Give Black Youth Credit For Their Efforts

But a remark like ""The black community has no political maturity in Toronto and our first weak, little attempt" shows they know little of the efforts of people like Pinball Clemens and other prominent blacks. In addition they might want to research how much of our tax dollars go to organizations involved in race relations.

Permit denied for speech from Black Panther leader
Updated Tue. May. 15 2007 2:12 PM ET
toronto.ctv.ca

Demonstrators are rallying outside the Ontario legislature despite having their permit revoked for an event to hear from a controversial leader of the U.S.-based New Black Panther Party.

Malik Zulu Shabazz has been detained at Toronto's Pearson International Airport by Canada Customs, and he may miss the protest.

Ontario Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said the group Black Youth Taking Action had applied for a permit and it was granted, "but it has now been revoked."

Jewish groups say Shabazz, who was invited to try to encourage political involvement in Toronto's black community, is an anti-Semite with intolerant views that makes him an inappropriate speaker.

"Anyone who incites violence against a recognizable group is committing a crime, so we'll see what happens," Kwinter told reporters Tuesday morning. "Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and he won't be given a platform."

Kwinter said Shabazz "has a record of being anti-Semitic, he has a record of being anti-police and it's very troublesome."

Premier Dalton McGuinty also said Shabazz's views are cause for concern.

"I don't want to provide any more oxygen to this individual that he may be looking for, but ... he is not espousing the views that are broadly shared by the people of Ontario," McGuinty said.

Rally organizers are upset by the firestorm created by Shabazz's visit.

"The black community has no political maturity in Toronto and our first weak, little attempt to have a rally is being lambasted and blown apart because one group does not like who we chose," said Nkem Anizor.

"They've invited someone to speak to them and we'd like to hear what Mr. Shabazz has to say," added Selwyn Pieters, a local lawyer.

Black Youth Taking Action organized the rally to demand changes, such as all-black schools from Grades 1 to 12 in the Greater Toronto Area. The group also wants the Safe Schools Act repealed because they say it unfairly punishes black students who have been expelled or suspended.

Shabazz is also scheduled to speak at Ryerson University Tuesday night.

With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press