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Comfort and encouragement for children at Philadelphia school

By Gregory Muhammad | Last updated: Sep 25, 2018 - 10:48:31 AM

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Children from McKinley Elementary School in Philadelphia. Standing in the back row are Gregory Muhammad, NOI Prison Reform Minister for the Delaware Valley Region, Student Minister Lamond Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 12, Brother Jessel X of the NOI Prison Reform Ministry DVR and four members of the Zulu Nation Gang Reunion Organization.
Gun violence on Philadelphia streets continues to take innocent lives of children. Student Minister Lamond Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 12 started a “Stop the Killing: Save Our Sons Men Only Meeting,” in Philadelphia, in June earlier this year.

Student Minister Lamond Muhammad requested that the Delaware Valley Region (DVR) of the Nation of Islam (NOI) Prison Reform Ministry be a part of this tour. The tour started at Bishop Kris Halsey’s Watch God Move Ministries Church located in the northeast section of Philadelphia. Bishop Halsey welcomed us to his church which demonstrates “Muslim/Christian Unity.” This is patterned after the demonstration of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

It was a successful first leg of the “Stop the Killing: Save Our Sons Men Only Meeting” tour. On July 25, during our promoting of the next tour stop, I received a call from Brother Shawn Frogg Banks, the founder of PhillyWood (Philadelphia to Hollywood) who counsels and mentors children. Brother Shawn changed his life from the streets, became an actor in Hollywood and voiceover artist in the music industry.

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Front row: Bro. Shawn Frogg Banks, founder of Philly-Wood. Second row: Student Min. Gregory Muhammad (5th from left), Student Minister Lamond Muhammad (4th from left), NOI Prison Reform Ministry DVR Youth Representative Jessel X (3rd from left). The remaining brothers are members of the Zulu Nation Gang Reunion Organization.
He requested the presence of the NOI Prison Reform Ministry DVR to take part in a counseling session with children at the McKinley Elementary School where the children are dealing with “pain and trauma,” after a shooting and killing took place during the week of July 18. We honored his request. In turn, we requested for Student Minister Lamond Muhammad to accompany me at McKinley Elementary School to address the children.

According to a Channel 10 NBC news report, gunfire rang out just before midnight along North 4th Street near Susquenhanna Ave. striking a group of people outside on the sidewalk and some cars parked on the block, Philadelphia police said.

Tyree Bates was shot in the head and died hours later at the hospital. Bullets also struck boys ages 11, 14 and 15 and a 24 year old man, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.  The Philadelphia Police Homicide Captain Jack Ryan stated, “It was probably related to some sort of neighborhood dispute.” Bro. Shawn said that Tyree Bates was not into the streets and was one of his star basketball team players. 

Brother Shawn Frogg Banks introduced the NOI Prison Reform Ministry DVR Student Minister Lamond Muhammad and the Zulu Nation Gang Reunion Organization to address the children with comforting stories and encouraging them to always remember “Tyree,” for the good he did for his community and the good impression he had on them.

The children received our message with happiness and smiles across their faces. Bro. Shawn, who’s a Christian, declared that he is united with our efforts to help “Stop the Killings” and "Saving Our Sons.”

On this same day, later in the evening, Bro. Shawn and those with him came out to support Student Minister Lamond Muhammad’s “Stop the Killing: Save Our Sons Men Only Meeting,” held at the historical Church of the Advocate located at 18th and Diamond Street in North Philadelphia. The Church of the Advocate hosted Black Liberation meetings back in the 60s and 70s at the church. The Men Only Meeting was a success. The men and organization leaders agreed to work together in the streets, namely, Bilal Qayyum, founder of Father’s Day Rally Committee, Shawn Frogg Banks, founder of PhillyWood, Samad Starks, founder of Express Yourself, ODAAT (One Day at A Time), and the NOI Prison Reform Ministry, DVR.

WE MOVE FORWARD WITH STOP THE KILLING: SAVE OUR SONS ALL MEN MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA, PA.

—Gregory Muhammad
NOI Student Regional Prison Reform Minister for the Delaware Valley Region