Benefit gala hosted for Akbar Muhammad

By Ashahed M. Muhammad
Assistant Editor | Last updated: Jan 30, 2009 - 9:26:00 AM

Friends of Akbar attend benefit gala and auction

Bro. Akbar auctions off a Newsweek magazine featuring Min. Farrakhan.

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - Mentor, confidante, scholar, peacemaker and ambassador were just some of the words used to describe long-time friend and helper of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Brother Akbar Muhammad, whose years of loyalty, commitment and service were honored at a benefit gala and auction at the Salaam Conference Center on Jan.10.

Despite blizzard conditions, hearty supporters braved the cold and snow to raise money for the Akbar Muhammad Legal Assistance Fund. The event was emceed by radio host James Mtume of 98.7 KISS FM in New York who has known Bro. Akbar for many years.

On Sept. 17, 2007, heavily armed FBI agents came to Bro. Akbar’s home in St. Louis with a search warrant. They entered the premises, confiscated his computers, several boxes of paperwork, and many of his personal belongings including some 6,000 photographs that he has acquired over the years as an archivist and historian. It took the agents 8 hours to fill up two vanloads.

Bro. Akbar was subsequently questioned by federal authorities regarding his extensive overseas travels and his numerous international contacts. Shortly thereafter, he was accused of several indictable charges centered on the use of different names and other fiscal matters.

Bro. Akbar has hired quality legal representation and in order to meet the other demands placed on him by federal prosecutors, he must raise $298,000.

As a world traveler and a historian working for our people for 48 years, Bro. Akbar accepted Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1960, and has worked to aid Min. Farrakhan for over 30 years as the international representative of the Nation of Islam. Bro. Akbar has traveled to 128 countries around the world, including 38 African nations; and during his travels, Bro. Akbar has amassed a collection of books, pictures, artifacts and memorabilia that is unmatched.

Atty. Lewis Myers has known Bro. Akbar for 32 years and is a part of his legal team. He spoke about the seriousness of the case against Bro. Akbar, but said the trial is not Bro. Akbar’s alone.

Bro. Akbar Muhammad walks with Min. Farrakhan at the Salaam Conference Center during the auction. Photo: Justin Jackson

In a scathing attack on the legal system Atty. Myers stated, “What they are trying to do to Brother Akbar is a sign of what they have in store for each of us that have the audacity, the temerity and tenacity to fight for Black people. What Brother Akbar is going through has nothing to do with criminality,” said Atty. Myers. “It has to do with a society that is wicked by its very nature and evil by design.”

After some comic relief by comedian Reggie Reg, the editor of the Arab Journal Ali Baghdadi was present and began his comments mentioning that he became connected to the Nation of Islam in 1967 when he met the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. Mr. Baghdadi has traveled on World Tour delegations with Brother Akbar and his relationship has continued until this day with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Mr. Baghdadi said that he has pleaded with his friend, Bro. Akbar to slow down because of his heart condition, but no matter what, Bro. Akbar has continued to represent not just the cause of the Nation of Islam, but the cause of Islam worldwide.

Minister Farrakhan then delivered the keynote message and spoke about efforts by the federal government to tie wrongdoing to the Nation of Islam, with the ultimate goal of ensnaring him in their legal system. He also talked about the strength and character of his friend and companion.

“You never know who your friends are, until you get in trouble, and it’s so sad that so many people can benefit from an individual, but then, when trouble comes, you don’t see them anymore. I really understand how Jesus must have felt, to have done so much good, and in the hour of his trial, even his chief disciple deserted him,” Min. Farrakhan told those assembled who he referred to as “dedicated brothers and sisters.”

Min. Farrakhan had pledged $50,000 already and also purchased all of the pictures in Bro. Akbar’s archived collection.

“We are going to make sure that whatever brother needs, he will have it. And I pray that Allah will keep our brother out of the enemy’s hands, but we put our complete trust in Allah and whatever Allah permits, ultimately, it is for our good,” said Min. Farrakhan. “We may not see it when we are going through it but if we hold fast to Allah through our difficulties, on the other side of the difficulty we will understand how that difficulty helped to prepare us for a better day.”

Many magazines, including a copy of the 1995 Newsweek magazine released just after the Million Man March titled, “The Two Faces of Farrakhan” attracted bids of over $350 and included a personal autograph from Min. Farrakhan.

Other items auctioned included handmade goods from craftsmen in Darfur, currency from Zimbabwe and Ghana that is currently out of print, yearbooks from the Muhammad University of Islam as well as vintage copies of The Final Call and Muhammad Speaks.

Present at the benefit gala were Laila Mohammed, daughter of the late Imam W.D. Mohammed, and Amir Al-Islam, a member of the executive committee of the Muslim Alliance in North America.

Father Michael Pfleger, of the Faith Community of St. Sabina, told The Final Call he has known Bro. Akbar as a “hard worker” and “uncompromising” when it comes to representing the truth.

“He has been an advocate for justice, an advocate for Africa and one who has continued to be a voice particularly for the African nations and African concerns as this country has sought to misrepresent them and lie on them, and he wanted to make sure the truth was told,” said Father Pfleger. “I know he is going to be vindicated from all of this.”

(For more information, visit www.friendsofakbar.com. To make a contribution send checks or money orders to The Akbar Muhammad Legal Assistance Fund,
Suite 100-424, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20005.)

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