Minister Louis Farrakhan, the leader of The Nation Of Islam, has urged Black people to be cautious of any future coronavirus vaccine as he claims America has a record of not being trustworthy when it comes to the health of non-white citizens.
The 87-year-old gave this warning on the 4th of July holiday while delivering his long-awaited speech titled “The Criterion.”
“I say to my brothers and sisters in Africa…if they come up with a vaccine, be careful,” Farrakhan said before extending the warning to Black people in the United States.
“Do not take their medications. We need to call a meeting of our skilled virologists, epidemiologists, and students of biology and chemistry,” the religious leader and political activist said.
“We need to give ourselves something better. There are 14 therapies we can treat it with. The virus is a pestilence from Heaven. The only way to stop it is going to heaven.”
Farrakhan also criticized those in full support of a vaccine, saying there’s an agenda to lessen the population.
“They’re plotting to give 7 billion 500 million people a vaccination. Dr. Fauci, Bill [and Melinda] Gates, you want to depopulate the earth. What the hell gives you that right?” he questioned. “You’re sure to die now. They [just] want a quicker death.”
Currently, data shows that not many people are willing to get a vaccine when it becomes available, and this is largely due to trust issues.
Black people, who have been disproportionately devastated by COVID-19, earlier pointed out that they do not trust experimental drugs and medical institutions to participate in clinical trials that will help find a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus. This is in spite of observations by experts that a COVID-19 vaccine will only work if trials include Black participants.
Farrakhan, during his three-hour address, also touched on other issues America has had to grapple with, including protests against racial injustice and police brutality while calling on Donald Trump and other world leaders to atone for their sins.
Watch his full speech below: