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FinalCall.com News
National News
ENOTA: Training peacekeepers
By Andrea Muhammad
Updated Nov 3, 2006 - 12:34:00 AM
DETROIT (FinalCall.com) - On Oct. 5, the Detroit Police Department ushered in a new era of community relations. Under the command of Deputy Chief Ralph Godbee, the city’s eastern district implemented its first training session for volunteers to work as "peacekeepers" in a joint initiative with the ENOTA (Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority) Project, Inc.
Founded by Dennis Muhammad, a captain in the Nation of Islam, ENOTA is a company that specializes in improving relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Earlier this year, the city announced a joint initiative with ENOTA to help both citizens and law enforcement take back their communities and stem the rising tide of crime.
Since having announced the partnership, the community was again rocked on Aug. 25 by the murder of 64-year-old activist and businessman Milton Goodson, the owner of Milts Gourmet Barbeque. He was fatally shot during a hold-up at his restaurant by a 16-year-old. The murder sent shockwaves through the community bringing expediency to the ENOTA Project.
On Sept. 27, Detroit City Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi held a town hall meeting calling for an immediate end to the senseless violence in the community. During the town hall, Deputy Chief Godbee and Councilwoman Tinsley-Talabi brought Capt. Dennis before the audience to share the ENOTA Project and a special pilot program in the city.
"The men must take back the streets and make the community once again safe for our women and children," Capt. Dennis stressed, adding that the Black community is at war with itself, thus experiencing civil war.
As he introduced the pilot program, he told the audience, "No one group alone has the solution," so without making distinctions between religion or ideology, there would be a "peacekeeping force" put in place to patrol the community, in specially marked attire to identify them, similar to how the United Nations would send in a non-biased force to deal with conflicts worldwide.
The Peacekeepers’ primary responsibility is patrolling the streets strictly in the capacity of keeping peace. Any law enforcement matters would be left to the police. Capt. Dennis reiterated that the Peacekeepers were not there to cast judgement, take sides or act on behalf of the police. Peacekeeper patrols would take place daily from mid-afternoon into the evening.
On Oct. 5, the first of several training sessions was held at the Samaritan Center. In a packed conference room, residents learned how they could become Peacemakers. The spirited crowd enthusiastically received the news that help had finally arrived. When the men were asked how many were ready to become a Peacekeeper, an overwhelming majority stood in unison.
One of the guest speakers was a shooting victim-turned-activist, Bro. Kwesi, who has been confined to a wheelchair for the last 20 years.
Lending his support to the initiative. "We have a saying," Bro. Kwesi said, speaking of those in wheelchairs, "We may be sitting—but we’re going to make a stand!"
Author Raphael Muhammad was the second guest speaker, whose autobiography, "To Pose a Threat," details his journey from incarceration to reform. Speaking directly to the men, he said, "A real man takes charge of his community." He continued, "We’re going to train you, but how big is your faith?"
Attending the session were members of the citizen’s patrol group C.I.A. (Commitment In Action) headed by Bishop Tony Russell of New Covenant of Peace Church.
"I’m motivated and ready to make a difference," Bishop Russell said. "The men will make a difference because most of the problems [today] are caused by young men."
Also present was Ruby Cameron, a mother who lost her son to drugs. "It’s so good to see this! This has really touched my heart," she shared.
The significance of the partnership was underscored in Chief Godbee’s closing remarks: "The east side is going to be the peace side."
