Momentum in the Motor City! for 'Justice or Else!'

By Ashahed M. Muhammad -Assistant Editor- | Last updated: Sep 1, 2015 - 11:35:26 PM

A capacity crowd welcomed the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in Detroit at Fellowship Chapel Church led by Rev. Wendell Anthony August 25. Photo: Jesse Muhammad

The crowd enjoyed words from Min. Farrakhan dealing with the planned October 10th “Justice or Else!” gathering in Washington, D.C. Photos: Andrea Muhammad (Left) Photo: Monica Morgan

DETROIT - The lines began to form early August 25 as hundreds filed into Fellowship Chapel Church led by Reverend Wendell Anthony, eager to hear a message from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as he continues to spread the word about “Justice Or Else!”

Reverend Anthony who also serves as president of Detroit’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was key in organizing a large contingent of Black men to attend the historic 1995 Million Man March.

Rev. Anthony chided those who were critical of Min. Farrakhan and the Million Man March.

“Twenty years ago, a spark was lit that brought men, women and children together to deal with issues and conditions that divide us in our community and inhibit our unity. We answered a call that was sent out by Louis Farrakhan,” said Rev. Anthony. “For those who have forgotten, Black men did come back and join churches and mosques; they did take care of their children; they did start businesses and attend organizational meetings. Don’t get mad at Farrakhan because he lit the fire, get upset with yourself because you didn’t keep it burning,” he added.

Min. Farrakhan spoke at Fellowship Chapel Church in Detroit August 25.

The place where Rev. Anthony’s church now sits was formerly the site of abandoned cars, tall weeds and burned out houses serving as dens of iniquity for drug dealers and users. He defended the Minister against charges circulated in the controlled media about him being a divisive teacher of hate. He called the Minister his brother, friend, and a freedom fighter that is “a thorn in the side of those who get comfortable and a reminder of our plight for those who get neglectful.”

“It is not Minister Farrakhan who has dealt death on the streets of New York by choking somebody to death; it is not Farrakhan who shot a 12-year-old boy in three seconds playing with a toy gun; it is not Farrakhan who put his knee in the back of a woman who was later found dead in a jail cell in Texas,” Rev. Anthony continued. “It is not Minister Farrakhan who came in a Black church and shot dead nine people as they sat having bible study, no it is not Minister Farrakhan who went into movie theaters and shot up innocent people as they were eating popcorn and drinking Coke. No, it is not Minister Farrakhan who wants to kick 12 million people out of the country with no place to go; it is not Minister Farrakhan who gutted voting rights or said Black lives do not matter. But it is Minister Farrakhan who is in your neighborhoods trying to teach you how to live better; it is Minister Farrakhan who visits you in prisons and helps to clean you up when you get out of prison; it is Minister Farrakhan who is telling you how to continue to eat to live and treat your body like it is a temple and yes, it is Minister Farrakhan who is now giving some affirmative action on how to help quell the negative action in your communities and it is Minister Farrakhan who says we must have a journey for justice, we must have justice or else!

An overflow room was filled to capacity with those who were unable to fit in the main sanctuary. They viewed Minister Farrakhan’s message on a huge screen.

Farrakhan: ‘I hate this world.’

Although the Minister had not been feeling well due to a cold he had been battling, he greeted a capacity crowd with a broad smile. An overflow room equipped with a huge screen enabling viewers to see and hear his message was also full.

The lines of those desiring to get in to hear the message began to form early at Fellowship Chapel Church, despite the rain. Photos: Andrea Muhammad

“I’m not going to let a cold stop me from doing what I believe Allah wants me to do,” said Min. Farrakhan.

As in previous cities, the Minister met with the cultural artists, the entertainment community, and the spiritual and political leaders from around the Detroit metropolitan area in back to back meetings the day prior informing them of plans for a massive gathering set for October 10 in Washington, D.C., which will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March. He also mentioned that he met with Detroit’s Chief of Police James Craig.

Organizers are demanding freedom, justice, and equality as he urges those in cities across the country to reject fear and boldly assert the value of their own lives by combating violence and brutality from law enforcement officials from outside the community and fratricidal violence inside the community.

