The Final Call

Justice Or Else! - A powerful message echoes throughout a sacred place

By Askia Muhammad -Senior Editor- | Last updated: Jun 30, 2015 - 9:03:27 AM

What's your opinion on this article?

A powerful message echoes throughout a sacred place as Min. Farrakhan, leaders vow to take uncompromising demand for justice to United States government on Oct. 10, 2015

WASHINGTON - It was a dramatic announcement which almost made itself.

Surrounded by faith leaders, young leaders and thousands of supporters and activists at Metropolitan AME Church—just five blocks from the White House—the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan announced the 20th anniversary commemoration of the historic Million Man March to be held October 10, 2015 on the National Mall with its clarion cry, “Justice Or Else!”

In the six weeks prior to the announcement, the Nation of Islam leader engaged and inspired thousands of leaders, activists, pastors, youth, advocates, hip hop artists and entertainers in seven cities around the country in support of the march.

Black communities erupted again and again in 2015 in the face of a trickle, turned to a river of murder and brutality against unarmed Black residents—Walter Scott, shot eight times in the back by a cop in Charleston, S.C. April 4; a little more than a week later the virtual decapitation of Freddie Gray in connection with his arrest by police officers in Baltimore, Md.

Just one week before the June 24 announcement, an eruption of hate was poured on Black churches. Nine members—including pastor and South Carolina state senator Clementa Pinckney were gunned down during a prayer service in Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston June 17 by an avowed, 21-year-old White supremacist.

Attracting far less attention because the Charleston dead were still being laid to rest, another reign of terror was let loose, at least five Black churches in the South were torched—Knoxville, Tenn. June 21; Macon, Ga., June 23; Charlotte, N.C. June 24; Warrenville, S.C. June 26; and Tallahassee, Fla. June 26.

Unified voices in an historic church

Minister Farrakhan was joined by activists and clergy at the historic house of worship to announce the October 10, 2015 gathering.

The clergy assembled with Minister Farrakhan at 177-year-old Metropolitan AME Church spoke with one voice. “You are in a holy place,” the Rev. William Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan AME declared. “The place where you sit is the longest continuously held piece of property by persons of African descent in the District of Columbia. Unbroken leadership, unbroken ownership in the face of many generations of those who would remove us from this space, we stand fast and will continue to stand fast.

“Denmark Vesey planned an insurrection at a class meeting at Mother Emmanuel (AME) Church (in Charleston), where the martyrs lost their lives last week. The pastor of that church was Morris Brown. After Denmark Vesey was assassinated, Morris Brown became a fugitive. He ran to Philadelphia. Bishop Richard Allen opened his doors, risked his life, the life of his family and his property, and welcomed Morris Brown into his home. Morris Brown then becomes the leader, and second bishop of our denomination.

“I say that to say that our ministry, not only as African Methodists, but as people of African descent and those who love freedom and justice, is to take risks on behalf of freedom, justice and equality,” the Rev. Lamar continued. “Now, we move forward in that long line of fighters for freedom and justice, and we declare in the name of God that freedom will be ours and we will not stop until we achieve it.”

The Rev. Ronald Braxton, presiding elder of the Second AME District offered the invocation. “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, we look to you, the author and creator of the universe, the giver of every good and perfect gift,” he prayed. “As we pause at this moment, you know our hearts, you know our joys. We lift before you our people, our country, our world. In turmoil, in chaos, and we pray God, forgive us of our sinful nature. God, in your Holy presence we stand and thank you for this time in history.”

“And as we launch this journey, bless Minister Farrakhan and every person who will stand for justice, and at the end of the day, you declare, ‘Or Else.’ Amen.”

By the time he spoke, Minister Farrakhan was loosed, fearless and standing with a broad array of people and groups vowing to follow his lead and his vision. The Minister did not disappoint, and responded with soaring rhetoric and important life-lessons for this critical hour.

A diverse audience representing various ethnic groups, religions and political ideologies gathered at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C., June 24 for the official announcement of the 20th Anniversary gathering of the Million Man March, themed, ‘Justice or Else’.

