The Final Call

'Justice Or Else!' -- a universal demand

By Starla Muhammad -Assistant Editor- | Last updated: Sep 23, 2015 - 9:38:45 AM

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Minister Farrakhan's message of unity resonated with the audience. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

Latino, Indigenous communities applaud Farrakhan’s bold message

Watch the full video @ http://www.justiceorelse.com/video

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - In a bilingual message presented in English and Spanish, the critical demand for Justicia O Verás (Justice Or Else), its necessity, impact and message was delivered loud and clear to members of the Latino and Indigenous community on Chicago’s West Side. 

During the evening cultural, historical and spiritual ties that bind the Original family of the earth were shared during a program at Lincoln Methodist Church in the city’s historical Pilsen neighborhood, a predominantly Mexican part of town.

Expressions of song, spoken word and music highlighted messages of unity during the Sept. 18 event that featured a keynote address by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam.

It was the Muslim leader’s last stop on a  cross-country tour in preparation for  the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C, themed “Justice Or Else!”. 

“This is an hour of a brand new beginning of a brand new world,” Minister Farrakhan explained.

We are living during the time of the end of racism, sexism and petty nationalism, he said.

Audience listens to message at Lincoln Methodist Church in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, the fi nal stop of Min. Farrakhan’s Justice Or Else tour. The program at Lincoln Methodist Church was delivered in Spanish and English. Black, Latino, Native American and Indigenous unite for Justice Or Else, the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March. (Bottom photos) Two Dreamers from Fuerza Juventud explained why they are supporting and attending the call for Justice or Else in Washington, D.C. (L) Spoken word artist and activist, Reyes performs. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

Over the past six months as he has spoken to thousands about Justice Or Else!, sometimes three and four times a day to different groups, Min. Farrakhan announced that his message at Lincoln Methodist Church would be the last on his tour. 

“It is with great joy that I spend the last night of my tour here in Chicago with Rev. Emma Lozano and with our Latino family,” said Min. Farrakhan. He laid out the basis for what justice is and why it is critical for the survival of the Original family. 

(CW from left) Student Minister Abel Muhammad; Activist and artist Yonasda Lonewolf is helping to organize Native American, Indigenous and Latino support for Justice Or Else.; Student Minister Rasul Muhammadl; Rev. Emma Lozano of Lincoln Methodist Church Photos: Haroon Rajaee

“All of the prophets of God spoke of the end of this present world and in the book of James he said that the love of this world is enmity with God. This is a terrible world. A world that has put tribe against tribe, ethnicity against ethnicity, race against race, male against female and female against male, rich against the poor and poor not able to deal with the rich,” said Min. Farrakhan. 

This is a terrible day for the wicked, a great and dreadful day at the same time, he continued. Great for who and dreadful for who? Min. Farrakhan asked.

“Our people have suffered under White supremacy where the enemy has made the darker people of the earth feel that they are less and they made those who are White feel that they are better and this has affected the psychological development of the darker people of the earth,” said Min. Farrakhan. 

Though there are growing numbers of Latinos who are embracing Islam, the majority are Christian and many are Catholic. During his recent tour of Latin American countries, Pope Francis has asked the people to forgive the church.

“He wanted the Indigenous people to forgive the church for the way the church murdered the Indigenous people, stripped them of their language and culture, stripped them of their right to practice their ancient religions and made the Indigenous people to bow to the cross,” said Min. Farrakhan regarding the pontiff.

The Pope did not ask the Indigenous to forgive Jesus because Jesus had nothing to do with what the church was doing in its name, he continued. And the Jesus that was represented to Indigenous people did not look like them, but was a product of Rome, the Minister continued. “He looked like the very tyrant that imposed Christianity on the Indigenous people.”

If you have a sick slave mentality you will say immediately “we forgive” in response to the Pope’s request, Min. Farrakhan continued and explained in detail what forgiveness would entail. 

“The Indigenous people all over the world have built the wealth of Rome and caused the church to be very rich. Great capitals in Europe built on the slavery of the Indigenous people and nobody has said we will restore what we have stolen from you,” said Min. Farrakhan, whose entire message was translated to the audience by Rev. Emma Lozano, pastor of Lincoln Methodist Church. 

Min. Farrakhan also spoke to colorism that exists in the Black community and causes some to view lighter or White skin as “better.” That also exists in the Latino community and there is a fascination with the oppressor’s “material wealth,” said Min. Farrakhan. The same enemy has hurt both people, he explained. The Minister also spoke to the immigration issue which has united many Latinos regardless of their countries of origin. Under the administration of President Barack Obama, there have been more mass deportations than in previous administrations. 

The same pressing problems of income inequality, disproportionate health and education gaps, incarceration, police brutality and unfair treatment that have made the road  to complete freedom, justice and equality an uphill road for Blacks, have also impacted Latino and Native American communities nationwide. Over 60 percent of those currently in U.S. prisons are Black and Latino, 32 percent of Native American youth under the age of 18 live in poverty, and the unemployment rate of Blacks is still double that of Whites. 

It is this commonality that necessitates Justice Or Else! and a forged unity, said various presenters during the program.  

Minister Farrakhan used scripture to demonstrate the pagan origins of Christmas traditions practiced today. As he has in cities during the tour, the Minister encouraged the audience to join an upcoming holiday spending boycott and redistribute the economic pain as called for by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Jesus is the truth and Santa is a lie,” Min. Farrakhan said to audience applause.

