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Our Weekly - www.ourweekly.com - 6-1-06
Scuffle Breaks Out at Local
Newspaper
By Lee Jackson
OW Staff Writer
Community activist
Najee Ali held a press conference in front of a local black newspaper Tuesday to
protest the paper’s “repeated character assassinations of black people for
personal reasons and gain.”
Over the past year, the newspaper has allegedly
written “hit pieces” on a number of political and community figures in an effort
to cast an unfavorable light on the subjects.
As the press conference began,
Ali was reading a prepared statement in front of the newspaper’s offices
decrying the paper’s use of “yellow journalism” when several employees of the
newspaper emerged, including one writer who was apparently incensed at Ali’s
statements and knocked his papers to the ground.
A scuffle broke out after the writer pushed Ali and an
attendee near Ali pushed the writer away. According to eyewitnesses, the writer
removed his shirt and then broke off an antenna from a woman’s parked car and a
branch from a tree on Crenshaw Blvd. to allegedly use as weapons. During the
scuffle, the writer kicked and spat on Ali before the writer was grabbed and
restrained.
“He was yelling and screaming that we should not be in
front of the newspaper office,” said Ali. “He was totally out of control and he
brought shame upon himself and the Nation of Islam,” Ali continued, saying that
he was acquainted with the writer, who is of the Muslim faith. “He’s known as a
troublemaker who has threatened people before, including the management and
staff at KJLH radio, owned by Stevie Wonder.”
Ali formally reported the incident to a police officer, who
was already present on the scene.
Minutes later, a police helicopter was
sighted overhead as police entered the newspaper building looking for the
writer. After searching the premises, the police were told that the writer was
not there.
“I’m shocked and stunned that anyone could be assaulted for
voicing their public opinion,” said Ali, who said that he, along with his
security guard, Hanza Demery, were hurt. “It wasn’t a scuffle, we were
assaulted. I hold the newspaper accountable for allowing their employees to
assault people for a difference of opinion,” said Ali, who is the founder of
Project Islamic Hope.
“Everyone knows that the owner of this newspaper is a
poverty pimp and the community will not be intimidated by his form of
gangsterism,” said Ali. “The community realizes that the owner of this local
black newspaper is a self-serving opportunist who only cares about making money
off the community and has no true concern for the welfare of the black
community.”
Ali said that the paper’s continuing efforts to print
unflattering articles about local political and community leaders in the paper
was “reprehensible.” The hit pieces that this newspaper has been printing are
unethical--it’s yellow journalism and it taints the historic legacy of that
historic newspaper. The owner boasts that it’s the number one black newspaper in
L. A., but it’s actually dead last, as far as actual numbers of papers.”
A couple of hours after the incident, Assemblyman Jerome
Horton (who is a candidate for a State office, coincidently endorsed by the
newspaper) sent out a press release proclaiming the business as “newspaper of
the year’ for the 51st Assembly District.
The newspaper is in the 47th
Assembly District.
As of presstime, no one was available at the newspaper for
comment.
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