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Suspected Sniper and Victim Rallied with Farrakhan
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 10/25/02 | Michael L. Betsch

Posted on 10/25/2002 3:32:34 AM PDT by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - The prime suspect in the Beltway Sniper shootings and one of the ten people killed by the sniper apparently shared something in common besides allegedly being in the same place at the same time on the morning of Oct. 11.

Suspected sniper John Allen Muhammad reportedly provided security for the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. in 1995, the same event sniper victim Kenneth Bridges attended and is said to have used as an inspiration in co-founding the MATAH Network, Inc., a black-owned Internet business dedicated to fulfilling a wide array of black consumers' needs.

Bridges, a social activist and father of six from the Philadelphia area, was the eighth person killed and the tenth victim overall in the sniper shootings. He was shot at a Fredericksburg, Va. gas station Oct. 11. He was 53 years old.

A graduate of the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Bridges worked with Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan in 1986 to launch a line of health and beauty products for blacks manufactured by People Organized and Working for Economic Rebirth (POWER).

However, POWER's affiliation with the controversial Farrakhan caused several cosmetic manufacturers to withdraw their support out of fear of alienating Jewish distributors.

In 1995, Bridges attended Farrakhan's Million Man March, where thousands of black men were encouraged to take responsibility for their own lives and fight the scourges of violence, drugs and unemployment.

According to the MATAH website, Bridges and his partner, Al Wellington, developed their business in accordance with consumer research conducted at the Million Man March and the Million Woman March, which took place five years ago in Philadelphia.

Bridges and Wellington further developed their online store format to incorporate and reflect the seven principles of the African-American celebration, Kwanzaa, every day of the year. The website notes that special emphasis is placed on the principle of "Self Determination."

Since it launched in late 1997, MATAH's online store has provided a venue for black entrepreneurs, manufacturers and consumers to share in the common goal of "giving and buying black."

MATAH representatives were also in Washington Aug. 18 for the Millions for Reparations Rally, an event held to urge the awarding of financial reparations to the descendants of black slaves.

Calvin Robinson, a member of MATAH, told CNSNews.com that the African American Business/Consumer network is organized around a "race-first philosophy without apology."

However, Robinson said the mission of MATAH's online store is to encourage "internal reparation" in the black community. "Internal reparation," he said, "means that we are not going to sit down and just wait for it to come from the outside."

A 79-year-old retired insurance agent from Philadelphia, Robinson said he's not waiting for a reparations check from the U.S. government. "We're going to do all the things ourselves," he said.

"When you seem to be always begging, then [whites] who are looking at you feel as though that you are unworthy of help," Robinson said. "MATAH is kind of taking our own initiative."

On the day Kenneth Bridges was killed, he had just completed a $1 million deal for the growing MATAH Network.

Although the Nation of Islam has yet to confirm or deny that Muhammad provided security for the Million Man March, an acquaintance of Muhammad told the Seattle Times Thursday that he had indeed done so.

Federal sources told the Seattle Times the Beltway Sniper's deadly shooting spree might have "been motivated by anti-American sentiments in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks."

While Muhammad is not believed to be associated with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network, news reports indicated he had previously spoken sympathetically about the hijackers responsible for the terrorist attacks on America. Muhammad reportedly converted to Islam last year.

E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia
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1 posted on 10/25/2002 3:32:34 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Why haven't the "mainstream" reported that Muhammad was a security guard at the Million Man March?

What if the sniper had turned out to be the quintessential angry white man, and it was discovered he had provided security at a KKK rally?

Do you think the media might just have started talking about the "Klansman Killer"?

But when the The Today Show comes on in 20 minutes, let's not hold our breath waiting them to lead with news of "The Muslim Murderer."
2 posted on 10/25/2002 3:41:45 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
First sentence should have read "mainstream media"
3 posted on 10/25/2002 3:42:21 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Does anyone know if Malvo is also muslim convert? Or he an 'animist killer' or a 'buddhist killer' or an 'atheist killer'? Do we know?
4 posted on 10/25/2002 3:49:45 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: anniegetyourgun
Santaria Slayer? Voodoo Vampire?
5 posted on 10/25/2002 3:54:40 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: kattracks
Suspected Sniper and Victim Rallied with Farrakhan

Karma exists.