“All religion has failed, not because religion is not good, but it is because Satan has come between the truth and the messenger of truth, and caused man and mankind to deviate from the teachings of their prophets. So it is today as though no prophet of God has ever walked on this earth. That is a sad picture,” said the Minister.

He said when someone is considered to have been slain, they were put to death with a weapon.

“The weapon the enemy used to put us to death was a false representation of Jesus Christ,” said the Minister. “Look at what has happened to all religion. Most of us are under Satan and don’t even realize it,” he said.

The Minister said since they have been in existence, Whites have been “the principal evil-doers” on the planet. The bloodshed and destruction they have caused must be answered for.

“Justice for the oppressed is not the same as justice for the oppressor,” said the Minister.

The “sick world” the wicked have established and ruled must be done away with. Jesus Christ’s job would be to crush the wicked and remove their world, which is why a misrepresentation designed to deceive was given to those who were taught religion. That misrepresentation and misunderstanding must be corrected, he said.

“I represent The Messiah. I represent The Mahdi. I represent a man who comes to end this world. I hate this world! I hate a world that has made merchandise of the people and robbed the people of what God intended for the people to have; freedom, justice and equality, I hate this world. I hate a world in every religion that has abused women. I hate a world that makes women playthings and not the serious creation of God that he intended them to be. I hate a world that is contrary to God; feminizing men and masculinizing women. I hate a world where everything is upside down! I hate a world like this! I am with Jesus Christ to destroy it! And the power to destroy it is already here,” he said.

There are many who say that God does not hate, and that God loves everybody. Minister Farrakhan said that type of all-encompassing love should then be used in our communities to end the killing, raping, and robbing that goes on in Black communities nationwide.

“I wish you so-called lovers would find a way to love your Black self. I wish you sick lovers would show the world the love of God by stopping the bloodshed that goes on day and night in our own communities! Don’t tell me you know God and know Jesus!” he said.

Some have been in synagogues, temples, mosques and churches their entire lives but still do not know what functions should be going on in these places for the service of humanity. Satan in the scriptures asked for a respite saying: “Respite me until the day when they are raised.” In other words, he was asking God to delay his doom giving him more time to cause people to deviate.

“Satan wants to turn you so that God will reject you,” said Min. Farrakhan.

A timely message

Native American revolutionary Davi Trusty said the Indigenous people and the Original people are one people, because all are linked to the creator of all things. He’s ready for 10-10-15 and found the Minister’s message to be right on time.

“It is exactly what all of us as family members needed to hear,” said Mr. Trusty. “I truly believe that God has appointed him to help all of the human family to seek justice because he talks about the Black, the Brown, the Red, and the poor White. I think it is time and I think he is that man, and I have no problem as an American Indian and as a Latino turning and looking to him for that guidance,” he added.

“My first time seeing the Minister I was still in college at Syracuse University and he came up to speak and amazed me. All the knowledge and wisdom that he has and listening to him speak today brought back so many memories,” said NBA great Derrick Coleman.

Mr. Coleman missed the Million Man March in 1995 while playing for the team at that time known as the New Jersey Nets because he was hospitalized in Boston with an irregular heartbeat. He made the cardiologist who was treating him turn the Million Man March on television.

“I made him put it on television while I was laying there in the hospital because I was like ‘that’s where I’m supposed to be right now’ but as far as 10-10, I’m definitely there,” he added.

Mr. Coleman has plans to join other prominent Detroit area businessmen to sponsor buses to transport those who desire to attend the Oct. 10 gathering in Washington, D.C. One of those businessmen is his childhood friend Tarence Wheeler, who has invested in and served the people in Detroit, where he grew up. He said the economic aspect of the Minister’s message resonated with him.

“The Minister always tells the truth, and that is what I appreciate about him because oftentimes, leadership is scared to tell the truth,” said Mr. Wheeler. “When you can speak freely, you speak the truth of the people and you are of the people because you speak what the people need,” he added.

The Final Call