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Who knows a person better than
his friends and neighbors?
Much has been said about Imam Jamil al-Amin since the shooting incident in which he is alleged to have shot two police officers, killing one, outside of his grocery store in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16. And most of what has been said, has been negative. After all, let's not forget: in America's establishment-oriented mainstream media, it's the official government line that is respected. "He has been projected as some kind of gun-toting, irresponsible Black thug and my personal involvement with him and relationship with him has proven that he's anything but that," says Khalid Abdul Fattah Griggs, Imam of The Community Mosque of Winston-Salem in North Carolina, in an interview with RadioIslam.com and Sound Vision.Griggs has known Imam Jamil since the late 1970s. Who would know a person better than his or her neighbors and friends? Here are some quotes from a variety of news sources (including the "establishment media") which present the face of Imam Jamil al-Amin which is largely being ignored. Much of the information is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. 1. Never acted tough or bad Imam Jamil's mosque runs a school in the neighborhood and often helps neighbors get jobs or do errands, residents told the newspaper the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "What happened [referring to the March 16 shooting] was unfortunate," said West End resident Antoine Grisson, 34. "I've never seen them act tough or try to act bad." 2. Security patrols Members of Imam Jamil's mosque often provided security for the neighborhood. When the area lost power after a recent storm , for example, Al-Amin followers made sure the area was secure. "When the electricity was off, they were out here patrolling the neighborhood with walkie-talkies," said Barbara Jordan, 64. 3. Never saw him lose his calm "I never saw him angry," said Hattie Stegall, 73 about Imam Jamil. She lives in the neighborhood and has known Imam Jamil since he moved there in 1976. She also said he regularly checked on her and instructed other Muslims to help her. "When my sister died, he was right here asking if there was anything he could do for me." 4. Stands up for justice, even in small ways Stegall also noted Imam Jamil's compassion and fairness. "When someone would die in my family, he would come by and offer his hand. And when the Muslim children would fight my grandchildren, he would make them come to me and apologize." 5. No swearing tolerated Residents of the West End area of Atlanta where Imam Jamil lives remember Imam Jamil telling young ballplayers not to swear in front of kids or women. 6. He maintained the law One woman who had lived only a few doors away from the Imam's grocery store said he seemed strict because he maintained order in his once drug-infested neighborhood. 7. Drugs and prostitution Members of the Muslim community, who began moving into Atlanta's West End in the 1970s and has grown continuously, have been good neighbors. Many residents say the Muslims have helped rid the neighborhood of drugs and prostitution.
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