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Ashahed is an advocacy and investigative journalist prepared to ask the difficult questions, create solutions & eradicate ossified minds.This is his blog. Here are some of his thoughts.
10.27.2010
10.21.2010
Tampa Holy Day of Atonement 2010 Coverage in this week's edition of The Final Call (FinalCall.com)
NATIONAL
Triumph in Tampa!
Farrakhan discusses motives behind the historic Million Man March
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_7359.shtml
TAMPA, Fla.—The huge floor of the convention center was so full that members of the Fruit of Islam rushed to set up extra chairs as thousands turned out to hear the leader of the Nation of Islam speak in an area known for sunny weather, palm trees, waterways, lush greenery and vacations.
But Sunday, Oct. 17, was no day off: It was devoted to a keynote address by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to mark the 15th anniversary of the Million Man March, which drew nearly two million Black men to the nation's capitol, and a Holy Day of Atonement built on the principles of atonement, reconciliation and responsibility.
Million Man March still resonates 15 years later
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_7365.shtml
TAMPA, Fla.—From Muslims and Black men who gathered on the National Mall October 16, 1995 to those who have only heard tales of a magical day of peace and women proud of changes seen in husbands, fathers, sons, grandfathers and cousins, the Million Man March and the spiritual messages of atonement, reconciliation and responsibility and practical community building remain valuable.
Outrage over Justice Dept. exoneration of FBI agents in Muslim leader's death
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_7364.shtml
DETROIT—Family members of Imam Luqman Abdullah, along with religious and civil rights leaders, have reacted with shock and anger to the U.S. Department of Justice's exoneration of four FBI agents who shot the Islamic leader to death Oct. 28, 2009.
INTERNATIONAL
In Uganda: War on terror American style?
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/World_News_3/article_7350.shtml
The aftermath of twin bombs in Kampala, Uganda that killed 76 people on July 11 has taken a new turn reminiscent of post Sept. 11, 2001 reactions by the United States government, when civil liberties and due process were discarded to seek and apprehend those responsible for the attack in which nearly 3,000 people died.
Afghanistan: A war with no end
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/World_News_3/article_7345.shtml
On Oct. 7, 2001, the invasion of Afghanistan started as a strike-back for the 9-11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., however, going into its 10th year the war has yet to ameliorate the situation. Observers claim the U.S.-led occupation of Afghanistan and the terrible violence engulfing Pakistan is the combination of 30 years of American intrigue in Central Asia to establish strategic and economic dominance over the resource-rich region.
PERSPECTIVES
Beware: The Onslaught of the Flood of Lies
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Columns_4/article_7348.shtml
The deluge of a flood of lies has now begun as the mainstream press, led by the notoriously yellow journalism of the New York Post suggested that some secret meeting occurred between the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, New Black Panther Leader Attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss what's wrong with the world.
10.20.2010
10.13.2010
Holy Day of Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility (FinalCall.com)
WWW.FINALCALL.COM
Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility
CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - On Oct. 16 the Nation of Islam will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the historic Million Man March.
The commemoration, which also serves as the Holy Day of Atonement, will be held this year in Tampa, Fla.
The keynote address is scheduled to be delivered Oct. 17 by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan at the Tampa Convention Center located in the heart of the downtown area.
“We want to thank the laborers in the Seventh Region beginning with Minister Rasul Muhammad, his staff and of course the laborers in Tampa and the Clearwater, Fla., area and the Believers there who are working very hard,” said Minister Ishmael Muhammad, national assistant to Minister Farrakhan. “The choice of Tampa by Minister Farrakhan was primarily because of the progressive study group there and the Minister wanted to honor the laborers and Believers there by hosting the 15th anniversary of the Million Man March in that city.”
Thousands are expected from all across the United States and abroad to participate in workshops, seminars and vendors will have the opportunity to display their products and services to an enthusiastic crowd in a warm and friendly environment. Many of the convention center's meeting rooms provide picturesque views of the waterfront.
Ademah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam's special events coordinator, said the special events committee is enthusiastically working around the clock to make this year's commemoration a success.
“The spirit is high in Tampa. People are talking about the event and the Tampa community has never seen Minister Farrakhan live in person, so they are really hyped about it and looking forward to it,” said Ademah Muhammad. “The spirit throughout the Tampa Bay area is also really sky high and they are working very, very hard.”
The program for the members of the Nation of Islam promises to be enlightening and informative.
Rasul Muhammad, the Seventh Region representative of Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam has nightly conference calls in Florida to ensure that all of the details are worked out.
Ademah Muhammad said hotels in the area are filling up, and the prices can't be beat. With Tampa being a resort town, many Believers are choosing to get in early and make the commemoration a family vacation.
A majority of the hotels have complementary shuttles from the Tampa Airport and many hotels are within three miles of the airport.
(For up-to-date information regarding the schedule of events, registration and to purchase tickets to the main event, visit www.noi.org.)
