Brother Lyle Muhammad

goes down for gun violence, then death and homicides increases. And we have been responsible for the largest decrease in gun violence in the history of Miami-Dade and Miami-Dade County. We can prove that.

goes down for gun violence, then death and homicides increases. And we have been responsible for the largest decrease in gun violence in the history of Miami-Dade and Miami-Dade County. We can prove that.

See, I can tell you off rip. while we as an organization already, because of the immediate termination, have suffered a more than $600,000 loss, Miami-Dade is about to lose millions of dollars of national organizations that were also cut, pouring money into our work to expand it from one end of the county to another. Another thing that's critical for us is another slap in the face.

See, I can tell you off rip. while we as an organization already, because of the immediate termination, have suffered a more than $600,000 loss, Miami-Dade is about to lose millions of dollars of national organizations that were also cut, pouring money into our work to expand it from one end of the county to another. Another thing that's critical for us is another slap in the face.

We remember the term essential workers during COVID. Would they lay off doctors and nurses right in the middle of a COVID crisis? So you're telling me that our employees are not essential workers? So for us, this is a line being drawn in the sand. So when I say a line being drawn in the sand, you're going to see no more business as usual.

We remember the term essential workers during COVID. Would they lay off doctors and nurses right in the middle of a COVID crisis? So you're telling me that our employees are not essential workers? So for us, this is a line being drawn in the sand. So when I say a line being drawn in the sand, you're going to see no more business as usual.

We're not going to reveal everything that you're going to see taking place. But this is going to cause a massive call of our people to wake up. up until that violence or that economic situation hits their doorstep. Like you said, this is serious and it's taking place not just here, but across the country and all at the same time. Dangerous.

We're not going to reveal everything that you're going to see taking place. But this is going to cause a massive call of our people to wake up. up until that violence or that economic situation hits their doorstep. Like you said, this is serious and it's taking place not just here, but across the country and all at the same time. Dangerous.

Nobody stands in this particular gap. Nobody. It's going to be interesting to see as well how our local politicians respond to this as well, because, again, nobody stands in the gap. And so when these homicide rates, these suicide rates, when these fights in schools and neighborhoods, when this stuff happens,

Nobody stands in this particular gap. Nobody. It's going to be interesting to see as well how our local politicians respond to this as well, because, again, nobody stands in the gap. And so when these homicide rates, these suicide rates, when these fights in schools and neighborhoods, when this stuff happens,

Look, we talk about surviving from riots in the past, surviving from pandemics in the past. This actually is inducing a pandemic.

Look, we talk about surviving from riots in the past, surviving from pandemics in the past. This actually is inducing a pandemic.

Well, I know for us, just so you know, the first thing that has to happen is some mass awareness and organization, which is why forums like this are so important. So on May 7th, It's going to be a national day of action for all the 365 organizations that were affected by this. Some are going to be traveling to Washington, DC. We'll be holding our massive rally right here at our headquarters.

Well, I know for us, just so you know, the first thing that has to happen is some mass awareness and organization, which is why forums like this are so important. So on May 7th, It's going to be a national day of action for all the 365 organizations that were affected by this. Some are going to be traveling to Washington, DC. We'll be holding our massive rally right here at our headquarters.

And there's also going to be a call to action. I can't reveal what that call to action is going to be right now. But when I said no more business as usual, After we make that call of action on this coming Wednesday, May the 7th, people are going to know it's no more business as usual.

And there's also going to be a call to action. I can't reveal what that call to action is going to be right now. But when I said no more business as usual, After we make that call of action on this coming Wednesday, May the 7th, people are going to know it's no more business as usual.

And I'll be honest, we're not looking for local government to do anything because to be quite honest, gun violence in Dade County has been nothing but a political football anyway, where people give lip service instead of financial service to it. But I will tell you this. Everyone who says that they support this work, they're going to be called to the carpet to have to come and support it.

And I'll be honest, we're not looking for local government to do anything because to be quite honest, gun violence in Dade County has been nothing but a political football anyway, where people give lip service instead of financial service to it. But I will tell you this. Everyone who says that they support this work, they're going to be called to the carpet to have to come and support it.

And we're not just talking about verbal support anymore. It's time for us to help finance and fund our own missions, too.

And we're not just talking about verbal support anymore. It's time for us to help finance and fund our own missions, too.

Exactly. We'll make for a very interesting interview.

Exactly. We'll make for a very interesting interview.

Thank you all for all you do, fam.

Thank you all for all you do, fam.

