rates persist despite public health efforts, with Black and Latino populations 2–3 times more likely to be diagnosed. 

Risky lifestyles and behaviors have led to these alarming statistics and outcomes, particularly among young people. For decades arts, culture has been an influential part of Black society.

So, is there a role that our artists can play in effective messaging to address unhealthy and risky lifestyle behaviors, particularly in our youth?

America’s deathstyle, problems and cultural solutions

In “A Torchlight for America,” on page 97-98 in the section, “Promote a cultural revolution through the arts,” Minister Farrakhan writes, “The artistic community has historically been in the vanguard of social change. What is now needed is for the artistic community to lead a cultural revolution.”

He continues, “On the physical level, man is what he eats. Spiritually, ‘… as he thinketh in his heart, so is he… .’ (Proverbs 23:7) If the American people are constantly fed filth and garbage through newspapers, magazines, television, movies, plays and music; if the public, like the proverbial swine, has become a lover of filth;

And if thoughts guide behavior, what do the thoughts of the American people produce? Do the thoughts of the American people produce rape, incest, murder, theft, greed, and the destruction of family and the institutions of society? I would argue  that the answer is yes.”

Minister Farrakhan also warned on page 107 that relationships “between men and women have become rampantly irresponsible.” He has also warned about the problems that arise resulting from careless sexual activity.

“Women are being used, and allowing themselves to be used, as sex  objects. This moral problem, in part, is undermining the cultivation of proper family life. We breed hostility with the thoughts we carry during promiscuous relationships. We have sex for recreation instead of its divine purpose of procreation,” he continued.

Sister Dr. Safiyya Shabazz is a member of the Nation of Islam and attends Muhammad Mosque No. 12 in Philadelphia. She is a board-certified family physician and owner of Fountain Medical Associates.

She told The Final Call that she agreed that the popularity of online dating, the stimulation of promiscuity as promoted through popular music and fashion, a widespread culture of casual sex and the social trend of “ghosting” (disappearing after sexual encounters) is endangering an entire generation of young people seeking validation through a misunderstanding of physical intimacy.

“I think what is happening in the minds of young people is a desperate search for belonging,” Sis. Dr. Shabazz said. “That’s what everyone is really searching for that is being manifested in very dysfunctional ways.

Young people are finding a false sense of belonging in online communities or even a certain level of anonymity in expressing a lot of deviant thoughts that people don’t have when they’re in face-to-face interactions,” she said.

She noted that the rate of HIV/AIDS infections is now higher in the Black American population than it once was in comparison to the White population. 

“I looked at one of the references and statistics, most of the HIV, the new diagnoses of HIV were Black people, they’re at 42%, and 69% were among gay, bisexual … men …,” Sis. Dr. Shabazz said. “So, these types of things that are becoming more and more prevalent in our community, they do have real consequences for health.

I think that the recklessness, the carelessness that we’re seeing in our youth, the root of it is this desperate search for belonging and love, finding it in ways or activities or behaviors that are very unhealthy,” she said.

“Sex is a powerful drive in any animal species, including humans, because the drive to reproduce is very strong; and when you have these images and the easy access of it with pornography, you see a similar habit-forming tolerance and the need for an increased dose,” Sis. Dr. Shabazz explained.

She described the brain’s release of pleasure-seeking chemicals such as dopamine as being part of a neurological process that can drive an undisciplined person into more deviant and risky behavior.

However, Sis. Dr. Shabazz said people, particularly young people, are seeking something better in life and that it is better to be demonstrative with them than to condemn them. She also said implementing the Teachings of the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam.

The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, where people are given a choice, by offering water from either a clean glass or a dirty glass, reflects the concept of change by attraction over promotion.

The role of artists, entertainers and cultural trendsetters can be critical in promoting the “clean glass.”

Taking responsibility to create change

In his lecture, “Satan and the Mastery of Sexual Urges,” delivered April 8, 1987, at The Final Call Administration Building in Chicago, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said the human being contains both an animal nature, driven by physical needs, and a divine nature that can incline toward good or evil.

“The forces that God sets up as opposition, they are forces that help to keep you in check,” he said. “When you overcome those forces, and now feel free, then the freedom manifests everything that’s hidden in you, the thing that is good, and also, the thing that is not so good. Now, you’ve got the head and you’ve got the body. The head, of course, is that which creates satisfaction for the body,” he explained.

Describing how natural urges can overpower reason and result in poor or even deadly decisions toward self or others, Minister Farrakhan said, “the force called sex is a powerful force, isn’t it? No one can be righteous unless we can control the inner forces that are neither good nor bad, but if the intelligence does not bring these forces under control, then evil becomes your way of life.”

He continued, “The body has urges that send messages to the head, the head thinks and satisfies urges, needs, wants … you need air, water, earth, food, clothing, shelter, education, love, peace, happiness, comfort, the union of male and female, the procreation of the human species and at some point, along this road, death comes.”

 “Every force or urge or need of the body is regulated or controlled by the intelligence of the head,” Minister Farrakhan said.

