At Baltimore rally, Malik Shabazz calls Bloods and Crips 'new generation' of community protectors

Brett T. | 6:00 PM on May 02, 2015

While thousands were marching in Baltimore today to celebrate the bringing of charges against six police officers accused of being responsible for the death of Freddie Gray, Malik Shabazz, national president of Black Lawyers for Justice and former national chairman of the New Black Panther Party, held a rally at which he praised much of the city’s youth — particularly those who were hurling concrete at police earlier in the week.

First, though, he had quite a bit to say about himself.

Malik Shabazz on the mic at #FreddieGrayProtest. Talking a lot about Malik Shabazz. Compares self to MLK.

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) May 2, 2015

Young people are chanting now at Shabazz from crowd: "LET THE YOUTH SPEAK!" Some seem like they're tired of him. "They comin, hush," he says

— Kevin Rector ☀️ (@RectorSun) May 2, 2015

Malik Shabazz made his whole long speech about him. Told the crowd to hush when we chanted let the youth speak #BlackSpring

— autumn marie (@msAutumnMarie) May 2, 2015

After calling for an end to the city’s curfew, Shabazz gave a shout-out to “the greatest youth of our generation” and suggested a replacement for the Baltimore police force: the Bloods and Crips.

Malik Shabazz in #Baltimore: "those kids throwing rocks & bottles are the greatest youth of our generation… they are revolutionaries!"

— RickLeventhalFoxNews (@RickLeventhal) May 2, 2015

Shabazz brings Bloods & Crips up on stage, calls them "the new generation of defenders and protectors" of community. We "don't need police."

— Kevin Rector ☀️ (@RectorSun) May 2, 2015