10/96

LONDON--Black Britons joined hand with their American counterparts to mark the World's Day of Atonement called by the Nation of Islam leader, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

At the Brixton Recreation Center in southwest London Oct. 16 over 1,500 Blacks from across the United Kingdom attended the rally organization by the four study groups of the UK Nation of Islam.

The organizers had hoped to link up-via satellite-with the United Nations headquarters in New York, where Minister Farrakhan was billed to give a keynote speech. But that was not to be. At 3:50 p.m. local time (10:50a.m. in N.Y.), a grim-looking Captain Leo Muhammad, of west London Study Group, mounted the rostrum to announce that the Nation of Islam's satellite was being scrambled by the UK authorities.

Undeterred, the Nation of Islam tried frantically to save the situation but to no avail, as an alternative satellite arrangement was also sabotaged. The organizers watched in awe as $6,392 went down the drain.

Nonetheless, the rally turned out to be a huge success as speakers took turns to call on the Black community to come together and "never again allow labels such as Christian, Muslim, Pan-Africanist, to divide us."

Echoing the host minister, Hilary Muhammad, Min. Wayne Muhammad of east London and the UK Representative of Min. Farrakhan, enjoined the audience to emulate the good examples of the Nation of Islam leader. He said that by being successful in all his endeavors, Min. Farrakhan has demonstrated what a Black man is capable of doing once his mind is unchained.

Min. Wayne called on Black people to come together "on this day (of atonement) to move forward on what we agreed on (and argue less) on what divides us."

The west London M.G.T. Captain, Sister Barbara Muhammad, used the Holy Day of Atonement to urge Black men to live up to their responsibility at home and be good examples to their children. She spoke of the need for Black men and women 'to become one in perfect union with God."

Closing the rally, Bro. Capt. Leo Muhammad urged Black Britons to be masters of their own destiny and live, insisting: "There will be no benevolent white man that's going to save us. We're the only people who can save ourselves."