Minister Farrakhan has also stressed the importance that artists can play in helping to uplift our communities and inspiring young people.  In a message, he delivered June 13, 2001, in New York, titled, “Farrakhan challenges the hip hop community,” the Minister spoke on the role artists can play in spreading positive messages and imagery.

“In the Book of John, it says, ‘In the beginning was the word. And the word was God and the word was with God and the word became flesh and the flesh dwelled among men. And the light shined in the darkness but the darkness comprehended it not.’

I do not think it is an accident that music and culture have moved to this time and that the spoken word has become that which is affecting youth throughout the entire planet,” Minister Farrakhan said.

“In countries where governments do not like Western music or Western civilization, people are sneaking around listening to the word and moving to the beat of the hip-hop generation.

If in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, then, God here means Force and Power. The Word has Force. The Word has Power; Force and Power to move men to think new thoughts and to do new things.”

Sister Neelam Hakeem Muhammad of Mosque No. 27 in Los Angeles is a hip-hop artist who goes by the stage name NEELAM. Dedicated to uplifting lyrics that are conscious, positive, insightful and empowering, both she and her husband, Bro. Marquis Henri Muhammad, work as a team to write, film and produce positive, uplifting content to present an alternative to what is often promoted.

Her popular hits include collaborative works such as “We Got ‘Em Like,” featuring rap artists in the Nation of Islam, Da-Neek and Goalden Chyld, and “I’ll be the King,” featuring Erykah Badu, have received acclaim for their efforts to elevate the consciousness of people who listen to their music.

Sis. Neelam told The Final Call that she sees the value and wisdom of the Nation of Islam’s Ministry of Arts and Culture to help inspire positive lifestyles over what has become an American “deathstyle.”

“In the days of Motown, the music we (Black people) made before proved how powerful and useful we can be producing a beautiful universal language that could effect and reach people,” she said.   

“Hip-Hop would become another manifestation of expression, highlighting what we are, what we’re going through and how we feel and would like to feel (but) it was dangerous to the objective of those working to keep us ignorant and disunified,” she added.

“So, hip-hop, crossing into the new millennium would become one of our enemy’s most useful tools to exalt ignorance, addiction and promiscuity,” added Sis. Neelam.

It is the duty of civilized men and women to raise their communities through culture, refinement and beauty, she explained.

In his 2001 message to the hip-hop community, Minister Farrakhan reminded them, “Your potential to change reality is so great that if you learned the skill of words and how to use words;

If you learned how to say what it is you want to say, but, say it in a way that gains universal respect, then, the rap would evolve to an art form that will never be replaced. It will evolve to be that form that will set the stage for the next phase of its evolution.”

Final Call staff contributed to this report.

The post Arts, culture and inspiring behavioral change appeared first on Final Call News.

A lawsuit was submitted to the New York State Supreme Court this week, claiming that Columbia University has subjected Palestinian students, faculty, and staff to discriminatory treatment after the anti-Israel Operation al-Aqsa Flood was carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups on October 7, 2023, and the Israeli military’s subsequent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The complaint states that Columbia “actively engaged in and enhanced” racially, ethnically, and politically driven targeting of Palestinians.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former student at Columbia University, brought attention to the lawsuit on the social media platform X, noting that Palestinian students are taking legal action against the university for purported discrimination in its handling of protests advocating for Palestinians and Gaza.

The plaintiffs assert that the university did not sufficiently safeguard Palestinian members of its community from harassment, while also exposing pro-Palestinian activists to “unjust and prejudiced disciplinary proceedings.”

Among the claims made is that Columbia hired private investigators to monitor students participating in the “Resistance 101” event in March 2024. As stated in the lawsuit, six students were later suspended and removed from university housing.

The complaint highlights that the university did not sufficiently address reported physical assaults on Palestinians, which include instances where students had their keffiyehs forcibly taken away and the January 2024 incident involving the spraying of a foul-smelling substance at a pro-Palestinian protest.

The lawsuit also disputes Columbia’s decision to invite New York City police onto campus to dismantle encampments of pro-Palestinian protesters and arrest those demonstrating in 2024.

The plaintiffs consist of lecturer and former anthropology student Hadeel Assali; former lecturer Bahia Munem; Ph.D. candidate Mahdi Sabbagh; 2025 graduate and past student organizer Maryam Alwan; and Layla Saliba, who completed her studies at Columbia’s School of Social Work in 2025.

Saliba was part of a group of Palestinian students who had previously lodged a federal civil rights complaint against Columbia for discrimination in 2024. At that time, she expressed that Palestinian students were experiencing unfair treatment and called upon the university to recognize the existence of anti-Palestinian racism.

The case comes following years of controversy surrounding Columbia’s response to protests against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

Palestinian activists and organizations advocating for free speech have consistently claimed that Columbia University imposes excessive penalties on those opposing Israel.

