Murder at the Harlem mosque

by John Devaney and Sonny Grosso

In 1972, a white cop is murdered inside the Harlem Mosque, temple of the militant and hostile Black Muslims. This event sets forth a number of political and social ramifications. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517529718
• ISBN13: 9780517529713
• Release Date: January 1977
• Publisher: Crown Publishers
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of the best books I have ever read.

This is the riveting story of how in 1972 officers responding to a false "10-13" (officer in trouble) call entered the Harlem Mosque and were attacked, one murdered, and the incident's aftermath. As tragic as it was, the murder was not the real story. In fact, several officers had been ambushed and murdered in the same precinct within a year of this incident by a group calling themselves the Black Liberation Army (BLA)*. The real story is how the Black Muslims, lead by Minister Louis Farrakhan, had the mayor and police commissioner so intimidated that they ordered all police officers out of the Mosque, which was now a crime scene, severely hampering the murder investigation. They later ordered all white officers to stay away from the entire area of the mosque to appease Farrakhan and his followers. This book is an indictment of the higher echelons of a police department that was more concerned with maintaining an appearance of race relations than solving the murder of a police officer. *It is unclear if the BLA was involved in this incident but the modus operandi of calling in a false report to lure officers into a trap was very similar to this incident.

Disgraceful

There is no coincidence that this book is almost impossible to find a copy of this book, because the powers that be don't want you to read it. I hope you are proud of yourself Congressman Rangel.

THE SAD TRUTH UNCOVERED

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!!!! THE TRUTH BY THOSE WHO WERE THERE. TO THIS DAY NO POLITICIAN OR POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS EVER OFFERED ANY ACCOUNT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY!! THE MOST ATROCIUOS COVER-UP THAT HAS EVER OCCURED IN NEW YORK! REMEMBER CARDILLO!!!!

A "must read" for ALL New Yorkers--cop and civilian alike

This book (which most individuals outside of the NYPD do not even know exists these days) is a "must read" for ALL thoughtful New Yorkers--black or white; liberal or conservative. Without reading it, one does not understand crucial events that affected the city's racial relations, changed part of Harlem's culture, were a large part of the drastic change within the NYPD in the past century, and even the altered the face of the city's judicial and political system.Many people seem to wish the book were never written--much to their (and the city's) disgrace. One may not like (or agree with) everything that is set forth in this account--but it should still be read. If the city's racial relations are ever going to be honestly dealt with, the incidents described in this book (albeit, from one prespective) must be acknowledged and discussed, NOT swept under the rug. To do so simply breeds even greater resentment and misunderstanding.If New Yorkers truly want to have a more educated understanding what makes their city "tick"--this book is a "must read". My heartfelt recommendation to all fellow New Yorkers (as a "born and raised Upper West Sider" with no family on the NYPD) is to purchase a used, dog-eared copy. Then find a day or two to read it, ponder it, discuss it, and proceed to lend it to someone else so they may do the same. With any luck, they will a) want to discuss the book with you and b) give you yet another book to read that will enlighten you even further and enrich your discussions and mutual understanding of this marvelous city's complex history."May learning grow from more to more, and so may human life be enriched."

A Must for all cops

These two guys really spell out the true story of one of New York Citys most disturbing secrets. The cover up by the NYPD of the murder of one of its own, during the days when the black panthers were gunning down cops on city streets and the Mayor played politics with the lives of cops. I strongly recommend this book to all cops, exspecialy the new guys coming on the job today. Good bless you Phil.