“To my dear brother, friend and pastor, the Rev. Dr. Willie Wilson; to Rev. Lamar, the pastor of this great and significant and holy place; to my brother who prayed such a great prayer that set the tone; to my sister Tamika Mallory and her beautiful remarks; and to my brother Rev. Jamal Bryant, I couldn’t have had a better opening,” the Muslim leader began.

“This is supposed to be a press conference. I think, press members, you got everything you need from my brother, so in my judgment, you can be excused now. I don’t have to answer no questions, because my brother spoke, and the words that he spoke, I agree with. Some might be a little disappointed, but when you hear truth, and you feel the fire of the Holy Spirit of God emanating from the mouth of your brother, when he says the things that need to be said, and he punctuates those things with the right punctuation marks, I think the press has everything that they would want,” the Minister said.

“And my brother that prayed he gave you the ‘Or Else,’ ‘cause the real Or Else comes from God Himself who is the Author of freedom and justice and equality. So press, thank you very much. I think I’ll just go on with a few words of instruction and guidance,” the Muslim leader said.

“To think that Frederick Douglass stood here, who was one of our greatest orators of yesterday and today; and to think that in the sister church—Emmanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina—where Denmark Vesey was organizing a revolt against tyranny, against slavery and injustice; where he was betrayed by Negroes who fear being found out that they stand for justice. He was murdered, hung, and all those with him were tortured.

“It is said that every imaginable torture was given to our brothers and ancestors that they would give up all of those who were with him. And here we stand today, on their shoulders, with the thought and the spirit in mind, that we will not betray our ancestors. We don’t just speak for the living. We speak for the dead who cannot today speak, but want their children to speak on their behalf.

“This is the time our people must see our unity. Let’s make 10/10/15 a meeting place for those who want justice, for those who know what justice is. These are not the times for weak people, for cowardly people,” the Muslim leader continued, praising pioneers of the AME church, such as founder Richard Allen, for being leaders of the struggle for liberation. Minister Farrakhan also challenged today’s church leaders for being too willing to forgive the Charleston shooting suspect, because, first of all, “he didn’t ask for forgiveness.

“That snake walked into one of our churches, and you know how we are.” Had that been a Black person who went to the church with a certain hairstyle and his pants drooping, “We would have met him at the door.”

Rev. Jamal Bryant

And as for the national conversation about the prominent public displays of the Confederate Battle Flag, which shooting suspect Dylan Roof wore on his clothing, and posed for pictures holding, Minister Farrakhan was clear. “I don’t know what the hell the fight is about over the Confederate flag. We need to put the American flag down. Because we’ve caught as much hell under that as (under) the Confederate flag. Who are we fighting today? It’s the people that carry the American flag?

“What flag do the police have? What flag flies over the ‘Non-Justice’ Department? What flag flies over the White House where a Black man lives that’s called N----r every day? We fought in wars under that flag. And came back and were hung and were murdered and brutalized under that flag. ‘Well now, we’re going to pull the flag down.’ It’s as easy as pulling your pants down. We want justice under that flag. What the hell is the use of us paying allegiance to a flag under which we get no justice?”

“I stand up for the flag, but I will not pledge allegiance to it!  I give my allegiance to The God Who created me—I give my all to my Creator; and I respect that flag as it’s the flag of an independent nation—that’s what I want to be, under my own flag—in a land of our own!” said Min. Farrakhan.

The accomplishments which are to be achieved by the new leadership emerging from the Justice Or Else movement here in the Western Hemisphere will astonish the entire world—including the world of Islam in the East—Minister Farrakhan advised.

“Ain’t nobody going to tear us away from our Christian family. We may be Muslims, but this time, we’re sending a message to Boko Haram. We’re going to send a message to those who want to kill Christians. We’re going to send a message to those Muslims who want to kill one another. All of that is finished, and God—listen to me good—is bringing the curtain down on the East.

“He’s bringing the curtain down, where Abraham was born; where Noah and Lot was born; where Hud and Salih was born; where Moses was born; where Jesus was born; where Muhammad was born; ain’t no more revelation coming out of the East. It’s coming out of the West where the Son of Man has come,” said Minister Farrakhan.

