Muslims mobilize against police brutality

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jan 7, 2015 - 11:38:54 AM

Imam Abdul Malik speaks.Photos: Errol Muhammad

PHILADELPHIA (FinalCall.com) - Muslims from various communities including Sunni and representatives of the Nation of Islam recently left their masjids and mosques to unify in a community mobilization against police brutality.

“We have a Black president but we don’t have Black power,” said keynote speaker Imam Abdul Malik. “Crime is a big business. The minute you put handcuffs on a Black man so many people get paid. The easiest target for this are the weak and no one is more vulnerable than our brothers and sisters.”

“If we change our behavior we can change the police’s behavior,” he told the crowd of about 200 that gathered Dec. 27 at city hall. “We cannot be ruthless and expect a just outcome. One of the most disciplined groups we have are the F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam) and M.G.T. (Muslim Girls Training),” said Imam Malik referring to the men and women of the Nation of Islam.

“We must unify and police our own communities. We can come together and open our own security firm,” he added.

Black men shot by police is happening in urban communities and the country has seen marches and demonstrations from coast to coast protesting that Black lives matter after the recent deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and others. This was the first march organized by Muslims to address the very same concerns.

Shahida Muhammad speaks.

Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad, rally coordinator, explained the tradition of activism Black Muslims have historically had as a result of bias on several fronts. “For some of us that may not be easily identifiable as Muslims, we are still profiled racially,” said Ms. Rashad.

Jehron Muhammad another organizer was impressed with how quickly everything came together for the rally. “It was exhilarating. We did this literally overnight but in a week’s time. We had conference calls using an app where we could communicate with each other,” said Mr. Muhammad.

“It started at 6:00 a.m. and continued until midnight. Then we would do conference calls because there were so many moving parts. Everyone had a good spirit. I’m glad they asked me to participate,” he added.

The rally opened and closed in prayer after participants laid on the ground, simulating a “die-in”. Speakers including Tonya Brown Dickerson, whose son Brandon Tate Brown, was killed by police led the group as they marched around city hall three times.

“Were it not for the fearless dedication of my generation, the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown would be forgotten,” said Hip Hop columnist Shahida Muhammad. She writes for oogeewoogee.com.

“As a writer my role is to keep these stories in the forefront of our minds. If we want to affect change, we have to think about what we can do together as a community. My generation is tired of just marching, we’re fed up. This mobilization today sends a message of solidarity for Muslims. We need to continue,” Ms. Muhammad told the crowd.

For decades Bilal Qayyum has worked in the streets of Philadelphia as the president of the Fathers’ Day Rally Committee which works to reduce the violence in minority communities by addressing social ills.

Muslims symbolize die-in and lay down for 4.5 minutes to commemorate the 4.5 hours Michael Brown lay in the street in Ferguson, Mo.

“It’s crucial for Muslims to be involved in this work. The fastest growing religious movement in the city is folks converting to Islam. So many young Black males are Muslims but as the Imam said earlier, a lot of them accept Islam but continue to do their negative activities like drugs and violence. I think the more we get involved and remain active in this, the more it will make a difference,” he said.

One of the first things Imam Abdul Malik did when he arrived at city hall was to speak to the police commander.

“He told me that nearly every time they arrest someone its Ahmed or Ali. What kind of Muslim are you as a dope dealer? What kind of Muslim talks girls into selling their bodies? Muslims you are powerful but you’re acting like a pussy cat,” he said.

“The Qur’an is not a book of terrorism. Muslims didn’t kill over 100,000 in WWII. Muslims didn’t drop a bomb on Hiroshima. Muslims didn’t take a people from one land to another and enslave them. War is a business. Be careful Christians how you talk about Islam and terrorism,” said Imam Malik.

Donna Auston, a Ph.D. student at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, told the crowd, “We stand here for the right to life.”

“Every human being on the face of the earth has the right to life. Including Black people, including Black men, including Black women, including Black children. ... They have the right not to be shot down,” said Ms. Auston.

Imam Malik said Muslims can contribute to this effort in several ways.

“Organize security in the community for the people, conduct after school programs for youth that empower them to stay out of the streets and I would highly recommend getting law enforcement to give classes to youth on the best way to respond to law enforcement,” he said.

The Final Call