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NATION OF ISLAM
PRESS CONFERENCE
on
PETITION TO U.S. TREASURY & LIBYAN OFFER

THE SALAAM RESTAURANT - CHICAGO, IL
AUGUST 27, 1996

Joining Minister Farrakhan is Attorney Abdul Arif Muhammad. Attorney Rufus Cook. Chief of Staff of the Nation of Islam, Leonard F. Muhammad. And our minister of Mosque Maryam, Assistant to the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

THE HONORABLE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. We give Him praise and thanks for guidance through His servants, the Prophets. I greet all of you with the greeting words of peace: As Salaam-Alaikum.

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, first, thank you very much for coming. We called this conference to announce that we will be leaving shortly for Tripoli to receive the Humanitarian prize, called the Gadhafi Prize. As you know, we have petitioned the Treasury Department for a license to receive the gift. We have not heard, definitively, as yet. So, we may not, necessarily, receive the money awaiting the Treasury Department 's decision. We've also petitioned the Treasury Department for a specific license to receive a billion dollars or less, as a gift from Libya to the Nation of Islam for the purpose of advancing the program of the Nation of Islam.

The Welfare Reform Bill, that has recently passed, without a jobs creation bill as a companion piece, will leave many Americans in the lurch. As Muslims we don't believe in welfare, however, I am a child of welfare. I know the value of welfare when properly used. And to leave Americans, Black, white and brown without a safety net, would only contribute to the hopelessness and despair among many segments of the American citizenry.

I heard on the television today a congressman saying that there should be a jobs creation bill. Should the Treasury Department permit us to receive this gift of $1 billion, this gift, properly administered by the brilliant financiers and bankers among our people could be leveraged to produce $10 billion in economic development. It will take many, many billions of dollars to raise the poor and the helpless, and the Blacks in particular, from the pitiable condition that we are in. But since we are blessed to receive $438 billion dollars out of the American economy, according to the University of Georgia research, this $1 billion leveraged could attract ten percent of what we receive, back into our own communities for our own community development.

The creation of jobs, the building of low-cost housing, establishing banks, an economic development fund that will aid Blacks who wish to become entrepreneurs, housing development, international trade---all of this could be accomplished, should we be granted the license to receive such a gift.

It is our hope that the Clinton administration would see the value of this in terms of what it would do to turn despair into hope among our suffering people. And, should this be granted, this would give Louis Farrakhan an opportunity to show America that his efforts are sincere for the rise of our people and the rise of oppressed people, and our efforts are sincere for the safety and well-being of this nation.

With that statement, I would be glad to answer your questions.

CHANNEL 5, CHICAGO: You said you would go ahead and go to Libya now, while your application is pending. If the application is not granted, or if it has not been granted by the time you've been there for a while and need to come back, are you still going to accept the $250,000?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: No. I will not accept the money until we're given permission.

ROGERS: What will you tell Mr. Gadhafi in the mean time?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: He understands.

FOX TV, CHICAGO: Minister Farrakhan, can you tell what me what you'll do if the U.S. Treasury Department turns your request down. Will you take legal action?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Yes. We will fight in every way possible, because it is not the money. It's a principle. The principle is that our government has cut back on welfare, on entitlements, on affirmative action. Jobs have left the inner cities. To create job opportunities in low wage markets outside of America, leaving the Blacks, and the browns, and the peoples of the inner cities in the lurch. The government does not have a real urban policy. So in face of this, it appears that our government does not desire for us as a people to have friends unless they can dictate the terms of the friendship.

So, yes, we will fight, for what we believe is our legal right. And I will go across this nation, stirring up not only my people, but all those who would benefit from this. And I guarantee you, you will see a march on Washington like you've never seen in the history of this country. We intend to get justice, by the Grace of God.

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Some say you've put the administration in a bind because you'd be accepting the money from a country labeled as "terrorist."

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: America is a very, very powerful country. And because she is the only remaining superpower, she has taken upon herself the right to define. And she has defined certain nations as "terrorist". She has not yet raised a standard by which a nation would be judged in the international arena as a terrorist nation.

In my visit to Syria, and my talk with President Assad, he told me that he met with President Bush, when he was president of the United States. And President Bush was asking him to remove from Syria those persons who are considered "terrorists" or "anti-Israel." Palestinians. And according to President Assad, he asked President Bush to set up a standard by which the international community can judge any nation as a "terrorist nation". He said--- and to this day--- he has not heard from President Bush on that, nor has a standard been raised.

My question, in a fair, democratic society: in Congress, you label a nation a "terrorist" nation, to fit a foreign policy objective, which may or may not be just. You have never invited the Sudanese, the Libyans, or others that you call "terrorist" to come to America and defend themselves before Congress and before the American people. So, what in effect, you're doing, is using your tremendous power to label nations that you do not like, and then expect American people to suffer consequences because of your inordinate, mischievous use of your power.

We will challenge that. We cannot accept that. Our enemy has never been Muammar Gadhafi. He has never sold drugs in the Black community to take money out of our community to finance a war with the Contras in Nicaragua. This was done by our own government! So will the real terrorists, the real violent people, stand up?

