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Student Minister Tony Muhammad, rooted in love for a community that loves him too

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Brother Tony Muhammad has been very impactful, not only in this situation with Nipsey Hussle, but he has been consistent. His consistent effort, working with Crips and Bloods, dating back to ’92, so the measurement of success for me is through his consistency,” said Skip Townsend, former gang member who founded 2nd Call, a gang intervention organization in South Central.

Published

7 years ago

April 20, 2019

Oakland Post

By Charlene Muhammad, National Correspondent, The Final Call
@sischarlene

LOS ANGELES—For more than two decades, Nation of Islam Student Minister Tony Muhammad has demonstrated a love, commitment and dedication to his people in Los Angeles that has grown into the pure and near perfect love displayed in recent days since the passing of beloved rapper/entrepreneur Ermias Asghedom a/k/a Nipsey Hussle.

When the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan appointed Min. Muhammad as his Western Region Representative over 20 years ago, the Georgia-born helper, affectionally called “Brother Tony” by many in the streets and from all walks of life—had never even been a minister of any Nation of Islam mosque before.

But when he touched down in L.A., ‘Brother Tony’ hit the ground running to help those most in need. His work was in the streets. His years of service with the Nation of Islam’s Western Region Headquarters, Muhammad Mosque No. 27, and tireless sacrifice, are bolstered by the love, sacrifice and support of his wife L’tonya and their children, Khallid and Asha.

Min. Muhammad’s extensive work has included helping to make peace among warring gang members and feeding not just the poor, but the Black community in general, like when he launched Your Farmers Market with local Black farmers. They provided boxes of fresh, organic produce to families in poor communities, including low income neighborhoods and residents in L.A.’s housing projects.

Whether speaking out for or praying with and for mothers of murdered children and their families, or bridging the gap between the police, city officials, and the community, Min. Muhammad has been a vanguard in promoting peace.

“Brother Tony Muhammad has been very impactful, not only in this situation with Nipsey Hussle, but he has been consistent. His consistent effort, working with Crips and Bloods, dating back to ’92, so the measurement of success for me is through his consistency,” said Skip Townsend, former gang member who founded 2nd Call, a gang intervention organization in South Central.

He said Min. Muhammad has a very impactful role in Los Angeles and everything that goes on there and said his mentorship has been key. Min. Muhammad mentored his mentors and now, those younger generations, Mr. Townsend explained.

“We’re often looking for his leadership and guidance, even if it’s just words of encouragement or whatever is going on in different situations. We often go to Minister Tony Muhammad for advice and leadership,” he said.

Min. Muhammad has always gone to battle with the police and anybody for the people and demonstrated that he’s willing to pay the price for peace.

Mr. Townsend said when he learned back in August 2005 that the LAPD had beaten and arrested Min. Muhammad on 63rd and Crenshaw during a community vigil for a victim of gang violence, he became a full-fledge believer that the Nation of Islam representative was definitely there for Black people.

“When anybody risks their life, their stature, their status in the community to help the people, I always take my hat off to that, so Minister Tony Muhammad has done that several times, going into the community and actually telling the truth. So, when we say go into battle with the police, it’s not just a battle, like we want to fight for something. We want to fight to make sure it’s the truth. That’s what the fight is for,” said Mr. Townsend.

Min. Muhammad has been honored by various community groups including Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace Foundation for his work. Recently, he received the International Association of Scientologists’ (IAS) Freedom Medal of Valor Award for his activism and peacemaking work in the cause of human rights.

He was honored for his efforts creating the United in Peace Peace Rides and UpFest. The Peace Rides have rolled more than 50 times, on the fourth Sunday of every month, with motorcycles, low riders, sports cars, and mini bikes, through 33 of the toughest neighborhoods in the inner cities of Los Angeles, promoting peace.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, other city officials and national politicians honored the Peace Rides with proclamations, thanking Min. Muhammad and all involved, including Christian pastors, street organizations, bikers, mothers of murdered children, and other community stakeholders.

