Farrakhan Will Keep Speaking Date in L.A.

Assailing local black politicians as “gutless,” an aide to Louis Farrakhan said Monday that a petition drive organized by followers of the controversial Black Muslim minister has convinced Farrakhan to keep a speaking engagement next month in Los Angeles.

“Tickets go on sale today,” said Abdul Allah Muhammad, an aide to the Chicago-based Farrakhan and one of the organizers of his national speaking tour on the need for black economic independence. Farrakhan’s Los Angeles appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Convention Center.

The leader of the Nation of Islam, Farrakhan has been widely criticized for statements interpreted by some as being racist and anti-Semitic. In a speech two years ago at the Forum in Inglewood, Farrakhan referred to the state of Israel as a “wicked hypocrisy” that stole its land from the Palestinians.

At a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Muhammad was sharply critical of Mayor Tom Bradley and three black members of the Los Angeles City Council, who endorsed a resolution last month stating that the council “believes most strongly that the message of Louis Farrakhan is not the message for Los Angeles.” The sentiment was also endorsed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Bradley had asked City Atty. James K. Hahn to determine if the city could legally block Farrakhan’s appearance, and Hahn advised him that such an effort would probably be illegal.

“To this gutless, lily-livered class of black leaders whose only ambition is to amass wealth and get closer to the oppressors of their people,” Muhammad said, “we warn you that there is a new class of leadership that is rising up to replace you, and they will replace you no matter what means they have to use to get you out of the way.”

In response to a question, Muhammad said the Nation of Islam would not renounce violence in achieving that goal.

“I advocate black liberation, I wouldn’t care what it takes to get it,” he said. “We do not accept a violent posture. We do not accept a nonviolent posture . . . because in certain cases, either one is viable and whatever is viable is what you should use.”

Muhammad was flanked by two stacks of petitions that he said were signed by 50,000 Los Angeles residents who support Farrakhan’s right to speak.

After the City Council resolution opposing him on July 22, Farrakhan postponed a planned Aug. 8 engagement, saying he would await the results of a petition drive before deciding whether to speak in Los Angeles.

‘Puppets Don’t Speak’

Referring to the mayor, council members and the supervisors, Muhammad said, “We have here the signatures of more than 50,000 citizens of Los Angeles who are saying that these 13 white folks and their four black puppets don’t speak for them.”

Muhammad also condemned Bradley for failing to denounce the militant Jewish Defense League, which opposes Farrakhan. Muhammad played a videotape of a demonstration organized by the JDL during which demonstrators chanted: “Who do we want? Farrakhan. How do we want him? Dead.”

A Bradley spokesman said the mayor will make no comment on Muhammad’s remarks. “He made his feelings known on July 22,” the spokesman said. “He thought he spoke clearly on the matter and he has nothing new to add.”

Councilman Nate Holden, one of the black councilmen to whom Muhammad referred, said, “I sincerely believe that all persons of varied political persuasions here in Los Angeles are well aware of my commitment to serve the public at large. They would not expect me to apologize for my efforts in that regard.”

He added, “What I want to do is heal the wounds of the community. . . . I’m just talking the positive stuff. I don’t want to get into the negative.”

Robert C. Farrell and Gilbert W. Lindsay, the other black councilmen to whom Muhammad made reference, were not available for comment.

‘Very Exciting Time’

Irv Rubin, who heads the Los Angeles-based JDL, said of Farrakhan’s appearance:

“We are going to be there, and we are going to be there in force . . . and when he opens his mouth to dump on Jews, we will speak up. We’re not going to be intimidated by him or his goons. It should be a very exciting time.”

He added, “I would doubt that Farrakhan speaks for a large number of blacks in this community.”

A spokesman for the Convention Center said Farrakhan’s supporters have booked a hall that will accommodate about 5,000 spectators and two rooms that can hold 2,800 more who can watch the speech on closed-circuit television.