And when you do this against the very people that fought, bled and died to build your country, how dare you call some outside force an enemy, when you yourself have been the worst enemy of the rise of Black people with freedom, justice and equality!

CHICAGO SUN TIMES: The Washington Post reported today that you're considering accepting gifts from other nations as well. Can you elaborate on that?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Jesus, when he was a baby, received some wise men from the East, who didn't bring him milk, they brought him gold, frankincense and myrrh. I feel that we are like that little baby, and the wise men of the east, our own brothers and sisters, if they wish to give us gifts, we are certainly happy and honored to receive it. And with government oversight, I might add, so that you will know that we're not terrorists, we are nottrying to do anything against the good of America. What we want to do is good for our people, and ultimately good for this nation.

UNIDENTIFED REPORTER: What do you say to the relatives of people who were killed in Lockerbie? [second question unclear]

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: The families of those who lost their loved ones in Pan Am Flight 103 deserve justice and closure to this horrible episode in their lives. The two persons who are accused of being the terrorists who did this despicable and heinous crime are the basis now of sanctions against the Libyan people because Gadhafi refuses to turn over his nationals to be tried in America or in England, which it is against international law for America or England to try to force another nation to turn over her nationals to this country or to England.

Muammar Gadhafi said he will turn his nationals over to any third country. He would allow those two who were charged to be tried with Scottish jurists in the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

Now, 279 or so lives were lost. Is that correct? But---I think the man's name is Radovan Karadzic ---who is accused by the Court at the Hague, of remednous crimes against Bosnian muslims numbering into the tens of thousands, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. If the international courts, or the World Court is considered able to try a former head of state for those kind of crimes, why isn't that same court able to try those two persons charged with this crime?

A trial would put closure to it. And if they are guilty, the appropriate punishment should be applied to them, and if it is government-sponsored an appropriate penalty should be applied to that government. But to sanction Libya, and all of the people of Libya without a trial---here's a book by Signet Press. This is an American publisher. It's called the "Trail of The Octopus." It is banned in America, but it details the cover-up of Pan Am 103, that it really wasn't the Libyans. But this fits into America's foreign policy objectives to destroy Libya, because Libya and Iran are the two strongest anti-Israeli nations in the world.

Let's get at the truth. Where is the truth? So that those human beings who lost the lives of their ones can finally let their breasts rest in peace.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Why do think Colonel Gadhafi will give you the money? Is there something---is there an Islamic tenet that one should share one's wealth? Is there something to base that on?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: You know, Islamic nations are bound to give in charity to the cause of Islam. In fact, out of every dollar, there's a certain percentage that must go to the propagation of the faith. The establishment of mosques and schools and hospitals. This government has prevailed upon the king of Saudi Arabia to give money to the Contras. When it was against the law here for America to support the Contras, President Reagan prevailed upon the King of Arabia, and others, to give gifts so that the contras could win their war against the government of Nicaragua.

What is wrong with Muammar Gadhafi offering the Nation of Islam, with whom he has had a long-standing friendship from the time of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad? And what he saw in the Million Man March so inspired him, and encouraged him, that he said he would place the wealth of Libya behind the Nation of Islam to achieve its objectives. And if you study the 66-year history of the Nation of Islam, we've never been involved in terrorism, although there are incidents of violence. Yet, on a whole, the Nation of Islam is one of the most law-abiding groups that you have in the whole of the United States of America.

UPI [United Press International]: During the Saviours Day speech and the Million March you told us that voter registration was going to be one of the new top priorities for the Nation. It is reported that you might even use some of the Libyan money for voter registration to persuade the '96 election. Sir, there's a whole lot of people in town this week, who would really like to know who it is you are urging all these new voters to vote for, for president? Clinton? Dole? Perot? Some candidate we don't know about? Who should they vote for?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: We said in the document that you have that no part of this money would be used for political purposes. We are quite capable of getting our people to register to vote without using money from the DNC Democratic National Committee], or without using money from the Republican Party, or from Gadhafi.

We're not here to say which white man will be better. Will it be Clinton, will it be Dole---in some silly "beauty contest." They all do what they have to do. What we're trying to do, is get our people to use their votes wisely, and leverage their votes. Not against a personality, but toward an agenda that is in the best interest of the masses of our people.

I, personally, cannot at this time say that Bill Clinton is the man to vote for, or that Senator Dole is the man to vote for, or that Ross Perot is the man to vote for. We will just have to see how they treat our agenda.

UPI: But realistically, sir, Jesse Jackson tonight is going to tell a lot of Black americans to vote for Bill Clinton. If you get this money from Libya, and they'll go out and vote Democrat, isn't this money just a big fat gift for the Democrats.

MINISTER FARRAKHAN:[laughs] Well, if the Democrats are wise enough to permit me to have it. They should get voted in. [audience laughter]

WBEZ FM, CHICAGO: I have two questions. Is this $250,000 prize in addition to the $1 billion that Muammar Gadhafi has---

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: It's separate from.

