Farrakhan Praises Bloods, Crips for Effort to Make Peace

Los Angeles street gangs who forged a truce more than a year ago took the stage Saturday night beside seated ministers, celebrities and political leaders as Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan poured out a message of unity.

“We came to Los Angeles to pay tribute to the Bloods and Crips who are trying desperately to make peace among themselves,” Farrakhan told an enthusiastic gathering of about 8,000 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Although the well-publicized truce has all but collapsed except for a small area in Watts, Farrakhan attributed the peacemaking efforts to the “unseen hand of the living God” working through the gang members.

“I’m asking the Bloods and the Crips and all the so-called street gangs, if you want peace with one another, start first by making peace with God,” Farrakhan said.

During his 2 1/2-hour address commemorating the birthday of past Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, Farrakhan urged blacks to respect themselves. Although he praised the numerous black entertainers present--including singers Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder, comic Martin Lawrence, and rap singers Ice-T and Ice Cube--Farrakhan warned other entertainers to stop portraying blacks as violent and sexual.

At the conclusion of his sermon, he also invited to the stage relatives of Damian Monroe Williams and Henry Keith Watson and then closed with a prayer. Williams and Watson are on trial in the beating of trucker Reginald O. Denny, who was injured during last year’s riots.