Posted on 11/30/2005 10:19:06 AM PST by Dashing Dasher
OAKLAND – A man linked to a black Muslim group was among two men who turned themselves in to police for their roles in vandalizing a pair of stores for selling alcohol to blacks, authorities said.
Investigators said Tuesday it was too soon to say whether the vandals were connected to Monday's fire and kidnapping of clerk at the same store ransacked by a gang of black men in suits and bow ties three days earlier.
Yusef Bey IV, 19, and Donald Cunningham, 73, turned themselves in to face charges including robbery, felony vandalism and terrorist threats, Oakland Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan said. Police obtained warrants charging four others with similar crimes and expected to make arrests.
No arrests have been made in the kidnapping or the fire. Store employee Abdel Hamdan was found safe in the trunk of a car Monday, about 12 hours after the fire, as police sought to get to the bottom of the attacks.
The fire destroyed the store's merchandise and caused major structural damage to the building, police said.
"We're very happy that he came back safe," said Frank Hernen, manager of New York Market. "We don't want this to go further."
Last week, Hamdan's store and the nearby San Pablo Liquor store were vandalized by about a dozen men who smashed liquor bottles and toppled food racks while demanding that both stores stop selling alcohol to black people, authorities said.
The incident at San Pablo Liquor was caught on surveillance tape, and police said they believe the same men trashed the New York Market.
Suspicion immediately fell on the Nation of Islam, group of black Muslims whose members often wear suits and bow ties. However, Jordan said the suspects are not members of the Nation of Islam. He held out the possibility that they belong to a separate black Muslim group based in Oakland.
In 1993, Muslims affiliated with that separate group, which operates the Your Black Muslim Bakery store chain and whose members also wear suits and bow ties, were involved in a similar incident at a Richmond liquor store, police said. Bey has been linked to that group, police said.
Investigators were looking into the recent vandalism as hate crimes because the store owners are of Middle Eastern background and are Muslims, Jordan said Monday.
"In both incidents, the suspects entered the store and questioned why a Muslim-owned store would sell alcoholic beverages when it is against the Muslim religion," police said in a statement Monday.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is taking part in the investigation.
Police and city officials have urged other liquor merchants and store owners not to purchase firearms or engage in "vigilante" behavior.
"I wouldn't want people to expose themselves to harm," said Oakland City Council member Desley Brooks.
The owner of Sam's Liquor Store said he doesn't sell fortified wine like many small urban markets and wasn't taking additional precautions.
"I'm not worried that they are going to attack me – my business is very legit," said owner Sam Wong.
(oh... and Sam Wong isn't a Muslim - FYI)
Black Muslims are attacking Arab Muslims because the Arab Muslims are selling alcoholic beverages to Blacks.
You "expose yourself to harm" when you are unarmed or are unwilling to use force to protect yourself and/or your property.
Farking leftists.
Who the hell do they think sold them to the Dutch?
The son of the founder of the bakery? Not very surprising if so.
Something serious "ping".
This is happening all over the Oakland area.
The video was shown on TV this morning - looked like Louis Farrakan's followers. They walk in and start yelling at the owners of the stores about selling liquor to muslims and then start smashing liquor bottles with what looked a crow bar.
Bizarre...
Not surprise.
"I wouldn't want people to expose themselves to harm,"..... I think getting kidnapped and stuck in a trunk for 12 hours falls under the "harm" Category. If the guy had a gun, maybe (A) There wouldn't have been a kidnapping, and(B) there wouldn't have been an arson. Methinks the council person shoul wise up.
I was just happy it wasn't the Raider fans!
I know not too many bright light bulbs in that group. Sad to say
Before the authorities start blaming the victims, maybe they ought to consider that it is their failure to do their own jobs that results in "vigilante" behavior.
Easy to figure out. The liquor store owner didn't buy his tickets to the annual Farrakhan banquet.
Agreed.
I love the end of the story when the interview a NON-Muslim owner and try to make is sound like random violence.
The author of this article is clearly missing the point.
Wong, you wong. It doesn't matter to these lunies whether or not your business is legit. They don't have to live by your rules. The are pseudo-muzzles and they make up their own rules and you had damn well better follow them or they are going to smash, trash, and burn your stuff. BE AFRAID if, as someone said, you don't have your own firepower.
I better get my check in before the show up at my door with a crow bar and an attitude.
Sick freaks.
If Nation of Islam (NOI) doesn't want blacks to be able to buy alcohol, is the NOI considered racist?
If they're not with Nation of Islam, how come they look just liek NOI and NOI is defending them?
More for us?
makes a lot of sense don't it....
[crickets chirping]
lol...
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