The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan stands with members of Saving Our Selves (S.O.S.), David Muhammad (far left), assistant to Newark’s Deputy Mayor, Ras Baraka (far right). Photo: Kenneth Muhammad

Speaking Dec. 11 at the newly-opened African American Education and Cultural Resource Center, where he was asked to address gang members, the Muslim leader said, “The moment you all made peace, there were those who were not happy with that.”

“What the enemy does not want is a replication of a nervous system to be developed among us as a people, so that when one of us aches all of us feel that pain,” he continued.

Recently, members of Saving Our Selves (SOS), a gang intervention and prevention organization formed by Bloods and Crips, drafted a letter, along with David Muhammad of Newark’s Muhammad’s Mosque No. 25, asking the Minister to come to help guide them in correcting past wrongs.

After a late-arriving crowd was settled, Minister Farrakhan delivered an emotional hour-long lecture that offered warning and guidance to what he called “the best generation that we’ve ever produced. You’re stronger than what we had in the ’60s, but you just need guidance.”

Part of that guidance involves galvanizing their abilities to become more politically aware in order to help counter the infiltration and sabotage efforts by the U.S. government against their organizations. He also suggested gang members organize and begin taking seats on the city’s administration.

While the minister explained the agenda of the government in Black organizations, he also urged a continued peace, presenting a caveat: “You are standing in the way of your own progress by your hatred of yourself and your hatred of one another.”

His address was not limited to gang members, for he also had a message for the city’s leaders, saying he was concerned about money not being allocated in the city’s budget for the development of skills for young people, who now needed something to replace their negative behaviors.

Prior to the Dec. 11 meeting, some members of SOS experienced what they believed were the sabotage techniques discussed by Minister Farrakhan at the hands of the Newark Police Department.

According to Bishop, a Blood member, while he and others were on their way to the meeting, a White police officer detained him for about half an hour. He said he explained to the officer where he was going and the nature of the meeting, but was told he was being checked for outstanding warrants.

The 32-year-old, who is planning a run for city council in two years, said he was told by the police officer, “If you know anything about intervention: Bloods and Crips don’t get along and they won’t,” to which he responded by saying, “That’s why we have Min. Farrakhan coming here to try to help us out with this movement.”

Calls to the NPD were not returned.

Both street organizations have complained about increased police harassment since signing the May peace accord, including a newspaper article alleging that law enforcement officers throughout the state would be targeted by the Bloods. Both groups also admit occasional tension between the two groups. Nevertheless, they say they’re determined to stick to the 10-point agreement that, among other things, ends the calling for the killing of a member of another organization; establishes a commitment to become educated and vows to use every nonviolent means to resolve past, present and future conflicts.

“The more you talk negative about us the more you inspire us to do what we gotta do to get this going,” said a Blood named Lee. “I hope the ones that came take heed because the stuff that he spoke, that’s what I’m about; that’s what I implement in my life today.”

Those are sentiments with which Newark’s deputy mayor agree. “What he gave them is going to resonate not only with them, but throughout the streets of Newark,” said Deputy Mayor Ras Baraka, who could barely stay in his seat during Min. Farrakhan’s address. “The tapes that they got are going to circulate throughout the communities like wildfire.”

Free copies of the Minister’s address were given to all gang members. Gang leaders said they were disappointed in not getting members to the morning meeting on time, but vowed to distribute and study the lecture among themselves.