Muslim coalition marches through West Oakland to rally at Frank Ogawa

I arrived at the park slightly before 11 a.m. to the sight of Muslim youth holding signs that read, “Real Muslims Obey” and “Prophet not Profit.” An entourage of representatives from Your Black Muslim Bakery was double-parked along 16th Street in preparation for the conscience caravan’s departure.

After the group recited Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Qu’ran, recited before compulsory prayers, Imam Faheem Shuaibe explained that the purpose of the day’s event was to remind the storeowners of their faith’s requirements and their products’ effect on the community.

“We also ask that you walk two by two on the sidewalk,” Shuaibe informed the crowd. “We do not have any permits for this. We want to uphold the law.” The Imam then asked the crowd if they had any chants in mind and if there was a volunteer who would lead the group through the streets.

The group soon after began walking south down Adeline to the Sunbeam Market on 14th while chanting in unison, “They’ve got to know, these liquor stores have got to go.” Imam Zaid Shakir of the Zaytuna Institute asked the Yemenese storeowner, Moenssor Ghanan, in Arabic, why he continued to sell alcohol to the poor.

After the group left, I remained behind with the mainstream press to hear more from Ghanan, who does not drink alcohol but sells it because of the demand. “Alcohol is legal,” he said. “I’m licensed by the state of California to sell it.”

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