CHICAGO-(http://www.finalcall.com)�
Approximately 100 community leaders flocked to hear East Coast Regional Minister Benjamin F. Muhammad give the keynote address at a pre-rally for a Jan. 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. March for Respect against police brutality. Min. Benjamin�s message on the need for justice from Chicago�s troubled police department inspired the crowd to not only support the march, but to also pledge to mobilize their communities for the Oct. 16, 2000 Million Family March in Washington, D.C.

�Anytime that we can find an opportunity to stand in unity with our people, we all should answer  �yes� when called,� Min. Benjamin said.

The Jan. 7 event was held at the Old St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and was sponsored by pastor and chairman of the Christian Council on Urban Affairs, Rev. Paul L. Jakes, Jr. Since the early �90s, Rev. Jakes has taken a national stand against law enforcement violence and has become a voice for hundreds of victims who are predominately Black and Hispanic.

Min. Benjamin said that before the speech, Rev. Jakes accompanied him to the home of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Min. Benjamin told the audience that the Minister�s health was greatly improved and invited them to attend and see Min. Farrakhan�s public return on Saviours� Day, Feb. 27, 2000.

�The Minister gave me an assignment. He told me to go to the church and tell the people how great it is that God has blessed us, through the person of Rev. Paul L. Jakes, Jr. It is not easy to mobilize a people who have had a history of being put down, locked down and treated unfairly. Often, God must call one from among us to wake us up. Chicago needs a wake up call and I am thankful that Rev. Jakes is waking us up,� said Min. Benjamin.

�In the case of police brutality, Black people cannot be comfortable. The righteous must prepare in this new millennium to march and keep standing up. If we don�t make the demand for freedom, justice and equality, we will never get it. We must fight for what is right in the sight of God. If we can start out this century with greater unity among us, we will have a better chance to make Chicago better. If we can change Chicago on the question of police brutality, we can change the rest of the United States. The march in Chicago is not just a local march, it�s an international march,� Min. Benjamin said.

Min. Benjamin reminded leaders that prior to the Million Man March, Black on Black crime was more of an epidemic than police brutality in the Black community. He said that in 1995, America�s child welfare system was mainly filled with Black children.

According to Min. Benjamin, after Min. Farrakhan spoke to more than 2 million Black men on Oct. 16, 1995, crime in the white community rose, while crime in the Black community dropped dramatically. He also said the National Association of Black Social Workers reported that since 1995, an unprecedented number of Black children have been adopted by Black families.

�It is possible to stop our own self destruction. This issue of police brutality transcends race. Obviously the city of Chicago needs a healing on police brutality. The Fraternal Order of Police needs to atone and reconcile with God. Racially motivated police brutality is wrong when a white or Black person does it,� Min. Benjamin said.

Rev. Paul Jakes, who invited Min. Benjamin to address the community leaders said that he will carry a message to the door of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley during the march.

�Law enforcement must recognize the corrupt abuses and disrespect upon our community. We have a struggle to stop the killing and maiming of our children and must not give up. How many more hundreds must die and be abused before we see the truth? We will march and tell the city that our people must be respected and protected,� Rev. Jakes said. The March for Respect will kick off at 2 p.m. in front of the Harold Washington Library, which is named after the city�s first Black mayor.