Farrakhan Sets Black Vote Goal of ‘3rd Political Power’

WASHINGTON —  A drive begun at this week’s huge rally of black men will seek to register millions of black voters for “a third political power” not bound to any party, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said Wednesday.

“We intend to be a force in the next election,” Farrakhan said. “We intend never again that our vote and our presence will be taken for granted by anyone.”

Farrakhan said he personally will never seek office.

But he said: “We in the Nation of Islam, having never before become thoroughly involved politically, intend to make practically all of our membership registrars.

“We will vote independently. We may be Democrat, we may be Republican, we may be independent--but our loyalty will be to an agenda.”

He would not lay out that agenda, except to say that it would be in the best interests of the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable.

In the past, he said, millions of black voters “have been so dispirited, they have not gone to the polls in large numbers.”

“We’re here today to send a clear message across this land that our people now will become so organized that we will be looking at every major political race in every district where black people can make a difference.”

Still exulting in the success of Monday’s “Million Man March,” Farrakhan went to a building set up for the voter registration drive. He spoke in a small room jammed with reporters, camera crews and many of his supporters.

Cora Masters Barry, wife of Washington Mayor Marion Barry and the head of the drive, said that at least 150,000 voter registration cards were filled out during the rally but that it is too early to tell how many actually signed up.

She and Farrakhan said the continuing campaign seeks to register 8 million eligible black voters.

In 1994, 85 million people voted, only 45% of the voting-age population. The turnout for whites was 47%, compared to 37% for blacks and 19% for Latinos, a Census Bureau survey said.

Voter registration has been on the increase because of the “motor-voter law,” which enables people to register when they apply for a driver’s license or visit a government office.