Farrakhan urges Obama to fight

• Tweet

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan spoke of a racist America and urged President Obama to fight for his presidency at a rally in Charlotte, N.C.

In a speech billed as a Muslim "blueprint for ending need and want," Farrakhan, 79, instead offered a two-hour sermon Sunday on racial themes at an event marking the 17th anniversary of the 1995 "Million Man March" on Washington, saying: "Mr. President, you've got to realize you're fighting for your presidential life. You're fighting for your vision of the Democratic Party and the country."

Farrakhan also accused Republicans of "overt" racist motives in their opposition to Obama and attacked a political process controlled, he said, by moneyed interests eager to "keep America white," The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.

"You aren't going to win any more white votes by being kind and gracious," he said, speaking to Obama. "Be a little black."

The address was attended by about 6,000 people, the newspaper said.