NEW ROCHELLE, NY (December 11, 2022) — A “summit” held to discuss black-on-black gun violence in the wake of the murder of James Caldwell, Jr., who performed under the name Boogie Nation, turned into a recruiting platform for the Nation of Islam.
The first speakers were Caldwell’s family members who spoke about the devastating impact of the violent death of “Boogie”.
They spoke about how murder can happen to anyone and asked why there is no outrage over black on black violence but if “someone outside our race kills one of us, it’s on”. With black-on-black violence there is silence. There is nothing more anti-black than killing another black person.
The Race for Grace event is underway at the Ossie Davis Theatre at @NRPLibrary, a summit on black-on-black violence in New Rochelle, organized in the wake of the death of James Caldwell, Jr.
— Robert Cox (@RobertCox) December 10, 2022
His family on stage; his last tweet “It’s bigger than me”.https://t.co/D2ctNicjlI pic.twitter.com/Hg7o0DjV9m
After the Caldwell family spoke about black-on-black violence the event slowly drifted away from that topic to conflict resolution, a lack of government programs, to money, to the idea that too many black people are comfortable with White Supremacy, to a proposal that if the Nation of Islam patrolled the streets of New Rochelle the black-on-black violence would end immediately.
An exercise on Conflict Resolution led by Burns, Assistant Director of School Based Programs at The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. She is a social worker who runs programs during the lunch hour in Isaac E. Young Middle School and Albert Leonard Middle School. The exercise consisted of passing a “Conflict Resolution ball” around with volunteers catching the ball reading and responding to statements written on the ball. Among them was Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert.
Other speakers included NAACP President Minister Mark McLean who said there was money at City Hall and a desire to give it out, said we need to organize to demand money, City willing to meet that demand.
New Rochelle Muncipal Housing Authority Executive Director Angela Farrish, City of New Rochelle Director of Economic Development Jorge Ventura also spoke.
An attendee spoke about financial literacy.
Brother Arthur Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, pictured below with Louis Farrakhan, was among the featured speakers.
Members of a Nation of Islam Drill Team took to the stage to perform.
It was difficult at times to hear exactly what was being said over the noise of shoes stomping and the crowd cheering but here is our best understanding:
For war, present salute
War!
War!
War!
War!
Farrakhan!
Farrakhan, that’s just the man that taught us, man, and that shows us —(applause).
Salute
Elijah!
Raise front
Farrakhan!
There’s a time for peace
(There’s a time for peace)
And a time for war
(And a time for war)
Here the guards
(Here the guards)
Here the guards
(Here the guards)
Knocking at your door
(Knocking at your door)
You need the FOI
(You need the FOI)
To the day we die
(To the day we die)
The Fruit of Islam (FOI) is the security and disciplinary wing of the Nation of Islam (NOI). It has also been described as its paramilitary wing. The FOI was created at the founding of the Nation of Islam and existed until the death of Elijah Muhammad in 1975 when it was disbanded. The FOI was reestablished by Louis Farrakhan with him as Commander-in-Chief.
Greenburgh mural meant to celebrate Black history, BLM becomes symbol of hate to some
Brother Cliff Abrams spoke about his leadership in installing a controversial mural under a I-287 underpass in Greenburgh, NY.
Abrams said 3 or 4 Jewish people had a problem with the mural but he refused to remove the image of Farrakhan, to enthusiastic applause.
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner has said he wanted to paint over the mural which was approved without a depiction of Farrakhan.
The Westchester Jewish Council has denounced the mural:
Farrakhan is one of the country’s most prominent antisemites, and his long and public history of anti-Jewish and other bigoted comments makes his inclusion in this project completely improper.
The dispute over the mural is at an impasse with an attorney for the artist threatening a federal lawsuit.
Greenburgh Black Lives Matter mural suffering damage
Abrams said he works with the Greenburgh Library but now the library will not give him money because of Farrakhan.
Abrams decried what “The White Man” will allow Black people to say. He will allow you to say “I’m bad, I’m this…black woman is running everything and I always hear a black woman saying it. I don’t hear no White woman saying it, I don’t get no Asian woman saying it, this ain’t, please don’t take it wrong…”
Two prominent political figures were on hand for the event. Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert who is running to be the next Mayor of New Rochelle and former New Rochelle Board of Education President Lianne Merchant who is running to replace Ramos-Herbert as the representative for Council District 3.
Ramos-Herbert did not respond to a request for comment.
Organizations involved included the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle, New Rochelle Muncipal Housing Authority, New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP, and City of New Rochelle Development Office. The New Rochelle Police Department sent an officer to observe but not participate.
RELATED:
29-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot in New Rochelle
Arrest Warrant Issued in New Rochelle Murder of James “Boogie Nation” Caldwell
Lincoln Ave Community Comes Together to Celebrate the Life of James Caldwell (Boogie Nation)
New York State Crime Stoppers Offers $2,500 Reward in Boogie Nation Shooting Death
EDITOR’S NOTE: I want to apologize for promoting this event. In hindsight, I was misled as to what this event was about and certainly misled as to the heavy hand of the Nation of Islam in and around the event. Had I known I would not have promoted the event.
