Nation of Islam denies link to store vandalism

By The Associated Press

OAKLAND -- Members of the Nation of Islam spoke out Saturday against allegations that their group was connected to vandalism at two liquor stores, where young men wearing suits and bow ties were seen trashing the businesses.

Minister Tony Muhammad, the Muslim group's West Coast leader, joined some elected officials in condemning the acts. He denied any involvement by Nation of Islam members, who are known for wearing suits and bow ties.

"Just because men dress in suits and ties don't mean all the black men in suits and ties are gang members or thugs, nor do we go and vandalize store merchants," Muhammad said.

The attacks occurred Wednesday in West Oakland at San Pablo Market and Liquor, then New York Market, where about a dozen men swept liquor bottles off shelves, knocked over racks of food and smashed refrigerator doors with metal pipes, authorities said.

Investigators were looking into the incidents as hate crimes because most liquor stores in the area are owned by Arabs or Arab-Americans, and the suspects told the merchants during the attacks not to sell liquor to black people.

Oakland police said Saturday that there were no arrests in the case, but investigators were making progress, aided by surveillance video at one of the stores.

"No one from the Nation of Islam is under investigation," Deputy Chief Howard Jordan said Saturday. "We are satisfied that they are not involved in this."

Jordan declined, however, to say whether a separate black Muslim group, which operates the Your Black Muslim Bakery store chain and whose members also wear suits and bow ties, was under investigation.

In January 1993, Muslims affiliated with the bakery were involved in a similar incident at a North Richmond store, police said.

Yusuf Bey IV, a bakery official, told the Oakland Tribune on Friday that he only learned of the incidents in media reports.

"I have no idea who could have done this because there are a whole lot of Muslims around here," Bey said.

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