The Los Angeles Times. Monday, May 24, 1976. Main Edition. Page 24.
Nation of Islam Joins First Interfaith Rally
Group Once Known as Black Muslims Convenes in L.A.
BY JOHN DART
Times Religious Writer
The Nation of Islam, once known commonly as the “Black Muslims,” joined Sunday in its first major interfaith rally and heard its reform minded leader refer as much to the Bible as to the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
Wallace D. Muhammad of Chicago, chief minister of the Nation of Islam since his father’s death 15 months ago, spoke to an estimated 18,000 persons, all of whom had to pass through airport-type security checks to enter the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Muhammad criticized world religious leadership to date for failing to end oppression or archive unity and he noted the traditional Islamic indebtedness to Moses and Jesus as predecessors of Mohammed.
“There is no division in the family of prophets,” he said, “but there is division in us.”
Under Wallace Muhammad’s leadership, whites have been admitted to membership and friendly relations have been established with Arabic Islamic representatives. Sunday’s “Spiritual Jubilee” marked the sect’s first venture into interfaith cooperation.
Preceding Muhammad on the platform was Rev. Jim Jones, the white founder-minister of Peoples Temple, which claims more than 12,000 members in three California churches. People Temple cosponsored the programs.
Jones, a Protestant minister, recalled several years ago tension was high between his San Francisco church and a neighboring Nation of Islam temple.
“But under Wallace Muhammad all those things have changed.” Jones said “Peace has come.”
The People Temple churches, affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), are relatively unorthodox under Jones’ leadership. The emphasis is on community service and support to worthy secular causes.
Jones says that even atheists and agnostics are welcome to his church as long as they agree with the gospel messages to serve others.
Pointing to the fact that traditional Islam regards Jesus as a prophet, the preacher declared- to the cheers of the audience- “It’s high time Christianity gave honor to Mohammad.”
Representatives of the predominantly Arabic Islamic Foundation of Southern California and the Southern California Council of Churches also extended their congratulations from the platform.
Some speakers began with an Arabic Islamic greeting of peace, including Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally. The latter recalled that “it wasn’t safe” to give such a Muslim greeting 14 years ago, recalling the exchange of gunfire by police and Muslims at a Mosque in Los Angeles in 1962.
Greetings were also extended by activist-educator Angela Davis, Mayor Bradley and a young black woman member of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood who wore white clothing and headgear similar similar to the attire of
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| Jim Jones & Peoples Temple @Muhammad Temple No. 26. 1974 |