Broad ‘justice for all’ coalition developing

The Rev. Willie Wilson was national coordinator of the Million Man March 20 years ago when nearly 2 million men responded to Minister Farrakhan’s clarion call. The Rev. Wilson is a leading organizer of the 20th Anniversary Justice Or Else mobilization.

“The history of oppressed peoples is long and becoming increasingly blatant,” he said. “This convening is our opportunity to come together, form community, and forge forward, united in the belief that our destinies are intertwined and our futures are inextricably linked.

“We’re bringing together everyone who will fight for justice,” the Rev. Wilson said.

Marcus Mulberry, of Steelton, marches with others down Third Street during a Baltimore solidarity rally, May 2 in Harrisburg, Pa. Photo: AP/Wide World photos

Among the issues and groups cited by Rev. Wilson for inclusion in the Oct. 10 gathering were the Black Lives Matter movement, anti-gun violence advocates, women’s issues, reproductive justice, voting rights, police brutality, police violence, racial profiling, human trafficking, alongside curbing health disparities, fighting the death penalty, wage increases, LGBT concerns, veterans rights, immigrant rights, improved education, gentrification, employment, recidivism, and environmental justice.

“One of the greatest leaders of the 21st Century turned around (on Oct. 16, 1995) and saw over one million people standing behind him. Would you help me thank God for Minister Louis Farrakhan?” said the Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore. “I want Minister Farrakhan to know we stand behind him, one million strong, while he is yet alive, with breath in his body.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you’re not confused. For them to take down the Confederate flag does not mean we’ve got justice. It’s just a sign of what it is we’re dealing with. Jesus admonished the disciples, ‘Oh generation of vipers, can you not see the signs that are in front of you?’

“We’re dealing with the signs that are in front of us. The signs that we can in fact live in an hour when America doesn’t mind if you change your sex, but they’ve got a problem if you love your Black skin.  Can’t you see your sign?

“You don’t see the signs of when it is that when young African Americans in Baltimore protest for liberty and justice for all, they’re called thugs, but if a White boy in South Carolina shoots up a Black church, they say he’s mentally unstable and stop at Burger King. Can’t you see the signs?” the Rev. Bryant continued.

“When you look across this church and see Muslims and Christians sitting together, when you look across this church and see brothers and sisters sitting together, White supremacy is in trouble, because we have loaded our weapon, which is Black unity, and when Black people come together, we will turn America upside down and put it in its rightful place.

 “Twenty years ago when it is that we assembled here in the nation’s capital, one million strong Black men who were committed to turn the tide of this nation, to turn what it is that America said about our Black men. We came one million strong. But now, 20 years later it’s not just men who are coming, but the whole family is coming. Our children are coming. And the unsung heroes America, you didn’t want us to open up this can, but the Black women are coming. When Black women come, we can’t lose. When Black women come, we’ve got to have victory,” the youthful pastor implored.

“Twenty years later we’re assembling on October 10th so that America will understand that we will not be swept away on a reservation. You can’t buy us with a casino. You can’t think we’re just going to go away. …

“We’re not going to roll over. We’re not going to play dead because we’ve come one week after they shot up an AME church in South Carolina. A week later, we’re in an AME church in Washington, D.C., and we came to tell every racist, White supremacist, ‘We don’t die. We multiply.’ We’ve got to get justice or else!

“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is the only one who could have assembled us in this hour. Our parents’ generation hoped and prayed that they would have been able to see Martin and Malcolm together. But this generation is favored by God, that Christians are going to walk with the Nation of Islam, and we ain’t gon’ let anybody turn us around! It’s a new day for Black America,” the Rev. Bryant said to loud cheers. Minister Farrakhan pumped his fist in the air as the young pastor spoke.

The NAACP D.C. branch joined with Minister Farrakhan to voice support for a demand for justice and equality for all in America.

“The NAACP D.C. branch is honored to join the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Willie Wilson and leaders nationwide in demanding social justice. The 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March is a historic moment to mobilize, galvanize and epitomize constructive change to address the racial and economic disparities in this country,” said Akosua Ali, NAACP D.C. president in the group’s statement.