Dressed in his signature red bow tie and black suit, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan brought his fiery rhetoric to the Philadelphia Civic Center yesterday in his "Let Us Make Man" speech. Sponsored by Muhammad Mosque No. 12, of Philadelphia, Farrakhan addressed the crowd of about 2,000 black men, and two women. Farrakhan moved from topic to topic, attacking rabbinical scholars, condemning homosexuality, and expressing his disdain for injustices committed by the "white man," while expressing his views that blacks are the "original" men. He said that the white man tainted blacks by creating "the nigger." "God made a man, you made a nigger, this is your creation," Farrakhan shouted. "You made a nigger. You educated niggers to be niggers. Niggers are made in America." One of the main messages Farrakhan expressed is that he wants to get one million black men to "march on Washington" on October 16. He told the men in the crowd that each should round up ten of their friends and bring them to the rally. "We intend to have the largest demonstration in the history of America," Farrakhan said. "This revolution will be televised." Farrakhan has titled the march on Washington a "day of atonement," adding that he wanted 1996 to be known as the year of the "black agenda." In addition, he said that all blacks should register for the independent party because the "Democrats and Republicans have not done a damn thing," for black people. "It's our day," he added. "Our time has come. We have to repent on what we have done to ourselves and one another." The minister, who has often been accused of anti-Semitism, said he does not hate Jewish people but is disgusted by rabbinical scholars who say that blacks were the sons of Chaim, who was cursed by his father, Noah. As Farrakhan spoke of the malevolent intentions of Jewish scholars, the crowd burst into furious, standing applause. He also spoke strongly against gay and lesbian lifestyles, which the crowd greeted with laughs and applause. Farrakhan addressed criticisms that he leads an excessively lavish lifestyle. He said his followers would never take him seriously if he had holes in his shoes. Instead, he said people should be criticizing the President and other elected officials. "I'm not damn Bill Clinton, he's a rich demon," Farrakhan yelled. "? what the hell is Bill Clinton doing for black people." The Muslim leader also brought up a recent assassination attempt against him involving the daughter of Malcolm X. Farrakhan said the incident was really a government entrapment in another effort to destroy him as an effective black messenger. But he added that he was committed to fighting for black people. "Every voice that speaks for black people has either been silenced or bought off," Farrakhan said. "Practically the only voice left is of Brother Farrakhan. I will never abandon the mission of your rise. "Yeah, but you've run into something this time," he added with thunderous applause from the audience. "You killed all the rest, but this one you cannot have."
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