Well, I think that direct question, and thank you all so much for bringing light on this situation, really is a question that they need to be asked, that they haven't answered. What I will say is this, the most diabolical thing I've seen in reference to these particular cuts is the timing. A few days before summer, That's a death wish.

Well, I think that direct question, and thank you all so much for bringing light on this situation, really is a question that they need to be asked, that they haven't answered. What I will say is this, the most diabolical thing I've seen in reference to these particular cuts is the timing. A few days before summer, That's a death wish.

And so obviously people talk about campaigns about Black Lives Mattering and about impoverished neighborhoods deserving to be serviced. So if those things are diametrically opposed to the administration's agenda, then I think we just stepped up another leg in this war.

And so obviously people talk about campaigns about Black Lives Mattering and about impoverished neighborhoods deserving to be serviced. So if those things are diametrically opposed to the administration's agenda, then I think we just stepped up another leg in this war.

Well, the writing on the wall says that. And so that's why, you know, one of our approaches is, of course, we're not taking this lying down, but we're also not going to be spending a lot of time, to be quite honest, convincing those who are diametrically opposed to the work that we do, trying to prove its value.

Well, the writing on the wall says that. And so that's why, you know, one of our approaches is, of course, we're not taking this lying down, but we're also not going to be spending a lot of time, to be quite honest, convincing those who are diametrically opposed to the work that we do, trying to prove its value.

It's time for those who understand and believe this work to stop taping these kind of slap in the faces for granted.

It's time for those who understand and believe this work to stop taping these kind of slap in the faces for granted.

Great, great question. First of all, there is a lot of national organizing going on now because of this. Some institutions have already had to lay off their entire workforces, some as many as 60 individuals. I mean, you take a picture of 60 well-placed individuals who are doing violence intervention and prevention work, and you remove them, you immediately are causing a gap.

Great, great question. First of all, there is a lot of national organizing going on now because of this. Some institutions have already had to lay off their entire workforces, some as many as 60 individuals. I mean, you take a picture of 60 well-placed individuals who are doing violence intervention and prevention work, and you remove them, you immediately are causing a gap.

Other organizations that even provide technical assistance have been forced to stop their programming. And a lot of this work to our young people, too, you know, who sometimes are suicidal. So their mental health counselors and the people that they support as credible messengers, some of them have immediately been taken out of the picture.

Other organizations that even provide technical assistance have been forced to stop their programming. And a lot of this work to our young people, too, you know, who sometimes are suicidal. So their mental health counselors and the people that they support as credible messengers, some of them have immediately been taken out of the picture.

So this is really having an implosion effect across America.

So this is really having an implosion effect across America.

Exactly. Yeah, exactly how that went down. We literally received an email last Tuesday on the 22nd at 535 p.m. that notified of the termination. Literally, the faucet was cut off. We couldn't even go and get reimbursed for monies and programs that have already been spent. Literally, they sent it after business hours.

Exactly. Yeah, exactly how that went down. We literally received an email last Tuesday on the 22nd at 535 p.m. that notified of the termination. Literally, the faucet was cut off. We couldn't even go and get reimbursed for monies and programs that have already been spent. Literally, they sent it after business hours.

Now, mind you, most organizations like ours, they begin their payroll drawdown processes on the Wednesday. So this was direct and this was intentional.

Now, mind you, most organizations like ours, they begin their payroll drawdown processes on the Wednesday. So this was direct and this was intentional.

Excellent, man. Tell you, the first thing that had to come to my mind is, am I going to be able to make payroll this week? And then the second thing that came to my mind is, how many people are we going to have to lay off? And then the visualization started coming to my mind, like our peacemakers who stopped a young person on the street from cutting himself with a razor after school.

Excellent, man. Tell you, the first thing that had to come to my mind is, am I going to be able to make payroll this week? And then the second thing that came to my mind is, how many people are we going to have to lay off? And then the visualization started coming to my mind, like our peacemakers who stopped a young person on the street from cutting himself with a razor after school.

Like our peacemakers that do boots on the ground literally help people put guns away and stop gunplay. I'm talking about people who work with foster care youth that are in crisis management situations on a daily basis. I'm talking about people who are coming home from prison and need reentry support. All of that stops. So the bottom line is when funding

Like our peacemakers that do boots on the ground literally help people put guns away and stop gunplay. I'm talking about people who work with foster care youth that are in crisis management situations on a daily basis. I'm talking about people who are coming home from prison and need reentry support. All of that stops. So the bottom line is when funding