In addition to those entities, Min. Muhammad thanks the street gangs, because they trust and help him. His work towards peace is constant and not an individual thing, but a team effort, Min. Muhammad has said.

Without the street gangs, he could never have accomplished what he has done, he has told The Final Call. He has shared consistently, that he loves South Central L.A., and will never turn his back on the streets of Los Angeles.

Part of what makes Min. Tony Muhammad fearless and unafraid to go into the trenches to help bring a healing to his people who suffer from violence, homelessness, mental health issues, unemployment, and other problems, is that he is obedient to his teacher Min Farrakhan’s guidance. He said he has followed the Minister’s guidance to mediate a ceasefire among the rival Bloods and Crips gangs.

In July 2016, Min. Muhammad along with rapper The Game, and many others, held the United Hoods plus Gangs Nation Peace and Unity Summit at Mosque No. 27, where approximately 2,000 people, including gang interventionists and concerned residents responded. Some Bloods and Crips sets made a peace treaty there.

In July 2018, approximately 100 desperate small community business owners appealed to him for help because their businesses were suffering due to construction on Crenshaw. Some of the entrepreneurs literally cried, saying the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s building of the Crenshaw/LAX underground light-rail line to ease congested traffic had been blocking access to their businesses, among other things.

In addition, they had been disqualified for grant funding for directly impacted businesses. Min. Muhammad met with the community business owners, as well as Metro officials and helped to handle some of their immediate unmet needs and developed an action plan to ensure their longevity and survival.

Part of why he’s been successful in service to the community is because people trust him, residents said. He has street credibility and has an integrity that’s real, no matter who he’s dealing with, many people have previously expressed to The Final Call.

“Minister Tony has been really, really important to both me personally and to Black Lives Matter in general, but also to the whole of the Black community,” said Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and chair of the Pan African Studies Department at California State University L.A.

“As we talk about how Black people are vulnerable to police violence and abuse and killings, the question always comes to us, well what do we do for public safety? I think that what the Nation (of Islam) and what especially the Nation in Los Angeles has been able to do is step in and intervene when we need something,” she said.

Such was on the day the community was out at Nipsey Hussle’s procession following his celebration of life and memorial service at the Staples Center on April 11, according to Dr. Abdullah.

“The LAPD came in and they were pushing kind of a confrontational egotistical, disrespectful narrative so instead of talking to people … what they did is come in and police and tell people don’t sit on curbs. Well, we’ve been sitting out here since 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock in the afternoon, hours and hours have gone by. How are you gonna tell a mother and her little child not to sit on the curb, as opposed to when the Nation comes in, we’re greeted respectfully,” said Dr. Abdullah.

“We’re engaged. There’s some conversation. We know them. They’re part of our community, and there’s a different kind of level of respect and engagement,” she said adding that Min. Muhammad has been at the forefront of leading that effort.

Beyond the protocol of how the Nation of Islam works for the community and has personally helped her family with safety and security, Min. Muhammad has a level of care, despite the fact that they don’t agree on every single thing, she continued.

“Minister Tony is very important to Los Angeles and Black Los Angeles reveres him. When I was on trial, Minister Tony showed up. No fanfare but came just to support me. And that’s what I mean about love and care— beyond what your role is,” said Dr. Abdullah.

“Everything, all the work that we do for our people has to be grounded in love, and I think, I feel that not just as a member of the movement, but as an individual, and so I really, really appreciate him.”

So do many others, including fellow Muslims at Muhammad Mosque No. 27 and across Southern California and the world. They cheered loudly when Min. Farrakhan announced during an April 12 Nation of Islam Believers meeting in LA that he had given to Min. Muhammad the holy name Abdul Malik (meaning not just a king, but also a judge who settles the differences of others) Sayyid (one highly respected; master; lord), and to his wife, the name Malika.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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