Students have reportedly encountered arrests, suspensions, expulsions, and revocation of degrees amid the university’s efforts to suppress pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

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Xandria Harris, a 30-year-old mother of four, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and child endangerment for her alleged role in a December 2021 incident that left one police officer dead and another severely wounded.

Her then-boyfriend, Darius Sullivan, allegedly fatally shot Bradley, Ill., Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severely wounded Sergeant Tyler Bailey during a confrontation in a hotel room.

Prosecutors shared that the incident began after a Comfort Inn employee called police about dogs left inside a vehicle in freezing temperatures, according to local news outlets. After responding, officers determined Mr. Sullivan was wanted on outstanding warrants.

They knocked on the door of the hotel room occupied by Ms. Harris and Mr. Sullivan. According to prosecutors, while Ms. Harris spoke to the officers at the hotel room door, her boyfriend came from around the room and reportedly shot Sgt. Bailey, local news outlets reported. He then reportedly chased Sgt. Rittmanic down the hallway, and allegedly disarmed her and fatally shot her.

Prosecutors accused Ms. Harris of aiding and abetting the crime, alleging that she delayed opening the hotel-room door while Mr. Sullivan prepared his weapon, assisted him during his struggle with Sgt. Rittmanic and later attempted to help him escape.

However, Ms. Harris’ attorney, Cierra Norris, argued that Mr. Sullivan “controlled and conditioned” her and that she lacked criminal intent, local news outlets reported.

Civil rights activist John C. Barnett, founder of the organization True Healing Under God, held a news conference in support of Ms. Harris on Aug. 7. During the news conference, he highlighted the case’s complexities, including concerns about jury selection.

The length of time between the incident and the trial and other issues reported attempts of silencing of Ms. Harris’ mother and attorney. On the opening day of the trial, prosecutors accused Atty. Norris of potentially violating a judge’s gag order by discussing the case with others.

Several of Ms. Harris’ family, friends and supporters spoke at the news conference.

“She’s a loving mother, a mother of four kids that needs to come home,” Anne Boyd, Ms. Harris’ aunt, said.

“I feel like I shouldn’t be here because I know my daughter’s innocent from the beginning. I knew my daughter was innocent, and I feel like I shouldn’t be here. And I feel like it’s unfair what she’s going through,” Gloria Harris-Boyd, Ms. Harris’ mother, said.

“And for me to be her mother, and for them to kick me out the court, who don’t want their mother there? I’m there to support my daughter, so I have to sit outside the courtroom and just pray for my daughter because I can’t be in there.”

Ms. Harris-Boyd also described to ABC7 Chicago how the case has affected Ms. Harris’ children. “They miss their mom. And it’s very hard because she’s trying to do the best she can over the phone to like make sure they do their homework, calling them. It’s very hard because she has not had no physical contact with them,” she said.

Mr. Sullivan was convicted of murder and attempted murder in September 2024 and was later sentenced to mandatory life in prison, along with an additional 80 years.

Ms. Harris could also face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. The trial is expected to conclude on Aug. 21. Mr. Barnett told The Final Call that he is preparing for another rally outside the Kankakee County Courthouse on Aug. 20, one day before the trial’s expected conclusion.

The post Family, supporters speak out as Black mother’s murder trial continues in Illinois appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—Hundreds of Chicago residents, along with hundreds of supporters who boarded buses from Detroit, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and New York, braved the rain and inclement weather on Aug. 1 to participate in “The National March into Marquette Park.”

The gathering hosted by Chicago-based IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network) in partnership with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and other community organizations. The march was also in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the march to Marquette Park led by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On August 5, 1966, Dr. King led about 700 peaceful marchers through Chicago’s Southwest Side’s Marquette Park neighborhood, to protest redlining. Redlining is a form of housing discrimination against Black people through designating majority-Black neighborhoods in red on city maps and denying federal investment.

Private banks and the Federal Housing Administration used these maps to refuse backing for mortgages in those areas. This form of discrimination was outlawed in 1968, yet activists argue it continues today in other forms, such as gentrification.

In 1968, demonstrators were confronted by 4,000 rioters who threw bricks, stones, and rocks. Dr. King was hit on the right side of his head, before falling and getting up to continue to march.

Themed, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” the mission of organizers of this year’s 60th anniversary commemoration was to address modern challenges Black people are still faced with, including voting rights, economic injustice, and systemic criminalization.

The day consisted of speakers and political music interludes from diverse nationalities and faiths, with a message of unity. Domestic and international concerns were addressed by various speakers during the program that took place after the march.

Yusef Jackson, son of civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson Jr., is the president and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, founded by his late father. He implored those gathered to purchase homes, emphasizing the power and legacy that home ownership can bring to individuals and families.

His brother, Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), emphasized the importance of voting and reminded attendees how events that happen abroad can have an effect and impact everywhere, even in the United States.

He explained that the U.S. oil embargo and sanctions on Cuba and conditions in other countries like Venezuela, create conditions that often lead to people in those countries leaving home, coming to the U.S. and settling in Black and poor areas.

