Louis Farrakhan Enlists Nation Of Islam To Stop Chicago's Gun Violence, Murder Rate

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 19, 2012 8:20PM

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell penned a column in today’s paper about efforts by the Nation of Islam to help stem the rising tide of gun violence in Chicago in 2012 and the city’s escalating murder rate.

Mitchell writes that Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan was spurred to action following the June murder of Heaven Sutton, a 7-year-old girl who was murdered on the city’s West side in June while selling candy and lemonade on her front lawn. On Monday night the Fruit of Islam, the Nation’s besuited and bow-tied security team, marched through the streets of the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, led by Farrakhan, in a show of strength and engaged with young men in the community

The Nation of Islam worked in concert with the Chicago Police Department’s 6th District and the office of Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th), who told Mitchell the results were stunning.

“They were knocking on doors. The minister would actually tell these young men and women they had the capacity to be leaders, that they were just walking in the wrong direction and he wanted to help them go in the right direction,” Thomas said.

“They really listened. People were thanking me for asking them to come out. And those guys and women who are not doing right, they respect the nation. Those 500 men didn’t have weapons on them. They spoke. It was an awesome sight.”

Thomas told Mitchell the 6th District reported no violence that night and that, if the Nation continued its efforts in the neighborhood, it would free up police officers to tackle other matters.

Farrakhan, who’s been criticized in the past year for his support of the late Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi and for claiming racial hatred would lead to assassination attacks against President Obama, wouldn’t speak directly to Mitchell. He did, however release a statement.

“I do not want to talk at this time because we have done too much talking already and not enough action. So we are focusing our attention on action and we want to let our results, God willing, speak for us.”

The Nation of Islam is setting up similar initiatives in cities across the country where they have mosques.