Left to right, Student Minister Abel Muhammad, Alvaro Obregon, longtime Latino activist and community leader in Pilsen and Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

The combined spending power of Blacks, Latinos and Indigenous communities would have a tremendous impact if all  boycotted unnecessary spending and financial frivolity associated with the Christmas season. 

The relationship between the Nation of Islam and the Latino community is based on a long and interrelated history. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, patriarch of the Nation of Islam, had a home in Mexico and raised a part of his family there including his son Student Minister Rasul Muhammad who addressed the audience in Spanish. 

Student Minister Abel Muhammad, Latino Representative of the Nation of Islam and Min. Farrakhan, helped facilitate the program and told the crowd he had been waiting for this special moment for over 20 years.

“When I was in high school and first became a student of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, I always wanted him to teach Mexican and Latino and Black and Indigenous people because I know what he did for me he could do for all of our people,” said Student Minister Abel Muhammad. 

Minister Farrakhan has addressed diverse audiences as momentum toward the October gathering picks up steam and groups continue organization and mobilization efforts. He has connected with Black, Native American and Indigenous communities nationwide. 

“It is by faith that today we join the African American family, the Latino Americans and Native Americans of this nation to demand justice and an end to the policies of mass deportation and mass incarceration,” said Rev. Lozano who along with her husband Rev. Walter “Slim” Coleman are long time immigrant rights activists. The couple’s activism came to the forefront in Chicago in 2006 as supporters of Elvira Arrellano, a young mother from Mexico threatened with deportation and separation from her then 7-year-old son. Ms. Arrellano also spoke to the audience. 

“In our faith we have looked often to Minister Louis Farrakhan, to his wisdom, to his faith, to his long and courageous leadership to sustain our own movement; 10.10.15 is the beginning of the joining of our two peoples, our two faiths like two mighty rivers feeding into an ocean of justice in which our next generation can grow as God intended them to grow,” said Rev. Lozano before introducing the Minister.  

Today Latinos, Blacks and Indigenous communities face a wave of hate sweeping across the nation that refuses to recognize the cry of God’s people, she pointed out. “No human being is illegal,” said Rev. Lozano. “October 15 will be the beginning of something new that will offer a redemption to a nation that resists God’s justice and will,” said the activist pastor who thanked Min. Farrakhan for using her humble church as the place to invite the Latino community to join on with the Justice Or Else! movement.  

In 2014 there were over 318 million people living in the United States, the majority of them White. As of July 2014 the U.S. Latino population numbered 55 million or 17.4 percent of the total population according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That number is expected to grow exponentially and by 2060 the projected Latino population will be 119 million or 28.6 percent of the total population.

Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives made up 1.6 percent of the total population at 5.1 million in 2011 and by 2050 is expected to increase to 8.6 million or 2 percent of the population. There are 324 federally recognized American Indian Reservations and 566 federally recognized tribes. In 2013 the Black population was 41.7 million or 13.2 percent of the population which will balloon to 74.5 million or 17.9 percent by 2060. This number includes those who identify as Black or Black in combination with another race. 

Uniting under the banner of Justice Or Else! is a chance for communities that have struggled under the thumb of White supremacy to demand and usher in real change said attendees. 

“We come from the same root and we’re not taught that and I think this moment in history and this political juncture it’s time for us really to realize that and I think that people are,” said Reyes, a spoken word artist who performed during the program. He said a new generation of young people is receptive to those that speak truth to power. 

“The majority of the audience was young. And I think that this is something that speaks to their reality. We’re growing up in a culture now that isn’t afraid to challenge White supremacy. Even though we may be lulled to sleep sometimes through capitalism and materialism, you see young people all across the country not afraid to stand up against the police where a few generations ago maybe it would have been different and it just speaks to where we are in terms of solidarity in communities of color,” said Reyes.  

Demacio Soto, 19,  traveled from Detroit, Mich., and said he thinks the Justice Or Else! movement in his city should be developing at a faster pace among Latino and Indigenous youth but says there is awareness especially among the Black Lives Matter and immigration movements. 

“What we’re facing right now is gentrification … we’re being pushed out of our neighborhoods and I think this Justice Or Else! is really great for people of my age and it’s something positive to unite all races and to say ‘no more to this.’” 

Jolene Lozano, the daughter of Rev. Emma Lozano, is working to organize busses to the march for Chicago’s Latino community. She has been actively working with grammar and high school students in the Pilsen and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. They are hoping to have three busses of high school students and their families go to Justice Or Else!. 

“Now that the climate of hate and racism is worse with Donald Trump and all of the other Republican candidates and Democratic candidates who are not very much better, our students and our family members and community members, they’re ready to stand up because we can’t continue to take this abuse in our communities and continue to watch people kill our young men and women on the street,” said Ms. Lozano. When asked why she thinks it is important for Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans to work together, Ms. Lozano said it is critical. 

“It is necessary, we all have a common enemy and we need to fight against this country that’s systemic. Our failing is part of a system. Someone organized and continues to organize against us.” 

Latino and Indigenous groups are mobilizing daily. For more information visit “Latinos & Natives for Millions 4 Justice: Justice Or Else 10.10.15” on Facebook.

To view the Justice Or Else program at Lincoln Methodist Church in its entirety, visit justiceorelse.com.