He also raised questions regarding what is happening to Venezuela’s oil revenue. “The Trump administration is selling (Venezuela’s) oil. Those monies are in an account in the (U.S.) Treasury Department. We would like to simply know what disbursements are being made? What leverage does (Venezuelan) President Delcy Rodriqugez have over the funds of the Venezuelan people?” he said to The Final Call.

“When the Trump Administration cut financial assistance from the poorest people, this is what is driving the migration issue all around the world. For the people of Chicago who received over 35,000 Venezuelans, did you know that they had the effects of three Great Depressions? In the last 20 years they (Venezuelans) have been cut off from the financial system,” he said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and rapper/actor Common were among participants of the anniversary march.

A video message from Ahmed Muin from Gaza was also shown. “I am a musician and music teacher. We are still spreading love and joy and healing children. We have a lot of activities for the children, and I have found a lot of camps that need that activity to help them forget what they suffer.

Three years living in tents, in the rain, and the hot summers, this message is to thank you for standing by us and giving us positive energy that we are not alone,” said Mr. Muin.  

Bernice King, daughter of Dr. King, also addressed attendees. “The trumpet is sounding. It is calling us to rebuild together and to do massive organizing. Across this nation, we must organize our faith like we have done here today. Let us march with our hearts,” she said.

For people who attended, many came away inspired by what they experienced.

Mary Harrison of Chicago appreciated the message of unity and the importance of providing “resources for ourselves.”

“ … I am grateful to be a part of it,” she told The Final Call.

Sedika Ali from Chicago was also impacted. “Has it been 60 years? Everything seems to be almost the same, and I am tearing up because the same things are happening. We need to stand together and make a real change. People of all nationalities need to get together and stand against these tyrants. There is no room for division,” said Ms. Ali.

Kalimah Sharief traveled to the gathering from Detroit. “Everybody deserves justice; religion is supposed to make you grow and join fellow human beings,” she said.

Eric Kittrell from Chicago, stated, “It is a pleasure being here today. The issues that we are fighting for today, we have been fighting for, unfortunately, a long time. There is a serious threat inside the White House to our lives, and we must not lie down. We must stand and fight.”—Shawntell Muhammad, Contributing Writer

(Shawntell Muhammad can be contacted at shawntellmuhammadfcn@gmail.com.)

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Black August does not arrive with fireworks or parades of summer holidays. It arrives with hunger.

 Before sunrise on August 1, in kitchens across Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Oakland, and inside prison cells where the practice can cost a person months in solitary confinement, people set aside food, TV screens, and distraction. They reflect. There is no greeting of “Happy Black August.”

“This is a commemoration, not a celebration,” Melina Abdullah reminded listeners on Los Angeles based KBLA Talk Radio 1580 as the month began. “This month, we fast, study, train, and fight.”

Forty‑seven years into a tradition most Blacks have never heard of, Black August remains one of the most disciplined, politically grounded, and deliberately suppressed commemorations in Black history. It is a month rooted in sacrifice, born behind prison walls, carried forward by organizers who refuse to let the memory of fallen freedom fighters be erased.

Born behind jail/prison walls

To understand Black August, one must begin with a blatant injustice.

“Black August began inside the California prison system, in response to the murderous repression faced by Black revolutionary prisoners,” said Attorney James Simmons of Black August Los Angeles on the August 1, radio show.

He pointed to three names—W.L. Nolan, Alvin Miller, and Cleveland Edwards—men killed by prison guards on January 13, 1970. After an altercation with White inmates, guards opened fired, but only on the Black prisoners.

In the aftermath, three incarcerated men—including George Jackson—were charged with retaliating against a guard. Jackson would become one of the most influential revolutionary writers of the 20th century. His books “Soledad Brother” and “Blood in My Eye” challenged the myth of American exceptionalism and urged Black people to organize, study, and resist.

Mr. Jackson never lived to see the movement his writings inspired. On August 21, 1971, he was killed by San Quentin prison guards. The year before, his 17‑year‑old brother Jonathan Jackson was killed during a courthouse action aimed at freeing the Soledad Brothers.

“These assassinations—and the movement that refused to let their deaths go unmarked—gave rise to Black August,” Atty. Simmons said.

But the roots run deeper. Kalanji Changa of Black Power Media on the same show notes that August 1 itself marks the anniversary of the death of Khatari Gaulden, a leader of the Black Prison Movement who died due to deliberate medical neglect at San Quentin.

“We use the word ‘assassination’ deliberately,” Mr. Changa said. “His death was state‑sponsored. Black August was first commemorated one year after his death.”

Inside those cells, resistance was not metaphorical. It was organized, intentional, and dangerous to those who sought to oppress and suppress the actions and activities of brothers behind bars.

“George Jackson ran political education classes inside the library. He trained comrades in martial arts,” Mr. Changa explained. “The prison movement was real, organized, and deliberate.”