WBEZ: Secondly, are you prevailing upon people who came to the Million Man March to also give back to their communities and invest in their communities?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Yes. As you know, we proposed at the Million Man March, an African-American Economic Development fund. We felt that we should give to the community first, the audit that we promised of all of the funds that were taken up at the Million Man March. We did hold a press conference, and we submitted the audit, and we haven't heard any more. There was so much before about "where is the money going?" When we submitted the audit, we didn't hear any more.

Keeping up our word builds trust. Part of this billion dollars, should it be allowed, will be to build that economic development fund and then encourage our people to invest in themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I'd like you to detail a little bit more about the National development fund. You spoke about jobs, housing, banking, trade, all the things that are very positive to our community. Would you elaborate how---we're going to say, positive, we got the billion dollars. What will it implement? How will African-Americans benefit from this money?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Of course, my brother, you know that when you have never handled a billion dollars before, you have to seek the counsel of the very wise among us who are skilled at managing an investment of such monies. We would not dare undertake to do this on our own. However, I would like, if you would indulge me---this is the last question? One more? All right, sir.

If you would indulge me for just a moment, I would answer this question on this wise:

Jesus was giving a criterion by which nations would be judged as worthy of chastisement or worthy of divine favor. And it was on this wise: a disciple asked Jesus, when were you hungry and I fed you not? When were you naked and I clothed you not? When were you out of doors and I gave you not shelter? When were you sick and imprisoned, and I ministered not unto you? And Jesus said, in as much as you have not done these things unto the least of these my brethren, you have not done it also unto me.

It seems as though both parties, the Democratic and Republican, have moved away from the feeding of the hungry, the clothing of the naked, the sheltering of the homeless. Good health insurance for the sick. And then a real program for those who are imprisoned to bring about real reform, rather than manipulating crime in the Black community to create a prison industrial complex for the good of industry and to the detriment of people.

Now, to answer your question specifically: what can a billion dollars do? Well, We first will collect the minds. A Mr. Rex Harris, whom you read of in the Wall Street Journal, he has a team of people, and there will be others, and we will sit and plan around food, clothing and shelter. There are tremendous acres of land that are available. We need to think about farming. And we need to think about Agribusiness. How much money do we spend on food? And if we put up supermarkets in all the major cities, and bought tens of hundreds of thousands of acres of land, or even lease it, and then went into good production, on a health standard, rather than profit motivated; and then begin to build houses, which will bring into play your construction people. Taking the wasted cities and rebuilding them. Building factories to provide some of the things that America is going overseas to have produced in the third world---we are in a third world condition. Let's bring factories back in the inner cities. A billion dollars would help us to do that.

We could strengthen the Black banking institutions, that they would be able to loan money to the community people who wish to become entrepreneurs, or we could set up our own national banking system. There's so much that we can do, and, you know, when you've got a lot of money and you've got good ideas, ideas times money gives you power and leverage. And that's what we need to change the reality of Black life in America.

WBBM AM, CHICAGO: If you would, sir, a two-part question. Number one, there had been some talk in the past about a separate Black nation in the continental United States, does this talk of acreage bring us back to that concept? And the second part of the question is, directly, how much, if any, of the billion dollars would improve you and your family specifically. Would you get any part of that as a fee or reimbursement for your efforts in securing the money?

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Thank you very much. I'm very well taken care of, as you can see, so I wouldn't need a dime of the billion dollars. I never thought, for one moment of any of that money accruing to me. However, you know that the Bible says the ox that treadeth down the corn is worthy of his oats [audience laughter].

No, I'm not thinking about anything personal, but you know, when you do good, good comes back to you. And that's nothing but fair and just. Your second part---

WBBM: The idea of the separate Black nation in the borders---

MINISTER FARRAKHAN: Well, you know, I've been accused of being a separatist, and I'd like to lay that to rest. You know, white folk, you are the real separatists, and you should be ashamed to put that on me. You brought us here in the bottom of ships, we were not integrated. Then you put us in the field, and you gave us little shacks and a few of us lived in the big house, but we were always separated.

And just remember when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and we were so-called set free, you never did allow us to live with you, did you? No. You gerrymandered us, you red-lined us, [unclear]---yes you did! You wouldn't even allow us to buried with you! You wouldn't even allow us to drink water out of the same fountain with you, and now you call me a separatist!

Here's thirty years since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Kerner Commission revisited their findings of thirty years ago and said what? That there's still two Americas, one Black, one white, separate and unequal. Farrakhan did not do that. White folks did that. So will the real separatist please stand up? [audience applause] Don't charge me with that.

However, if we can not get along in peace, the natural thing for us to do is for us to separate, with justice. You and your wife can't get along? Go to a judge. Of course, you do seek alimony, something, especially when you and your wife helped built everything that you got. And we helped you get everything you got. So if there is a separation, then we want something for what we put in to build this nation to keep it protected.

But, I don't think it has to come to that, sir. I believe that time has moved us to the point where reasonable people will do justice. And if that doesn't happen, separation is a final option, but it is a FINAL option. Don't you think we can work it out? As Rodney King said, "can't we all just get along?" [audience laughter]

May I thank you all---I'm sorry for the heat. Our air conditioning had a problem, and we're working on it. But we can all get a cold drink, if you like. Thank you very much for your attention and attendance.