Long Branch Stand Up!! A Call for Unity, A Call for Peace!!

On Tuesday May 31, Brother John Muhammed, a representative of the honorable minister Louis Farrakhan, served as the keynote speaker at the Adam Bucky James Community Center located at the housing authority complex in Long Branch, NJ.

A Call for unity

Muhammad’s message was for peace and unity within the black community.

His goal was to provide dialogue between the Director of the Long Branch Housing Authority Mr. Tyrone Garrett and the people of the community.

The major issue is a banned list that is keeping long time residents of the community from being part of the newly built Adam Bucky James Community Center. The issue today is that parents, who were previously banned from the housing authority property, now have kids that are a part of the community. They now want the opportunity to participate and to be a part of the newly revitalized community and be productive citizens in their community. Because of this banned list, they cannot participate or be part of their kids experience at the center.

The chant of a “second chance” was bellowed out by people of the community. “Everyone deserves a second chance!” said lifelong Long Branch resident Mr. Kevin Gillard said. Gillard is a concerned citizen who is fighting for the rights to have the opportunity to be able to use the community center along with his sons. Gillard talked about unity in the community and how it hurts when you are made to feel like you are not a part of a community after generations and generations of his own family residing in the city. He assertively talked about being able to have use of Second Baptist Church, the only religious institution that he knows really serves the people of the housing projects and Long Branch’s long time African American community. He voiced concerned on how is it possible for a long time institution not allowing long time residents of the area use of the church for burial purpose. “This is the only church we know!”, Gillard expressed.

Muhammed was able to hit the problem right on the nose as board of education leaders, scientists, media, school teachers and common concerned citizens listened as he broke down some of the problems and what needs to happen in this situation.

First, he was able to get Mr. Garrett and John Rogers to come up and sit together as a starting point of communication. It is painful for Mr. Rogers, who is the owner of JJ Hoops and whose family are life long residents for over 75 years in Long Branch, has to watch others come into the community center to use the facility to run programs and he has not been afforded the same opportunity. And he has a no criminal background at all. It has been a long battle that has been brewing between Mr. Garrett, himself and the housing authority. Mr. Rogers family dates back when the housing authority was occupied by predominantly whites only. For people in the community to be shut out of the place where they grew up gives the community strength to come out to have their voices heard!

Using his communication ability, Muhammed expressed the ills and good about our society and gracefully used the bible and Koran to back up his story. He told the people that it is time to come together and work out our problems because it is the young people that are confused and they are the ones that really need us.

The meeting was a success because it bought about the first wave of communications between Mr. Garrett and the people of the community.

The spirit and God was very present at the Adam Bucky James Community Center. And I must say that Mr. Bucky James ,who was honorable man, must have been smiling down on the progress that was made. He believed in peace and love of all people.

Jersey Voices will keep you updated on the people’s concerns and if they worked out the problems.

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