Pamela Bosley, of Purpose Over Pain, talks about the death of her son and putting flowers on his grave at Christmas during anti-violence rally in Chicago. Ron Holt, far right, lost his son Blair when shots were fired on a bus as children went home from school. Photos: Kenneth Muhammad

Min. Farrakhan said violence currently seen among youth in general and Black youth in particular is a manifestation of a violent American society, whose top military and political leaders allocate more money to development of weapons of war in the desire for military conquest than the development of education for the country’s children.

Min. Farrakhan pointed out that the federal government found money to bail out corporate “thieves and robbers” but because of misplaced priorities, can’t seem to find the money to improve educational systems in American cities.

Spearheaded by longtime anti-violence crusader Father Michael Pfleger of the Faith Community at St. Sabina, approximately 600 parents and high school students came together Dec. 17 to demand that politicians pass legislation to stop the flow of illegal guns throughout the city and surrounding areas and pass common sense gun laws.

Father Pfleger challenged state legislators to get their priorities straight by turning their efforts away from impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich. “They said they would meet and work every day on impeachment—work on strategies for the education and safety of the children of Illinois!” he declared.

Pastor Wilfredo DeJesus, of New Life Covenant Church in Chicago, said religious leaders and people of good must act to improve a society in which “crime is a sport.” Moral values need to be reinstituted, he said.

Minister Farrakhan joins Father Michael Pfleger at rally. The Minister said youth violence reflects violent orientation of American societyand its leadership.

Min. Farrakhan comforted the grieving and sometimes crying parents and friends of those killed, saying though each life given by God is considered sacred, he permits death—sometimes even of the innocent—to serve a greater purpose.

“If those children had not died, would we be here?” Min. Farrakhan asked the parents in the audience. “Your children did not die in vain. Nothing advances in civilization without the sacrifice of life,” said Min. Farrakhan.

“They died a violent death that others may have a right to the Tree of Life. They are martyrs for the cause of justice, peace and non-violence.”

Members of Purpose Over Pain, an organization comprised of parents who have lost children and loved ones to guns, repeated the call to end the violence. One parent was Pamela Bosley, whose 18-year-old son Terrell was gunned down two-years-ago while unloading instruments just outside the doors of a church.

Ms. Bosley, holding an arrangement of flowers, said instead of giving gifts during Christmas time to her child, she will be laying flowers on his grave.

“No parent should be visiting their children at a cemetery on Christmas,” said Ms. Bosley, speaking through her tears. Then, talking to the teenagers in the audience Ms. Bosley asked, “Will you be next?”

Also present was Ronald Holt whose 16-year-old son Blair was killed when gunshots were sprayed into a crowd of passengers on a Chicago Transit Authority bus.

Enoch Muhammad, founder of Hip Hop Detoxx, participated in the rally. He works with Father Pfleger to stop youth violence. Mr. Muhammad said his organization “goes after the social and emotional conflicts” at the root of much teen violence, providing counseling and other outlets for those involved in the “street tribes” and “drug cliques” often found in an endless cycle of retaliatory violence.

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis shared a few words, asking parents and the community to get involved before crime occurs. “The police get involved when everything else fails,” said Supt. Weis. The “no snitching” code also complicates police efforts to locate troublemakers once shootings occur, he said.

Min. Farrakhan said the lust for designer clothes, famous name brand shoes and other items causes many to steal and kill in a society that places high importance on material things. This, however, is just a lower level manifestation of the “wicked and deceptive” policies of a government that uses violence to extract wealth from other nations, the Minister said.

Concluding his remarks by referring to President-elect Barack Obama’s “meteoric rise” to the top of America’s political system, Min. Farrakhan noted that all of the places Mr. Obama found himself in life shaped and molded him. Likewise, youth today are being shaped by their homes, their parents, their teachers and their leaders, he said. The time is now to take responsibility for improving our communities and ending the senseless violence, the Minister added. “All of these shapers need to shape up,” said Min. Farrakhan.