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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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To: Balata; MinorityRepublican; MeeknMing; Salvation; billbears; patent; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; ...
BumPing
41 posted on 10/26/2002 4:44:23 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: anniegetyourgun


42 posted on 10/26/2002 6:29:36 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Thanks for the heads up!
43 posted on 10/26/2002 8:16:31 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: twigs
That doesn't explain the 12 other people shot. Bridges was merely passing through Massaponax and stopped to get gas. Do you think one of them had some kind of vision telling them that he'd be low on gas at that particular stretch of 95? Do you think they shot all those people in Montgomery, the 13 year old in Bowie and that man in Manassas first just to practice for the shot on Bridges? The following kills? What were the purpose of those? I love a good conspiracy theory, but unless those other people had internal ties to the NOI, I don't really see how any of it could be considered inside cleansing.
44 posted on 10/26/2002 3:27:38 PM PDT by constitutiongirl
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To: kattracks
bump
45 posted on 10/26/2002 3:28:34 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: constitutiongirl
You're right. It doesn't explain the other 12 people shot, and for that reason, I am not sure what is going on here. I also believe in coincidences; they happen every day. I'm just saying that there are a LOT of them here, and I hope that LE, who has access to info that I do not, looks very carefully at all the backgrounds of the vicitims and does not assume anything. I just hope that they do a VERY careful investigation.
46 posted on 10/27/2002 4:14:27 AM PST by twigs
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To: mafree
From what I read, Bridges had a partner who was as well qualified as he was. Seemed like a great concept. I know that I try to be careful where I spend my money so that it will remain among people with similar ideology. Doesn't always work, but I certainly respect anyone who tries to organize and implement such an idea.
47 posted on 10/27/2002 4:18:17 AM PST by twigs
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