Pillars of resistance, discipline

Black August rests on four pillars—disciplines rather than slogans. Dr. Akinyelé Umoja, another panelist who encountered the tradition in Oakland in the late 1970s, breaks them down:

Fast. Inspired by the Islamic Holy Month Ramadan, the founders fasted from sunup to sundown—not just from food, but from harmful influences and distractions. Some refused to speak English during the day, using Kiswahili instead. Today, a social media fast counts.

Study. The reading list begins with “Blood in My Eye,” finished by Jackson days before his death. Organizers urge people to buy from Black‑owned bookstores.

Train. Physical conditioning—martial arts, running, strength training. “A strong mind requires a strong body,” Mr. Umoja said.

Fight. Engage in activism. Support incarcerated comrades. Write letters. Back campaigns. Put money on their books.

Within the month sit four “Flea Days”—full 24‑hour fasts honoring the fallen:

August 1 — Khatari Gaulden

August 7 — Jonathan Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain

August 13 — W.L. Nolan, Cleveland Edwards, Alvin Miller

August 21 — George Jackson

“These four days are our holy days,” Mr. Changa said.

A living tradition— and a suppressed one

What began in California spread across the country—Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia—and even internationally. In Cuba, medical students once held Black August commemorations with comrades of Assata Shakur.

But inside U.S. prisons, the tradition carries a steep price. “Since 2014, up to 300 incarcerated brothers and sisters have been placed in solitary confinement simply for practicing Black August,” Mr. Changa alleges. “The state classifies it as gang activity.”

Ms. Abdullah highlighted one name: Jay Burton, who co‑founded Black Lives Matter chapters inside California prisons. He entered at 16. He is now 53—and currently in solitary confinement. “Not because of what he did when he first entered,” Ms. Abdullah said, “but because of the political organizing work he continues to do.”

Why most people have never heard of it

The obscurity of Black August is not accidental.

“Anything that exposes 400‑plus years of crimes against humanity—particularly against Black people—will never be something those in power want widely known,” said Empress Phile Chionesu, founder of the 1997 Million Woman March, during an interview with The Final Call. She noted that Black media, once a conduit for this history, “has largely lost that capacity.”

Others point to distraction. “People are distracted by propaganda instead of engaging with real issues,” Bigga Dre, a Philadelphia organizer, told The Final Call. “Entertainment makes people feel good. Conviction demands action. People don’t want that responsibility.”

He traced the erasure to one institution: the prison industrial complex. “Powerful interests are capitalizing off incarceration,” he said. “That’s why Black August gets swept under the rug.”

For Mike Africa of the MOVE organization, the relevance of Black August depends on purpose. “If it genuinely helps people and drives meaningful change, it remains essential,” he said during a Final Call interview. Honoring political prisoners, he said, must translate into structural change—starting with the family.

Supreme Dow, curator of the Black Writers Museum, told The Final Call about the importance of intergenerational dialogue where younger generations can pass on information about the significance of Black August. He calls for intergenerational engagement—elders in dialogue with young people.

Ms. Chionesu reminds young people of their legacy: the first Black student union at California State, the sit‑ins, Freedom Rides, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown. “Those were students. Young people. That legacy belongs to them,” she said.

The importance of remembering

Black August is not abstract. It shows up in living rooms, libraries, and community centers.

In Los Angeles, Mr. Simmons outlined a month of programming: an opening event at the Radical Hood Library; Pan‑African Women’s Day; a Black Panther Party breakfast; a group reading of “Blood in My Eye” and weekly physical training and study sessions.

In Philadelphia, Bigga Dre is organizing a strategic planning session on environmental justice, targeting the country’s largest incinerator in Chester, where three‑fourths of Philadelphia’s trash is burned. “This is environmental racism,” he said.

Ms. Chionesu’s work includes “Black Poli Sci 101” sessions with Jalil Muntaqim, who spent nearly 50 years incarcerated after joining the Black Panther Party at 16. Her organization is also investigating toxic mold in a women’s prison.

And on August 15, the October Gallery will host a meditation seminar in commemoration of Black August.

Organizers of these various commemorations return to a single idea: a people cut off from their history can be stripped of their future.

“Marcus Garvey said it best,” Bigga Dre noted. “A people without knowledge of their past is like a tree without roots.” Supreme Dow frames the stakes clearly: “It has always been illegal for us to fight for our freedom.

The struggle demands more than performance. It demands study, action, and consistency.” Ms. Abdullah offers the simplest invitation: “None of us were born knowing this. Start where you are,” she said.

“Forty‑seven years on, the men who died inside California’s prisons are still being remembered by people the state tried to silence—and by a movement that refuses to be forgotten,” Ms. Abdullah said.

The post Acknowledging our history and our fight appeared first on Final Call News.

His student, helper and National Representative, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, has continued warning America to repent lest she faces the Wrath of Allah (God).

“God will take America down in 12 hours by the clock. You have no power with The God I serve.  See if you can stop the tornadoes; they’re coming more and more … .

Rain coming like you’ve never seen it before. All of a sudden a flash flood, and people, you see their cars going down under water,” the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said in a May 2016 interview on The Breakfast Club. 

