Police: No permit for Million Youth March

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The leader of a Harlem march that ended last year in a brawl with police is calling the city racist for trying to stop the gathering this year.

Police Commissioner Howard Safir said Monday he won't issue a permit for a second Million Youth March because of safety concerns.

The stand was denounced by Khallid Abdul Muhammad, the main organizer of the march, which the city said attracted 6,000 people last year. Muhammad said it brought in 300,000 people.

"We want to make it clear here today that no devil, racist, cantankerous, constipated cracker like Mayor Giuliani can stop" the march, Muhammad said.

Muhammad made his comments at a news conference outside City Hall during which organizers denounced Jews and whites. Organizers said they will proceed with next month's march anyway.

The ratcheting up of rhetoric mirrors circumstances preceding last year's Million Youth March, in which the city also refused to grant Muhammad a permit. The march took place only after federal courts overruled the city.

The four-hour event featured dozens of inflammatory speeches denouncing whites, Jews, black elected officials and police. As the rally wound down, Muhammad's closing speech ran beyond the allotted time and police officers in riot gear moved toward the stage while police helicopters flew low over the crowd.

Muhammad exhorted the crowd to beat or shoot officers if they were attacked, and some members of the audience threw barricades, chairs and bottles. Twenty-eight people were injured.

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