NBPP Newark Tribute to Bro. Bashir Hameed + More

[nattyreb]

THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY
NATIONAL MINISTRY OF CULTURE
PO BOX 25332, NEWARK, NJ 07101
201-602-0780
October 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Panthers Busy October
On Wednesday, October 15th, the 42nd anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party, the New Black Panther Party will host a special people’s tribute to fallen Panther hero, Basheer Hameed.
The event, entitled “When A Giant Falls,” will feature tributes from several of Hameed’s comrades in the Black Panther Party and from young activists whose lives were deeply touched by his commitment inspite of his confinement.
Hameed passed away on August 30th in a New York State prison, while serving a life sentence after facing a COINTELPRO orchestrated conviction. He was 68.
Hameed was serious Panther pioneer largely responsible for much of the Party’s growth in New Jersey,during the Party’s growth explosion in 1968.He is the fifth Black political prisoner to die while incarcerated in this era.
This special event will take place at Waset Kommuniversity, 271 So.9th Street, Newark. Doors open at 6:30p.m.
Earlier in the afternoon, the New Black Panther Party and the Street Warriors will host a special roundtable on the 2008 Elections. Simply called “The 2008Elections-A Need For Urban Perspectives-The Grassroots Speak,” this roundtable will feature Abdul Muhammad of the Street Warriors, Bro.Bishop, co-founder of Saving OurSelves(SOS), Al-Tariq Onque from Stop Shootin,’ Khasekhmwy of REFAL, Larry Hamm of the Peoples Organization for Progress and Bro. Zayid Muhammad, the New Black Panther Party’s national minister of culture. This special event will be hosted by Basheer Akinyele of the New Black Panther Party and Street Warrior founder Earl ‘the Street Doctor’ Best. It will feature some special quests from area press.
This roundtable will take place at The Street Warriors headquarters, 12 Linden Street, Newark at 5p.m.
On Saturday, October 18th, Ato Bakari, chairman of the Newark chapter of the New Black Panther Party, will be among the panelists in a morning symposium on the Iraq Occupation War.
The event, sponsored by the Peoples Organization for Progress, is entitled “WhichWay To Peace In Iraq,” will be held from 9am to 12 noon at Waset Kommuniversity.
Other participants include elder Aminifu Williams, Lawrence Hamm, POP’s chairman and Ibrahim Ebeid.
On Wednesday, October 29th, the New Black Panther Party will host an important pre-election screening of the moving documentary American Blackout. The film details how both the 2000 and 2004 national elections were stolen by isolating and discounting Black and Latino votes in Florida and in Ohio respectively, and how outspoken former Atlanta-based congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was “sacked” or “de-elected” through loopholes in the Georgia primary system that many feel violates both the letter and the spirit of the Voters Rights Act. Pathetically, a federal judge upheld the legality of the loophole.
Ironically, McKinney, formerly a lifelong Democrat, has reemerged as the Green Party’s candidate for the Presidency.
This special showing and teach-in will take place at Waset Kommuniversity at 6:30p.m.
Looking ahead in other matters, the Battle for the Soul of the South Ward is coming to a head. After hosting a powerful youth and community rally on September 30th in the struggle to prevent an unwanted liquor store from coming into the community, the Bergen Street coalition which includes the New Black Panther Party,
has learned that the Rafael Rodriguez, the prospective liquor establishment owner, has payed the back taxes on the site, removing the technicality that held up the community’s hearing on their opposition before Newark’s Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board. This means that a hearing can now be scheduled at anytime within the next several weeks. The coalition has secured written opposition from area clergy, parents and educators as well as nearly one thousand letters from neighborhood residents and leading organizations. Any area residents, especially parents, educators and clergy,who want to be heard at the hearing should contact Carolyn Kelly- Shabazz of the First Class Championship Center immediately at 973 318 7013 or Zayid Muhammad at201 602 0780…
The Battle for the Soul of Harlem continues…In addition to continuing developing their support for the Harlem 5, referring to the five men, four of whom were Panthers, who arrested trying to defend the community against the unwarranted and totally unprovoked recent attack on the Harlem African Day Parade by the police just this past September 21st, the Harlem chapter of the New Black Panther Party is continuing its investigation into the scope of police attack. It is believed that perhaps several hundred Harlem youths were harassed and arrested on that day.
“To verify this information , we need to hear from people who witnessed the harassment or who were themselves arrested,” explained Shaka Shakur, chairman of the Party’s Harlem chapter.
Some observers believe that the police used the parade as a pretext for a broad sweep of the neighborhood as well as to demoralize area youth from getting involved.
“Nothing could have been more racist and disrespectful of our community. Here our community is showcasing all of its positive traditions with a highly respected parade, and the police use that time to conduct a sweep of our youth,” said an angry Zayid Muhammad, the party’s national minister of culture.
“Black leadership should be in Bloomberg and Raymond Kelly’s face demanding that heads roll for that dangerous brazen disregard for our community,” he finished.
Anyone who wants to share their observations and experiences, please call Shaka Shakur at 917 420-8662..
The Harlem chapter of the New Black Panther Party meets every Sunday at the National Black Theatre, 5th and 126thStreet in Harlem at 12 noon. The Newark chapter of the New Black Panther Party has a new meeting time. The chapter now meets every Wednesday at Waset Kommuniversity, 271 So. 9th Street in Newark at 6:30p.m.
The chapter formerly met on Monday evening.

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