by Kim Muhammad

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (FinalCall.com)�Using a hovering helicopter, canine unit, state troopers and city law enforcement, police arrested 12 members of Muhammad Mosque No.13 for engaging in what they term a "melee" in a city neighborhood infested with flagrant drug dealing, crime and violence.

On July 15, members of the Fruit of Islam found themselves engaged in a physical confrontation with known drug dealers of the Eastern Ave. Posse, said mosque officials. The F.O.I. were in Springfield�s Old Hill neighborhood on a routine peace mission to invite the community to the mosque. Two days earlier attempts by the gang to take over an apartment and set up shop at a 24-unit apartment building, managed by Muhammad�s Realty Group, a Muslim-owned business, was thwarted, said local Nation officials.

At that time, a fight broke out between members of the mosque and alleged drug dealers who kicked in the door of tenant Michael Saez, as he objected to drug trafficking in front of his door. The fight quickly ended only to erupt minutes later when the gang members returned with reinforcements of eight or more men, Muslims maintain.

While tenants and Min. Yusuf Muhammad, of the Nation of Islam�s Springfield mosque, called police even before the first fight broke out, police did not respond until 40 minutes after the second battle ended, leaving the outnumbered Muslims with physical injuries and seeking medical attention, he said. Ultimately the police were called four times, according to Muslims. The local minister suffered two black eyes; Johnnie Vernon was slashed in the face with a razor; Andre Johnson and Keith Gilbert were hit with pipes; and all four were almost run over by a sport utility vehicle driven by the perpetrators.

Min. Yusuf said he believes the police purposefully ignored the call for help because of a past strained relationship between police and Muslims in the city.

In the meantime, the drug dealers struck terror in the hearts of the tenants, most of whom are single women with children, the Muslims said. Police found crack cocaine on the scene. Mr. Saez filed a breaking and entering charge with police and Muhammad�s Realty Group charged an alleged gang member with "malicious destruction of property."

In a twist of events, police and members of the local media have begun to paint the drug dealers as victims, calling the July 15 incident on Tyler Street an aggressive act of retaliation by the Muslims. Police Chief Paula Meara reportedly summed it up, saying "it appears to be retaliation and vigilantism which cannot be tolerated."

During the July 15 event, according to the F.O.I., Lt. Robert Moynihan, a police officer they say is known for his confrontational disposition and bias against the Muslims, gave police orders to arrest every Muslim wearing a suit at the scene. Some of the Muslims were maced.

The F.O.I. were escorted down the street, lined up for identification by the alleged victims and arrested at the scene while the drug dealers were treated for their wounds and let go, according to local Nation officials. Despite the fact that the drug dealers did not identify any of the F.O.I. and police witnessed shots being fired, the Muslims were handcuffed, fingerprinted and photographed. They were charged with four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly and breach of peace while armed. Although police did not see all the men engage in fighting, every Muslim wearing a suit was charged with a crime by way of "joint venture." They were released on personal recognizance. In the local newspaper only the names, ages and addresses of the Muslims were printed.

According to the police report, every F.O.I. has been accused of carrying bricks and assaulting the alleged drug dealers with shod foot. "I will not allow any drug dealers to sell drugs on any property owned by the Muslims. � No one is going to tell me we are the aggressors and are bullies," Min. Yusuf said, at an 11:30 a.m. press conference held the day after at a notorious drug location just a few streets from the incident.

"We did not take the law into our own hands. I have a right to protect my property," the local minister emphasized. "We are not trying to create a melee or riot, we are a peaceful people."

The press conference was held at what police and the community consider a hot spot for illegal drug traffic and prostitution. It lies at the corner of an elementary school and residents charge law enforcement with looking the other way while allowing dangerous drug activity to persist 24-hours a day. The drug corner is located in one of the poorest areas of the city of Springfield.

"If the governor knows there are drugs on this corner, than everyone knows," said Min. Don Muhammad, of nearby Muhammad Mosque No. 11 in Boston, pointing to a sign from the Governor�s Alliance on Drugs. Min. Don led a delegation of Boston F.O.I. to demonstrate support for the mosque in Springfield. They were joined by F.O.I. from Hartford, Conn. and Albany, N.Y., as well as members of the community who galvanized behind the mosque in indignation over the attack on a clergyman. About 150 people attended the event.

Community activists, church leaders, businessmen and residents spoke out in strong support of the Nation of Islam and its efforts to stop drug selling and bring safety and security to an area that for far too long residents say has been neglected.

Min. Yusuf reintroduced his long-time call for Mayor Michael Albano to set up a police precinct in the area.

"What we are seeing in our community is deterioration. Law enforcement is not doing their job," said businessman Al Powers.

"Our kids are at risk as long as we yield to drug dealers. Drugs lead to death � . We cannot have tolerance for drugs at all," said the Rev. Cordella J. Brown of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Many agreed that although the focus has been on crime, the real issue is economic development. "We will never have economic development until we make this a safe place where people want to live and invest," Min. Yusuf said.

Also voicing support of the Muslims� efforts were Imam Rasul Seifullah of Al-Baqi Islamic Center; City Council President Bud Williams; the Rev. Raphael Velazquez of the city Human Relations Commission; Barbara Jefferson, retired principal of DeBerry Elementary School; Darryl Moss, youth coordinator with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center; the Rev. Karen Rucks of the Pastoral Council; York Mayo of Habitat for Humanity, Jay Griffin of Northern Educational Service and other community residents and leaders.

The accused Muslims, all of whom pleaded innocent, were arraigned the day after the incident and a pretrial date was set for August 2. The case has been turned over to the Hampden County District Attorney�s Office.

"Something definitely needs to be done when drug dealers have more power than the people trying to do something," remarked Imam Ishmael Ali of the Sunni community. He expressed concern that the day before, the mosque had been fired upon four times.

Many of the supporters expressed the desire to see the community come together and dialogue with all involved to come to a resolution.

Min. Yusuf issued a challenge to the media not to print reports that exacerbated tensions in the community. He also challenged City Council President Bud Williams to conduct a public hearing and subpoena the police chief to investigate the matter.

"What he (Min. Yusuf) has asked for isn�t unreasonable. There is no real reason why we can�t stop drugs and violence in this community," Mr. Williams said.