10.04.2010
9.22.2010
Sins of the Fathers: A Three Part Series Examining Black Victims of Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests (FinalCall.com)
At the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, I wrote a series of articles focusing on Black victims of sexual abuse by Catholic Priests titled "Sins of the Fathers." The response was overwhelming, not only in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom, parts of Africa and the Middle East. With the new allegations of impropriety reaching all the way to The Vatican, I am re-posting ese articles on my blog in hopes that you will read them, and pass the information on to others. If more are aware of what is taking place, it can be stopped.
Sins of the Fathers: A Three Part Series Examining Black Victims of Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests (FinalCall.com)
***
Black Victims of Sex Abuse Charge Inaction and Cover-up by the Catholic Church (Part 1)
CHICAGO-David Nolan, now 42, said his sordid tale of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest began when he was 13 years old. He said the priest used his position of authority and power to have sex with dozens of young boys at will, and seemingly without fear of punishment.
“We put them (priests) on pedestals almost to the point where I thought they were more than superhuman in a sense,” said Mr. Nolan. At one time, Mr. Nolan tried to tell, however, when he went to the Chicago Police, they called him a liar and laughed at him. Scared with no resources and no protection, Mr. Nolan's victimizer forced him to recant. Even after many complaints by members of the congregation, his victimizer was transferred to a bigger church on Chicago's Southside.
“No one cares about young Black boys being molested, but I'm reading in the news everyday how holy hell is being raised by White victims being sexually abused,” said Mr. Nolan, who said a young male relative was also sexually abused by the same priest.
Read the full article here: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6632.shtml
***
The Silent Screams of Victims of Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests (Part 2)
CHICAGO-Alicia Sample told The Final Call about a six-year ordeal in which she was used as a sex slave, gang raped, sodomized and physically beaten regularly by Fr. Fitzmaurice and others, at his behest.
Fr. Fitzmaurice had a group of young men that acted as his henchmen, and he would sometimes get Alicia out of class during school hours and order Alicia to report to what he called “the clubhouse.”
Alicia said the priest would order her to perform oral sex on them and tell them to beat her if she refused. He would threaten to have her and her siblings removed from school if she refused to comply with his deviant sexual wishes.
“They would penetrate me sometimes with objects, they would anally rape me,” said Alicia. “Sometimes, they would take all of my clothes and hang me out of the second floor window of the clubhouse and threaten to drop me and say ‘who is going to miss your n----r ass if we drop you?' and my life was just flashing before me,” Alicia said.
Read the full article here: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6698.shtml
***
Seeking Justice: A Crisis in the Catholic Church (Part 3)CHICAGO-The Roman Catholic Church in America has been reeling for the past decade with shocking instances of sexual abuse at the hands of members of its sacred and secretive clergy.
The most recent embarrassment for the Catholic Church reached right into The Vatican. Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness—an exclusive group of servants inside the Pope's household—was caught by law enforcement officials via wiretap allegedly arranging trysts with male prostitutes.
Multi-million dollar settlements in response to sex scandals are reported with regularity, almost daily in the media, and stretch across the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland and Rome. However, you don't have to go that far to hear sordid tales of abuse and misconduct, nor do you have to travel far to see the twisted emotional wreckage that exists in the lives of many of the victims.
Read the full article here: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6823.shtml
9.09.2010
Shadia Mansour recently detained at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel
Shadia Mansour
(Photo: TEI Enlightener Service)
I want to pass on some information I received via email from Shadia Mansour's management company giving me some details on what sounds like typical Israeli human rights violations. Any body who is familiar with Ms. Mansour and her lyrical content, you may not be surprised by this, however, it is important for what took place to be known just in case something else happens to her or any other revolutionary artist who lines up on the side of oppressed people and gives a voice to those who cry out for liberty and justice.
Here is what I received from her publicist verbatim:
On Saturday, September 4, 2010, in Ben Gurion Airport, Israel. British-born Palestinian Hip Hop artist, Shadia Mansour was surrounded by airport security and "intelligence officers" armed with guns. Ms. Mansour was told to return to her luggage after a usual baggage x-ray and multiple searches, when eight agents ran towards her, weapons drawn and pointed, they aggressively kicked away her bags and surrounded her.
The eight agents had their guns pointed at Ms. Mansour while having her stand in the same position for one hour in suspicion of a bomb being planted in her microphone which they had in their possession for ten minutes already. Ms. Mansour assured the agents the microphone was used for recording music and was then asked by an officer to sing her lyrics to him, they screamed at her and asked "who she worked for, who bought the microphone, what does she sing about" and as the agents and officers shouted over one another she was also told, "we have found something planted in the microphone" all this transpiring while airport goers observed the entire ordeal.
Although standard for Palestinians to be strip searched upon departure of Israel, Ms Mansour was made to lay down on her back as female agents pushed aggressively into her joints and neck. Once the female agents finished searching her the microphone was returned and Ms. Mansour was directed to her flight en route to London as though nothing had happened.
Ms. Mansour told us "For a few minutes I really thought they were going to take my life, the way they handled the situation literally made me feel like I was an attempted suicide bomber that had just been captured or something". No legal action has yet been taken.
I will keep you updated.
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