Louis Farrakhan Hosts Million Man March In Jamaica For The First Time

The Million Man March organized by the Nation of Islam will be staged in Jamaica for the first time since inception in 1995.

The Jamaica Observer reported that Louis Farrakhan, along with his family, arrived in Jamaica last week for the event that is to be held at the National Arena, in Kingston.

Minister Louis Farrakhan is expected to deliver a wide ranging address.

According to The Jamaica Gleaner, Imam David Muhammad, Eastern Caribbean representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam said Jamaica was chosen because of its importance to the Nation of Islam.

“The Caribbean region is recognised by the Honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan as being a beacon of consciousness for the global black liberation struggle, and most of the literature, for example, that has offered guidance to black America has come from the Caribbean.”

He also spoke about Jamaica being apart of the roots of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“Minister Farrakan’s father is from Jamaica and his mother is from St Kitts, and you even have great scholars like J.A. Rogers, who was born in Jamaica, and Walter Rodney, who was from Guyana… All of these came through the Caribbean region and spread through black America.”

Farrakhan is a black religious and social leader. Farrakhan has been both praised and widely criticized for his often controversial political views and outspoken rhetorical style. He has been criticized for remarks that have been perceived as anti-semitic, anti-white, and prejudiced against gays. In October 1995, he organized and led the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., calling on black men to renew their commitments to their families and communities.

The Inquisitr reported last year that Farrakhan’s son was under investigation by an Illinois state law enforcement agency.

The Million Man March has been overshadowed by the Ebola outbreak.

The Gleaner reported that sections of the medical and diplomatic community were concerned about a potential Ebola outbreak given the scores of foreigners who would be attending the event.

Senator A.J. Nicholson, the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, would not offer a comment on any aspect of the Million Man March or the likely plans of the Portia Simpson Miller administration.

However, according to Edmund Bartlett, opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, “the imminent staging of the Million Man March is a matter of concern.”

“The Government should engage the organizers immediately in dialogue to determine its feasibility at this time, in the interest of public-health safety,” he said.

Farrakhan still hosted the march in Jamaica despite these concerns.

[Image via Gallery Hip]