The flyer provided to me for publication stated the following:
The purpose of this event is to bring awareness to black on black violence in the community that has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen if We do not address the problem and tind a solution.
I do know Brother Cliff Abrams a bit. He has always been amiable in our conversations but I was unaware of his role in the Farrakhan mural controversy in Greenburgh or that it would be the focus of his 10 minute presentation. I did not know Brother Arthur Muhammad of the Nation of Islam at all, or that there would be a drill team repeatedly honoring Louis Farrakhan.
UPDATE: We have reached out to the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle, the City School District of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Board of Education, the City of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Police Department, the NAACP New Rochelle Branch, the New Rochelle Muncipal Housing Authority, Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert.
UPDATE: Dr. Corey Reynolds is Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and member of Superintendent Jonathan Raymond’s cabinet. He is President of the president of the Beta Alpha Alpha Scholarship Foundation, the foundation arm of the Westchester chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity which in 2019 initiated Louis Farrakhan as a full member of Omega Psi Phi.
UPDATE 12/12/23 3:15 PM
Our questions to Yadira Ramos-Herbert:
Yadira,
I was quite surprised that the event day turned out to be a Nation of Islam event.
You were only member of Council there and, I am told, intending to run for Mayor. You actively participated (the conflict resolution ball toss). I have a few questions.
Would you care to comment on what took place today, why you were involved and what you think was accomplished?
Why was federal grant money obtained through the City of New Rochelle used to fund an NOI event? Should it have been. Would you support further financial support? (NOTE: The City of New Rochelle has since said no City funds were used for this event).
Rev. Farrakhan was cited and quoted repeatedly from the stage. Can you comment on that?
Anything else you wish to add?
Robert Cox
Publisher and Managing Editor
Talk of the Sound
Statement from Yadira Ramos-Herbert
I was not aware that the NOI would present at the event on Saturday as I was not involved in planning the program. I was invited and attended in an effort to hear community feedback on ways to disrupt gun violence in our community. I participated in the part of the program led by a social worker. I left early as I had another engagement and did not see the final presentation (or anything after the anonymous survey results were shared). I unequivocally denounce antisemitism.
UPDATE 12/12/23 3:30 PM
Our questions to the City School District of New Rochelle:
The Boys and Girl Club were part of organizing this event. The specific person said she is in Isaac and Albert at lunch hour working with students. Does the District have any concerns that a partner organization like BGCNR has aligned itself with the Nation of Islam and provided a platform to honor Louis Farrakhan?Would you care to provide a statement?
Robert Cox
Talk of the Sound
Statement from the City School District of New Rochelle:
No, we do not wish to provide a statement. Thanks.
Our questions to the City of New Rochelle:
Would you care to provide a statement?
The City was connected to this event directly and indirectly. Jorge Ventura spoke. NRPD PO Hued attended in an official capacity (in uniform), Angela Farrish and Mark McLean are both on the African-American Advisory and the Rapid Response Team. Mark McLean is on the CPPB and will likely be appointed to a Civilian Complaint Review Board.
There was a great deal of food catered by Beechmont that got paid for somehow.
The BGCNR is both a tenant and a partner. The City Manager appoints the board of the NRMHA. The list goes on but there is enough that the City needs to say something about what took place.
Does the City have any concerns that it has aligned itself directly and indirectly with the Nation of Islam and helped to provide a platform to honor Louis Farrakhan?
No Statement from the City of New Rochelle
The City declined to provide a statement but on background said the City did not provide and funds for the event.
Our questions to New Rochelle Public Library:
Any comment on what took place yesterday?
Statement from the New Rochelle Public Library
The event that took place at the Library on Saturday, December 10 was presented to us as a program to address Black on Black violence in our community. We understood it to be a collaborative effort of local organizations and leaders to bring unity to the community, and typical of the kind of program for which we would normally make the Library’s theater available. We had no knowledge that NOI was part of the program. The Library does not condone or support any organization that espouses hatred, bigotry or intolerance.
UPDATE 12/16: NRPL Director Thomas Geoffino told Talk of the Sound that there was no application filed to use the Ossie Davis Theater for the Grace for our Race event. There was a verbal request, from NRMHA Director Angela Farrish, but no mention of the Nation of Islam. Geoffino said the library board and attorneys are working to develop new policies to prevent a reoccurrence of what took place Saturday including formal applications for any use of library facilities and a new policies and protocols.
Statement from Mayor Noam Bramson
The City had no role in organizing or sponsoring this event, nor was the City aware in advance of the Nation of Islam’s participation. The City officials in attendance were present at the invitation of the organizers and were also unaware in advance of the Nation of Islam’s role. Needless to say, I strongly condemn bigotry and anti-semitism, and reject the organizations that propagate hateful messages in any form. I am confident that this sentiment is shared fully by all public officials in New Rochelle.
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