|
Controversial U.S. Activist Dies
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (IslamOnline) - Khalid Muhammad, a fiery speaker and a one time top lieutenant in Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam (NOI) died Saturday in an Atlanta hospital, confirmed his associates, bringing to end two days of confusion concerning his condition.
Malik Zulu Shabazz , spokesman for Muhammad's New Black Panther Party said, "Minister and Doctor Khalid Abdul Muhammad has made his transition to the ancestors."
Officials declined to comment on the reason for his death but he reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage last week.
Muhammad had at first been reported to be in the hospital with the reported brain hemorrhage on Friday, but still alive. It was later stated that he had passed away, but conflicting reports claimed he was still alive. However, it was finally announced that he had passed late Saturday night.
"Our hearts are aching. We are sad, but at the same time we are happy because we know that his place is secure," said Shabazz after the announcement of Muhammad's death.
During his 20 years in the spotlight, Khalid Muhammad, 53, often enraged many for his comments against Jews, whites, Roman Catholics and homosexuals.
He became one of Farrakhan's top lieutenants in the Nation of Islam in 1981 and served at NOI mosques in New York and Atlanta for many years. In 1991, he was appointed Farrakhan's personal assistant.
He was fired from his job in 1993 after he refereed to Jews as "bloodsuckers" and made alleged inflammatory remarks against Roman Catholics, homosexuals and whites. In 1994, he was shot and wounded by a black gunman while giving a speech at the University of California at Riverside.
In an April 1994 speech he referred to Jews as "honkies" in front of an audience of 2000 and said, "I am going to be like a pit bull. That is the way I am going to be against the Jews. I am going to bite the tail of the honkies."
In 1998, Muhammad organized his first Million Youth March in Harlem, New York, which drew 10,000 marchers.
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the same man who refused to offer Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an invitation to an event in which all world leaders had been invited in the late 1990s, tried to suspend the march permit, but Muhammad won in court and the march was allowed.
The event ended in clashes with police, as Muhammad was heard urging the marchers to "beat the hell" out of cops "if they so much as touch you."
There was mixed reaction to Muhammad's death. An official statement from Farrakhan read, "We, in the Nation of Islam, mourn the loss of Brother Khalid Muhammad. We remember with gratitude the work and the good that he did to help the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in the rebuilding work of the Nation of Islam."
"We call on all who loved Brother Khalid and who benefited from his work to double the pace in our struggle for the complete liberation of black people in America and throughout the world."
Todd Gutnick of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith said, Khalid Muhammad will be remembered for his anti-Semitism, racism, bigotry and hate mongering. This is his legacy."
Sonny Carson, a black activist told the New York Post, "Mr. Giuliani, and all who have waited for this day, we want you to know that a giant has passed."
|
