Fred Hampton, the former deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, speaking during 1969 in Chicago. The film "The Murder of Fred Hampton" has recently been re-released on DVD.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Good evening, comrades and friends. What an honor it is for me to be here today and speak for Imam Abdullah. You know, as I think about his killing, an old African song comes to mind, Kumbaya, My Lord. And I have been singing that song in my head because Lord knows, it’s time for You to come here in Detroit, my Lord.
I read this script, but it was prepared from my heart! I’m not here for medals, applause or to impress – but speak the truth!
My deepest condolences and support go out to Mujahid, Omar, Jamil and the family. For I want them to know that they are not alone in this time of sorrow and thirst for justice! We unfailingly support them. Although I did not know their father, I feel like I knew him.
Because he rose from a struggle we are all too familiar with. The struggle – to get the devils’ feet off our necks and treat us as equals.
We have not overcome that and don’t we dare think we did with the election of Obama. That is an illusion! For the ruling class is still in control!
We are far from victory, as every struggle from foreclosures, evictions, and massive unemployment shows us – we aren’t equals with the CEOs in the eyes of the government, the banks and the corporations. And we sure as hell aren’t equals in the eyes of the racist ruling class who continue to steal, cheat, lie and murder us to keep us feeling helpless. That is the nature of the capitalist beast.
Injustices and cruelties under this capitalist system such as these are what Imam Abdullah fought against. He fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless and gave those less fortunate hope and reason to believe that “yes we can” overcome and “yes we can” become self-empowered to do for ourselves! That, I submit, is NOT a terrorist. A terrorist who struggled to pay the gas bill to keep his mosque heated was a threat to the government? I see.
They labeled him a terrorist while allowing the Michigan militia to openly practice war games in the woods not far from Detroit in preparation for a war against this same government! They labeled him a terrorist, and shoot him dead in cold blood while allowing Rush Limbaugh and other right wing whackos to openly desire to see a black president killed for being black. Uh huh, I see!
No, that’s not why they killed the imam! They cold bloodedly gunned this father down to teach Detroit -- one huge plantation – a lesson that we better not dare aspire to be free and believe we will ever do better by doing for ourselves because if we do, this is what they will do to us! Anyone who dares instill in the people a belief that they can self-govern and better themselves is a threat to the capitalist structure.
Indeed, the bells that tolled for the imam that day may very well toll for the rest of our people tomorrow if they don’t wake up and see the racist disingenuity behind his killing!
Reverend Keith Butler better wake up! Reverend Wendell Anthony better wake up! Reverend Jim Holy – wake up! Because these capitalist devils don’t care about you tap dancing to their tune today; come sun up tomorrow and you dare envision a people of self-empowerment in this country which they stole from its rightful people and you will meet the fate of the imam as well, unless we stick together and defend you!
I have asked myself where is the outrage and indignation at this act of murder? Why aren’t people making some noise? Wanna know why? Because when rev took to the pulpit on Sunday, he uttered not one word condemning this act of murder! Rev is not making any noise, and that’s why the people are still asleep! But lo and behold, Reverend Butler and Holly, I pray they never meet the fate imam met that day!
Yes, our people are asleep. They are intoxicated from the distractions in this society which the capitalist devils have planted to keep them feeling hopeless, dependent and feeling there is nothing we can do to bring about a change.
The drugs -- peace be upon the imam for his valor in fighting against it in our community -- the music and movie videos that glorify drugs, sex and violence, and degrade our women, the credit dependent way of living to keep us penniless and dependent on the Federal Reserve (whom they want us to believe is soon coming on a white horse to save the world from a global economic collapse), and worrying about what can I do to win the Lotto, are all evil designs to keep the masses helpless and dependent on the capitalist system – all the while making them politically ignorant.
Funny how as I ride the buses in this city I listen to people talk about everything from the sports games, concerts and ways to get money. But I have yet to hear anyone in public everyday conversation say one thing to condemn the imam’s killing.
Many of them don’t know who he was or what even happened. They can name every player on the Pistons’ team and tell you great stories about their athletic ability, but don’t know and don’t care about who this great man was! The Pistons, who make millions, while we struggle just to pay our bills! Yes, it’s intoxicating!
Funny too, how this past Thursday when the call went out to the people to come join you, brothers Jamil and Mujahid, at St. Andrews’ Hall, that same evening tickets were SOLD OUT to the Puff Daddy concert at the MGM Grand here in Detroit. Yet the house was not that full at St. Andrews Hall for a call to justice.
The people went to the Puff Daddy concert to eat the fruit from the poisonous tree – the fruit to intoxicate them! There should have been a line snaking around St. Andrews Hall with us Thursday evening saying, “Hurry, please, open the door! Let me in and take a bite of the fruit of truth; the fruit of justice!
Let me in, please, so I can take hold of the imam’s torch and spread his message of self-empowerment and self-worth and do good things for my people!” That’s the message I hope we all get from his tragic demise. Spread his message of believing not in some savior coming one day on a white cloud, a white horse or the White House.
Forget it! It is not going to happen! But believe in ourselves. Take hold of our own future; our own destiny and better our lives by reaching out; love one another and help one another. Reach out and help a brother up!
I am saddened with anger, ya’ll. When we make heroes out of men like Puff Daddy – another millionaire -- while giving not a moment’s notice to a man as great as the imam. Now can you see the capitalists at work here?
And not give a moment’s notice to the revolutionary heroes like Fidel, Chavez, Che Guevara, Morales and Zelaya – leaders who, like the iman, truly fought to lift the people from their struggles.
In closing, let me end this speech with a word of inspiration as we fight this injustice from my comrade Fidel himself – “¡Sigues hasta la Victoria! [Onward to victory!]
I love you all and thank you.
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