“You’ve got hail coming out of the sky the size of a baseball; and soon, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, you’ll see them coming out of the sky like blocks of ice. 

You’ve got fire going on North of our border in Canada, 1,600-and-some-odd square miles burning. They’ve never seen a fire like that,” Minister Farrakhan added. “You are dealing with a God and The Forces of Nature … . You can’t stop that.”

Several Western states are either battling wildfires or recovering from them amid dangerous heat, low humidity, gusty winds and ongoing drought. An unusually active wildfire season intensified across states stretching from Washington to Colorado.

Three fires in Spokane, Washington, burned more than 10,000 acres and damaged more than 900 homes and structures. More than 60,000 people were forced to evacuate. 

“This is by far and large the worst one we’ve ever been on,” Steve Moyer, a firefighter with the Moses Lake Fire Department in Washington state, said to Seattle’s NPR station. “I mean, you’re in a neighborhood right now and there isn’t a single house standing.”

“It’s apocalyptic,” he added. Authorities said all three fires were believed to be caused by humans, though only one had been identified as deliberately set.  Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson for deliberately starting one of the Spokane fires.

Even as firefighters from across the country worked to contain the fires, officials warned that another round of hot, windy weather could reignite active fire behavior.

“More dry, windy weather is going to make things harder for our firefighters this weekend. Everyone in Washington needs to be smart and safe. Don’t be the spark that sets off another catastrophe,” Dave Upthegrove, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands, said in a social media post.

Oregon was another fire hotspot. Several fires raged simultaneously across the state, leading to evacuations and unhealthy air quality, according to local news outlets. Officials closed one of the state’s highways because of the Grasshopper Fire, which burned more than 43,000 acres and remained at 23% containment on Aug. 7.

Another fire, the Wrights Spring Fire, which started Aug. 5, grew to nearly 9,000 acres by Aug. 7 and remained at 0% containment.

The Big Grass Fire grew into one of the largest wildfires in Oregon’s history. Flames scorched more than 442,000 acres and crossed into Idaho. By Aug. 7 afternoon, the fire was 39% contained. NASA satellite imagery showed widespread smoke stretching across Oregon, Washington and into British Columbia. 

In Utah, the Widemouth 2 Fire became one of the state’s largest fires this fire season. It burned more than 106,000 acres and was 19% contained on Aug. 7.  A firefighting helicopter crashed while working the fire, and the blaze continued growing despite hundreds of firefighters working to suppress it. So far in the 2026 fire season, 794 fires have burned nearly half a million acres in the state.

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong declared a statewide fire emergency on Aug. 7, as moderate and extreme drought spread across the state amid hot and dry conditions.

“In just a few months we’ve seen ground conditions shift from lush green to tinder dry across large portions of our state, and we need to be prepared for a potentially intense wildfire season this fall,” Gov. Armstrong said.

Northern California’s Gann Fire was another major fire. The fire rapidly spread through dry grass and brush, burning more than 10,000 acres. The fire injured a firefighter and destroyed 18 structures. One person was found dead in a home destroyed by the fire. Residents received evacuation orders and warnings, and schools closed due to the smoke. More than 3,000 personnel were assigned.

Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, was arrested on suspicion of recklessly causing the fire by operating spark-producing equipment without clearing nearby flammable vegetation as required.

Fires expanded near the Pioneer Mountains in Montana, and fire watches were issued for parts of Montana and Wyoming. Though few fires were reported in Wyoming, parts of the state did experience heavy smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest, reducing visibility and degrading air quality.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued near Lake City, Colorado, as firefighters battled the Elk Fire.

On Aug. 6, firefighters were actively working to contain 95 large fires across the country, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. More than 30,000 personnel were assigned to incidents nationwide. Up to that point in 2026, firefighters had responded to 45,502 wildfires burning more than 5.6 million acres.

The center predicted that a “hot, dry and unstable air mass” would continue to build across the West. Year-to-date wildfire activity remained above the recent 10-year average for both fire numbers and acres burned, according to the fire center.

Forecasters warned that extreme heat and strong winds will keep much of the West at elevated wildfire risk even as heavy rain and flooding threaten parts of the eastern U.S. Parts of the eastern and central United States have experienced repeated rounds of thunderstorms, including localized flash flooding and heavy rainfall.

These weather events are prophesied to continue.

“God is destroying America by degrees with The Forces of Nature, which you have no power against,” the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan warned in his 2016 message. “The Death Angel is in America as we speak—these natural disasters are going to increase.”

But, he said, there’s a way out for America. “Let the Black man go and give us justice, and these things that are whipping you today will start diminishing, and you will get a longer period of time,” he said to America’s political leaders.

“Let us go and give us some of this territory that we can call our own; and give us the billions of dollars that we can get started with land and with tractors and the things that will make us an independent nation. You could do that, if you would.  You don’t have a lot of time. And if you think I’m crazy, keep going the way you’re going and watch what God does.”