6 posted on 10/25/2002 4:25:48 AM PDT by putupon
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Perhaps Malvo is Catholic since he and his muslim friend apparently called a priest at one point. Of course, I'm not sure why such a devout muslim like Muhammed would call an infidel like a priest, unless he's not really that serious. Besides, why would God (blasphemy on the part of any muslim) need a priest?
7 posted on 10/25/2002 4:40:37 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: kattracks
O'Reilly did have this on the Factor last night, along with two Muslim nutcases who kept saying Islam is a beautiful religion of peace and love (BARF!)
8 posted on 10/25/2002 4:45:25 AM PDT by anoldafvet
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To: kattracks
Why are they being so tough on Muhammad? He was just executing a "drive-by" in slow motion.
9 posted on 10/25/2002 5:08:50 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
>>What if the sniper had turned out to be the quintessential angry white man, and it was discovered he had provided security at a KKK rally?

Bump for that. When Calypso Louie came to town to campaign for Jihad Cynthia McKinney in the primary, I told the black guys at work that, from my perspective, it was like David Duke coming to town to campaign for one of two white candidates. They "got it".
10 posted on 10/25/2002 5:20:44 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: anoldafvet
I saw that O'Reilly segment. He's just letting them talk, and reveal themselves to the American people. Shabazz did it nicely. You could almost see the hate for America oozing from his pores.
11 posted on 10/25/2002 5:22:11 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: anniegetyourgun
Hey annie - I know you're having a hard time understanding this, but the difference is that the Muslims are out there preaching "hate the infidel" and "kill the infidel". The religion is warped. Look at the history, not at what their spokesmen say.
12 posted on 10/25/2002 5:24:06 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: FreedomPoster
Actually, I'm very aware of the bloody scriptures of the Koran. And I don't give a rip what their spokesmen say. So, what's your point? Are you saying that Malvo has been confirmed as also being a converted muslim?
13 posted on 10/25/2002 5:28:30 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: anniegetyourgun
That the "hate the world, kill the infidel" message probably was at work here, that Muhammed, as the older of the two, was likely much more influential in this murder spree, and that animism/Buddism/atheism/Catholocism probably didn't have much to do with recent events. Whether the younger guy had officially converted to Islam isn't really material.
14 posted on 10/25/2002 5:38:54 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: kattracks
Federal sources told the Seattle Times the Beltway Sniper's deadly shooting spree might have "been motivated by anti-American sentiments in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks."

He also sounds a little like an angry Colin Ferguson.

Ferguson "failed" (in his own eyes) at achieving the American dream and became embittered when "the system" wouldn't listen to his appeals and give him money.

Colin Ferguson - The Long Island Railroad gunman

The Long-Island Railroad Murder - "Black Rage" or "So Crazy He Thinks He's Sane?"

n December 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson marched up the aisle of a crowded, evening rush-hour Long Island Railroad car, shooting the passengers as the train pulled into the Merillion Avenue station. When he was finished, six were dead and 19 were injured. In the end, Ferguson was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences - about 200 years of prison time - but before it concluded, the case raised serious questions about insanity and the law. Noted criminal defense specialists William M. Kunstler and Ronald L. Kuby took Ferguson's case. They attempted to introduce a "black rage" defense on Ferguson's behalf. They argued that years of living in an oppressive, race-biased society had so affected Ferguson's mind that he was not acting wilfully when he opened fire on unarmed commuters. Ferguson disagreed with their strategy, and dismissed them. He wanted to argue, against dozens of eyewitnesses and police reports, that he was framed for the shooting, and that someone else committed the murders.

Will Muhammed and Malvo decide to defend themselves, like Ferguson did?
15 posted on 10/25/2002 5:40:33 AM PDT by syriacus
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To: kattracks
Well, on the bright side, The Nation of Islam is breathtakingly silent. It is pretty nice, hopefully it lasts a while, say, the next couple hundred years...JFK
16 posted on 10/25/2002 5:42:12 AM PDT by BADROTOFINGER
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To: anniegetyourgun
Perhaps Malvo is Catholic since he and his muslim friend apparently called a priest at one point.

Mohammed was also calling the police several times. It probably had nothing to do with being repentent and wanting to make a confession, it's possible Malvo realized they were doing wrong and called the priest even, possibly a cry for help.

17 posted on 10/25/2002 5:55:33 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
Could be. I think there are many indications that these two wanted to be stopped. They appeared 'addicted' to the game. But that theory doesn't hold much water here because most assume they were taking orders from some organized terrorist group.
18 posted on 10/25/2002 6:03:19 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"Lamestream presstitutes" is a better description.
19 posted on 10/25/2002 6:50:51 AM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: anniegetyourgun
Even if they 'wanted' to be stopped, does that mean that they merit the least amount of sympathy?
20 posted on 10/25/2002 8:40:33 AM PDT by Post Toasties
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