In Trenton, a Panther faces a showdown at the polls

By Saeed Shabazz -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jun 7, 2010 - 3:48:44 PM

Divine Allah

(FinalCall.com) - "A people's victory, definitely," was the response from New Black Panther Party National Youth Minister Divine Allah, 37, when asked how to describe his second place finish in Trenton, New Jersey's city council race in the North Ward on May 11.

There were five people contesting for the North Ward council seat, and on June 15, Mr. Allah will face first place primary finisher Marge Wilson-Caldwell, who garnered 34 percent of the vote to Mr. Allah's 20 percent. A candidate had to 51 percent of the primary vote to avoid a run-off and win the council seat outright, which no candidate did.

“The key was all of the young people who had registered to vote; they came out—the young cats in the (gang) sets saying, ‘we got you big homey'—the young mothers from places like the Downey Homes,” Mr. Allah added.

He said his campaign had four core issues as its platform, proper educational programs, better public safety, decent housing and social programs for the community, particularly for youth.

“The fact that Divine forced a run-off in a field of four Black men is the key,” said Baye Kemet, founder and principal of the Marcus Garvey School in Trenton. Mr. Kemet is a close adviser to Mr. Allah.

“Divine Allah for 20 years has been active in Trenton, sponsoring buses to the Million Man March, giving away free food, free clothes and free school supplies—for all of Trenton—not just the North Ward,” Mr. Kemet said.

Zayid Muhammad, Newark NBPP, shows support.

Mr. Allah had high profile support May 11 with New Black Panther Party National Chairman Malik Shabazz and New York City Councilman Charles Barron joining him in the streets of Trenton. Councilman Barron is a former Black Panther Party member.

“May 11 was a real great day for Black radical politics,” Councilman Barron said. The three-term councilman said what happened in Trenton was an opportunity to “show that radicals can run for elective office and not change who they are.”

Voters were coming up to Mr. Allah on Election Day saying, “don't worry brother, we got you!” he added.

“Everywhere we went with him people recognized him, they said they appreciated his work. He's very popular, very well liked,” the New York councilman said.

Mr. Allah describes the North Ward as a place of extreme diversity from bottom line poverty to upper middleclass “with a sprinkling of well to-do.”

All of Trenton's major thoroughfares run through the North Ward, which is also home to the city's downtown district, along with City Hall and the State Capital building.

“We are looking forward to June 15,” Mr. Allah said.

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