The post ‘It’s apocalyptic’: Western states burn amid dry conditions appeared first on Final Call News.

This year’s theme, “We Must Make Our Communities a Decent and Safe Place to Live,” carried added weight throughout the weekend, as the conference unfolded in the wake of two significant losses for the Nation of Islam.

Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and First Lady of the Nation of Islam, returned to Allah (God) on June 27. Sister Azziza Muhammad, affectionately called “Mama Azziza,” wife of Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad, the Student Assistant Supreme Captain of the Nation of Islam, returned to Allah on July 15.

Both heavy losses were felt throughout the weekend by participants and attendees—nowhere more than in a tribute delivered on the mat by the sisters of USOS Lion’s Paw Martial Arts.

And as he has in years past, Minister Louis Farrakhan addressed participants at this year’s International Training Conference (see related coverage this issue), continuing a tradition that has made his presence the weekend’s most anticipated moment for martial artists, security trainers, and families gathered from across the country.

Prior to Minister Farrakhan’s message on July 25, the conference’s opening day and session featured remarks from several of his longtime helpers, including his National Assistant, Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad; his son, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan;

Student Minister Nuri Muhammad of Mosque No. 74 in Indianapolis; Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad of Mosque Maryam in Chicago; and Student Minister Ilia Rashad Muhammad of Mosque No. 55 in Memphis.

Student Min. Ilia centered his remarks directly on the conference theme. As a beekeeper, he drew an analogy to the conference’s theme by describing bees as a model of self-sacrificing, cooperative community-building directly relevant to the conference’s aim of making our communities and neighborhoods a safe and decent place to live, as taught by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

The responsibility is on Black people just like the responsibility for the safety and protection of the “hive” falls on the “community” or “nation” of bees in that hive.

“Everything the bees do they do it for their ‘nation.’ … They do it for the whole,” he said.

‘Accept Your Own And Be Yourself’

In his remarks during the conference opening, Student Minister Ishmael spoke on the discipline that training provides. “The training gives us the requisite discipline that is found in the teachers. The training gives us skill that allows for us to do what Allah (God), through His Messenger Messiah, would have us to do,” he said.

The International Training Conference brings together martial arts practitioners, security professionals and students of all levels, ages and backgrounds. It is a gathering that focuses on not only physical preparation and training, but mental and spiritual training as well.

Student Min. Ishmael spoke on the story of David and Goliath from the Bible, framing the young shepherd’s victory as a matter of faith rather than physical preparation. “It comes from the strength of his heart and the rich soul.

It is the faith that removes fear,” continued Student Min. Ishmael.  He also spoke of the “whole armor of God” as spiritual protection, and described the greater struggle as an internal one. “Satan is already in our heart … the real enemy to defeat is Satan on the inside,” he stated. 

He concluded his remarks with a call to self-discipline. “… develop yourself. Be yourself. Learn about yourself. And cultivate yourself, because yourself is God.”

Over four days, the conference combined martial arts training and competition with workshops on security, family life, agriculture, and youth development, alongside spiritual observance including Friday’s Jumu’ah (congregational) prayer.

Nation of IslamStudent National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, who led Jumu’ah prayer Friday afternoon, focused his khutbah (sermon) around the Arabic roots for light (Nur) and fire (Nar), applying the distinction to the conference’s community-safety theme. “We are charged with the divine command to make a more decent and safe place to live,” he told the congregation.

“Are we part of the fire that is destroying our community? Or are we part of the light that is bringing about the transformation of our people?” he asked.

Throughout the weekend, special workshops and sessions were held. On July 25, martial arts masters and senseis from various styles and schools demonstrated self-defense techniques, giving adults and children a chance to learn and participate.

Then the anticipated moment arrived, when the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan arrived to thunderous applause, before the audience was seated on mats, in anticipation of hearing from him. However, before his message, martial artists continued demonstrating techniques.

Children and youth entered the mat as one played a wind chime before they sat down. Sister Dr. Khalilah T. Muhammad, flanked by Sister Tamiko G. Muhammad, then addressed Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“Brother Minister?”  Sister Khalilah said over the microphone. “Yes!” he answered, breaking into a bright smile as the room laughed. “As-Salaam Alaikum, sir,” she continued. “Walaikum salaam. I can see you!” he replied.

“Today we would like to present a tribute to Mother Khadijah Farrakhan,” Sister Khalilah said. “I have her with me,” Minister Farrakhan interjected.  “We have often heard you say that Mother Khadijah is the wind beneath your wings,” she continued. “Yes,” he said.

“So, every time you hear the wind blow, we want you to know that she is always with you, no matter where you are. This tribute is for you,” Sister Khalilah concluded.

“Yes, I brought her with me!” Minister Farrakhan answered.

Some conference-goers smiled, laughed, others wept.

Minister Farrakhan then received the gift of the tribute itself, telling the Sisters of USOS: “You all go ahead and do what you do and I’m with you if you’re giving a tribute to the woman whom God gave me.

