The leader of the New Black Panther Party delivered a no-nonsense message to African-American men Thursday — always obey the police or be prepared to die.
As the shell-shocked Baltimore recovered from the widespread violence and destruction that broke out following the death of Freddie Gray, Minister Quanell X told
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"I want every black man within the sound of my voice to listen: there's a common denominator with these cases.
"There's always some type of resistance to police authority or police instruction. I'm begging you, brothers, please do not resist the police."
Quanell X, who is also national spokesman for the New Black Panther Party Nation, said those who do resist police officers in a bid to "win your case in the streets" are flirting with serious injury or death.
"You've got a better chance of winning your case against police misconduct in a court than from a graveyard," he said on the "Steve Malzberg Show."
Baltimore is under a curfew as officials try to ease the explosive racial tension that has resulted in millions of dollars in damages.
Quanell X said America's historic black leaders would not look kindly on those who looted stores, torched cars, threw bricks, and injured dozens in response to the Gray's death in police custody.
"I believe that our ancestors would be ashamed that we took to the streets of Baltimore to destroy and burn down our own community. I do believe that," Quanell X said.
"But I don't think that they would be ashamed that we're continuously moving forward in that line of divide of protest when there's a need for it."
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