'WE'LL TAKE OUR PEOPLE,'' SAYS FARRAKHAN, WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15-21, 2005 -The Wilmington Journal - Article - local and state news

The Wilmington Journal - Article - local and state news: "The controversial leader of the Nation of Islam has issued a warning to government officials and relief agencies that have blocked the NOI from lending assistance to those being sheltered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“There is red tape, but I’m going to serve notice on these places that you’re not going to tell us that you’re going to keep our people,” Min. Louis Farrakhan defiantly told reporters Sept. 9 at Union Baptist Church in Durham.

“We’re coming to get our people, whether you want to give them to us or not. We’ll take them.”

The Chicago-based Muslim leader was reacting to how the NOI’s assistance was rebuffed in Phoenix, Arizona, where 2,000 Katrina evacuees were sent after being airlifted from a devastated New Orleans.

“We’re tired of this kind of behavior,” Farrakhan, his voice rising, went on. “We’re not slaves, this is not a plantation. You’re holding them, we appreciate you’re feeding them, clothing them, but don’t tell us that we can’t take them into decent, clean homes, and give them a start.”"