That is the best gift I could have other than His Presence and the presence of the truth and the mission that He gave to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. So, thank you so much for your tribute to her because really that sets the stage so completely perfect for me. Thank you very much.”

“Allahu Akbar” rang out, followed by applause, as the tribute resumed.

Professor Zahalea Anderson, of Ra Life Defense at the Urban School of Self Defense, paid honor with a kata routine filled with grace, reverence, beauty and strength.  As the young students exited the mat, Sister Sensei Gabrielle X stepped forward along with a group of sisters who are students of USOS Lions Paw. 

They gave courtesy (bowing) to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, and to Sister Shodan (first-degree black belt) Azziza Muhammad.

In speaking about Mother Khadijah and Sister Azziza, Sister Tamiko said, “May their legacy continue to inspire for generations to come. May their memory forever live in our heart,” adding that the sisters were presenting the kata (form) “as a tribute to strength that does not overpower, but endures, to movement that is fluid but is unwavering, and to power expressed with grace, intention and balance.”

Reflections and lessons learned

There were special men-only, women-only, and youth sessions, as well as other family-friendly events during the weekend like the singles social and a “Rep Your Generation Party.”

Workshop sessions included: “Protecting our houses of worship!” “Hands-on session on emergency response, “The Great Famine,” and “Defensive Driving.” 

Participants and presenters enjoyed the sessions.

Sister Vivian Muhammad and Brother Hadi Muhammad guided youth during a workshop on gardening. Sister Vivian Muhammad runs an urban farming project in Indianapolis.

“Your community, first of all—gardens, neighborhood gardens, your own yard—that’s neighborhood beautification … that is helping to make your community a decent and safe place to live,” she said.

Sister Niara Siddiq, of New Orleans, said a workshop on famine preparedness led by Brother Randy Muhammad of Osafa’s Oasis farm in Georgia impacted her. “We really do need to take charge … because our lives are at stake and we can’t just wait around. He (Bro. Randy) did motivate me to start gardening,” she said.

Sister Angie Muhammad, who traveled from Los Angeles with her three daughters and young niece, described the weekend as something she “could not even put into words,” saying it was her family’s first time physically seeing Minister Farrakhan in person in nearly four years.

A belt promotion ceremony led by Grandmaster Dr. Azziz and Shihan Daniel Muhammad of USOS Lion’s Paw recognized students across ranks, including two Jr. blackbelts.

On the final day of the conference, July 26, the Scimitar Open Martial Arts Tournament offered martial artists a chance to compete in various categories, including kata, martial arts weapons, and sparring.

The post The 31st Annual International Training Conference A weekend of spiritual, physical uplift and preparation appeared first on Final Call News.

Gain-of-function research refers to experiments that intentionally alter an organism or pathogen to give it new or enhanced biological properties.

Dr. Fauci served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1984 to 2022 and as President Biden’s chief medical advisor from 2021 to 2022.

According to multiple sources, including Worldometers.info, approximately 1.2 million Americans died from the virus during the pandemic. Dr. Fauci was pressed for answers during the hearings.

Republican senators, led by Committee Chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), grilled Dr. Fauci on his research in Wuhan and his response to COVID-19. They accused him of funding research that they alleged may have led to a laboratory origin of COVID-19, improperly handling federal records and resources and concealing information about vaccine-related adverse effects.

Dr. Fauci refused to answer all questions posed by the Senate during the nearly three-hour hearing, stating that on the advice of his attorneys, he was exercising his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment, which protects people against self-incrimination.

Senate Republicans criticized his refusal to testify. Senate Democrats argued that the hearing was a political exercise, stating that Dr. Fauci had already testified before Congress numerous times. One of Dr. Fauci’s attorneys attempted to intervene during questions, leading Sen. Paul to order security to remove the attorney from the room.

Sen. Paul also announced plans for the committee to consider holding Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions.

Questions asked during the hearing directed to Dr. Fauci pertained to: gain-of-function research; Dr. Fauci’s private communications and federal recordkeeping; why NIH-funded research involved the Wuhan Institute of Virology; laboratory safety oversight and NIH oversight of Chinese laboratories; vaccine safety and suppression of alternative COVID-19 treatments.

Regarding vaccine-related injuries and adverse effects, the senators brought up more than 1.6 million submitted reports from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (published weekly on page 8 of The Final Call), including more than 39,000 reports involving deaths. They also referenced individuals who reported suffering serious injuries after receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

In his July 4, 2020, message, titled “The Criterion,” the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, warned Black people not to take the vaccine. Regardless of the physical origins of COVID-19, he described the virus as a “pestilence from heaven.”

“Don’t take the vaccines. There are 14 therapies that are in the world today that we can use to fight against the COVID virus. America, you won’t solve it. The scientists of the world, you won’t solve it,” he said. “I want to tell you what will solve it. This virus is a pestilence from heaven so scholarship from hell can’t deal with a pestilence that came from heaven.”

—Anisah Muhammad, Staff Writer

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