Posted on 01/28/2006 6:35:09 PM PST by csvset
OAKLAND - A march and rally to protest the sale of alcohol at Muslim-owned stores and the proliferation of the corner stores in poor neighborhoods of Oakland drew Muslims from around the Bay Area to downtown Oakland Saturday.
``This is something we've thought about and talked about for a long time,'' said Zachary Twist, of Hayward and Oakland, one of the organizers of the coalition Muslims for a Healthy Community.
The attack on two West Oakland liquor stores last year by men objecting to the sale of alcohol brought the issue forward, Twist said. ``But that is something we totally disagree with. Vigilantism is totally prohibited.''
But when you look at the statistics, 90 percent of Oakland's 350 liquor stores are owned or operated by Muslims - it's amazing and upsetting, Twist said.
``Our religion is crystal clear about alcohol,'' said Kamal Siddiqui, of Berkeley. ''It is forbidden.''
``We're not talking about prohibition, about banning liquor,'' she said. ``We are talking first and foremost to our fellow Muslims who are selling alcohol. They need to stop, and start selling fresh produce instead,'' Siddiqui said.
The rally ended with Muslim prayers led by clerics, including Mohammed Rajabally, president of the Islamic Society of the East Bay in Fremont, and Zaki Zareef, of Jamma-Tussalaam Community of Peace in Oakland.
It was an unusual sight for Oakland: nearly 150 worshipers, facing East, prone in front of City Hall.
This is just the beginning, one participant said. ``We want to work with other groups, like the black ministers, and others,'' he said.
The day began with a march from DeFremmery Park at 17th and Adeline Street to Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall. The march and rally were planned by Muslims and mosque officers from all over the Bay Area.
But initially, it looked like a march by supporters and associates of Your Black Muslim Bakery, Inc. The march of 75 men, women and children, was preceded by three luxury cars, a Chevrolet Suburban, a Lexus and a BMW, each carrying distinctive red and white crescent flags.
A phalanx of men in black coats ran alongside the cars, ahead of the marchers. The group stopped at liquor stores along the route, and Your Black Muslim Bakery representatives stationed themselves like sentries at the door of each store.
But Muslims from other organizations , speaking mostly in Arabic, talked to store owners and clerks, asking them why they continued to sell alcohol. At the first store, Sunbeam Market at Adeline and 14th Street, Moenssor Ghanan just smiled.
But when they left, Ghanan, who came to Oakland 20 years ago from Yemen, said he is a Muslim. He does not drink, but he sells alcohol because his customers want it.
``Alcohol is legal and I'm licensed by the state of California to sell it,'' he said.
At the next store, Bottles Liquor at 1150 Market, a store clerk, whose family owns the business, argued vehemently with his questioner, Iman Zaid Shakur, in Arabic and English. ``I know I'm wrong, selling alcohol. I'll pay someday,'' the clerk, who asked that his name not be used, said.
``But,'' he insisted, ``why do you go after us. Why don't you go to Safeway? They sell a lot more than we do. Are you willing to go there?''
Shakur said yes in a low voice.
A customer, Dave Brown, said he had been coming into the store for years. ``This store is owned by a family just trying to make a living; they have a right do that,'' he said. ``What they're selling is legal.''
At the third store, S&A Market at 14th and Jefferson streets, Ali Abraham, a former store owner, argued heatedly with two Muslims. ``People in America have a right to protest,'' he said. ``But there is also a law. We didn't invent democracy, but we're not excluded either,'' he said.
``Why do you go after us, weak, poor Arabs with no support, no backing?'' Abraham asked.
One of the Muslims, Abdullah Abdur-Rahman, who said he was from the suburbs, said alcohol sale in poor neighborhoods is a deep-rooted problem. ``You see these stores on every street corner.''
For more information about the Bay Area Muslim coalition, call (510) 868-8318 or email: muslims4hc@emailus.org.
Contact William Brand at: bbrand@angnewspapers.com
I love the way these people can't wait to kiss the azzes of Muslims and "respect" their religion,when these very same people do their damndest to whittle away the rights of Christians and squawk "separation of church and stae" like parrots when a Christian wants to honor his God anywhere but inside the four walls of his church.It's just so "tolerant" to show all that respect for the religion of the people who want to cut your head off.
What the hey,Je$$e Jack$on gets away with it on a massive scale.
People need to start raising pigs in Oakland.
L
What if the headline read, " Liquor Salesman Rally Against Muslims."
It has been documented that religious communities in the US have no better track record to moral / legal obligations than non religious communities.
To answer your apologist whining read Post #37.
BTW, these people are the outside influences. Most of these Muzzie bottle smashers live in the Oakland Hills and other 'rich' neighborhoods, NOT where the liquor stores are. Remember one quoted bottlesmasher is from Berkeley!
God doesn't bless terrorists. Get your facts straight.
Actually might be a good idea--for Oakland.
Now THAT would be a hoot !!
How many of these "Muslims" are here illegally?
Mex. may be the most visible element of invading illegals, but they certainly are not the only ones!
And it is notable that they went after the small stores, not the chains that would demand (and get) security, possibly having them arrested for trespass.
Did you get the part about the store owners telling them not to pick on them,go after Safeway?
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving.
Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885)
Shakur said yes in a low voice.
In a low voice; when they think the opportune time has come.
Or at least to Utah.
Utah controls all liquor sales, so maybe they could be more effective there.
It might be funny to watch the two extremist groups take each other on, the dynamics of their similarities and differences of their hypocrisies would be very interesting to watch, from a distance.
Today, alcohol.
Tomorrow, pork chops.
Gamble your own life away.
I'm conflicted about this. It seemed to be peaceful protest, probably similar to what the Woman's Christian Temperance Union did prior to getting Prohibition passed. But I have a supspicion that this will lead to wilder things, especially in an area dominated by squishy libs.
There, was that so hard?
Do you all post this hot when MADD rallys against liquor sales ? Or perhaps if it's only MMADD (Muslim Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
If Muslim Counselors worked in Las Vegas to prevent fellow muslims from gambling and the associated addictions, would you scream as loud ?
If Muslim counselors worked to get addicts off heroin addictions would it be the same ?
Does the fact that they are all Americans mean anything ?
nope just when it's forced on the community atlarge is where the problem lays
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