The Political Imprisonment of Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, widely known as H. Rap Brown; one of the most articulate, outspoken critics against the evils of ‘Jim Crow’ americanism,oppression and tyranny ever since the late 1960’s; has been unjustly held as a political prisoner by the u.s. government for the past 22 years. Ever since his early days as a ‘voting-right’ activist working with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee [SNCC], an anti-war protestor and active member of the Lowndes County Freedom Organization that inspired the creation of the Black Panther Party; certain entities amongst the u.s ‘ruling-class’ as well as the corporate and political elite have ‘had-it-out-for-him’.
His arrest on the charge of murder, subsequent conviction and imprisonment for the ‘shooting-death’ of a Fulton County GA. deputy sheriff, on March 16, 2000, are nothing more than punitive, vindictive measures applied as part of a long running vendetta certain key, influential members of the status-quo have held against him as a result of some perceived threat they think he poses.
In 1967 he was classified as a target in the illegal counter-intelligence program dubbed COINTELPRO initiated by J. Edgar Hoover. In July of the same year he attended a rally in Cambridge, Maryland organized by civil-rights icon Gloria Richardson. Not long after giving a fiery speech, shots rang out from which he was hit with buckshot. Later that night an elementary school was set on fire that resulted in 2 blocks and 20 buildings being burnt down. Fearing of being attacked, the whites-only local fire department refused to put out the flames. In spite of the fact that there was no looting carried-out, the event was still labeled a riot. Not surprising, the blame was put on Imam Jamil. Consequently, the u.s. congress passed the ‘Civil Obedience Act of 1968’ that was dubbed the ‘H. Rap Brown Law’. The law made it a crime to travel from one state to another; write a letter; make a telephone call or speak on radio or television with the intent to encourage any person to participate in a riot. Later, in 1968 he was given an honorary post as Minister of Justice for the Black Panther Party. By 1970 he was placed on the FBI’s ‘10 Most Wanted List’ for failing to appear in court to face the charges of inciting to arson and riot in the Cambridge incident. In 1971 he was arrested at the scene of a New York City bar and drug-den where he was involved in a ‘drug-eradication’ operation to shut-it-down. After going to trial and being found guilty on attempted robbery charges, he was sentenced to five years. While in prison he embraced Islam.
Throughout the 1980’s Imam Jamil worked to forge close ties with the leadership of various u.s. based Muslim organizations. In 1993, the process resulted in the formation of the ‘Islamic Shura Council of North America’. This brought together, for the first time, the major Islamic organizations in the country. Not long after its inception, he was elected Amir [leader] of the council. Hence, after three decades of commitment, dedication and service to the cause of truth and justice; his selfless contribution and work towards the upliftment of the poor and oppressed culminated in his being placed in a position to spearhead the Islamic Movement in the u.s.a.
The enemies of GOD and man could not stand for such! Hence, the governments’ relentless dragnet against him, that began in the late 60’s, continued after decades. In 1992, the Masjid and the West End Muslim community where he was Imam were labelled as a base for 'domestic terrorism' by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as part of a curriculum of an 'intensive course' for law enforcement candidates taught by the Georgia State University 'Criminal Justice’ department during that year's summer school semester. There was, absolutely, no merit to the claim. In 1994, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms unsuccessfully attempted to link him to a ‘gun-running’ operation in N.Y.C. In response, it was declared that the community was open and there was nothing to hide. An open invitation was even extended to the B.A.T.F. to visit the masjid.
The case of one William Miles is a classic example of counterintelligence activity directed towards the Imam. In this case he was arrested while with his 7-year old son for shooting a 22yr. old man in the West End community. In time, however, William Miles testified that he was coerced and threatened by the police in an attempt to force him to falsely implicate Imam Jamil in the incident. The charges were eventually dropped after an outpouring of massive community support charging a ‘frame-up’. Ultimately, the Imam, nor anyone else, was ever identified as the shooter. Over a period of 40+ years he was never connected to illegal activity involving any of the bogus cases the government claimed he was an accomplice.
Over numerous past decades, the media has done extensive coverage on his ‘militant background’. They never make mention of the fact, however, that he has been an adherent of the Islamic faith who, in the capacity of Imam [spiritual leader], led an initiative that transformed the crime-ridden section of West End Atlanta into a peaceful, progressive community wherein the widespread presence of criminal elements and out-of-control drug activity was significantly reduced.
In 1999 he began 'The Journey to Whitehall' initiative. It was a comprehensive 'community development' project envisioned to establish a concrete, viable Islamic settlement in Whitehall Alabama. It was to be complete with the sort of institutions and life-support mechanisms capable of sustaining and promoting an alternative to the western influenced way of life dominated by the pursuit of money, materialism and indulgences of the flesh. Furthermore, it would be a base for building a society founded on GOD consciousness and the ability to do good to one another; stemming from the premise that submission to The Creator becomes the source of strength that gives one the ability to be assertive in standing-up against evils that are fostered by the ignorance of disbelief and the rejection of truth. In this manner, Islam would prove to be an effective means of 'self-repair' over-riding the benefit of receiving reparations from those who hold us in contempt as a result of the fact that they held us subdued and subjugated and, therefore, see no need to apologize to or seek forgiveness from those over whom they have exercised complete control and domination.
The stamp of a true, bonafide leader is one’s ability to help people make qualitative improvements in their personal lives; not so much in terms of the mundane, materialistic, superficial trappings that most place so much significance on. Rather, the quality of character that compels a person to lead a life of chastity, decency, dignity, honor, morality and respect. Those in positions of authority were well aware of his organizational and rhetorical skills to mobilize and motivate youth that could be effective all over the country. The 'Journey to Whitehall' initiative had the potential of uplifting people in an unprecedented manner. It was due to this possibility, coupled with his proven leadership ability, that the government conspired to manipulate a situation by which they were, finally, able to neutralize him through imprisonment and silence him once and for all.