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Remembering the Siege of the Capital
The 40th Anniversary of Hamaas Khaalis's takeover of the B'Nai B'Rith Building, Islamic Center, and District Building and Lessons for Today
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
3:00PM - 4:30PM
Metropolitan Building, Room 5183
Special Guest: Dave Tevelin
Introduction by Prof. Rich Rubenstein
On March 9-11, 1977, Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, a Hanafi Muslim resident of D.C., seized control of the District Building, the Islamic Center, and the B’nai B’rith Building in Washington, D.C. During the siege, one person was killed, several others – including Marion Barry – were wounded, and more than 100 people were held hostage for 39 hours. Four years earlier, members of Elijah Mohammed’s Nation of Islam had slain seven members of Mr. Khaalis’ family, including three small children, at his home in Washington.
Dave Tevelin, formerly an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and the first Executive Director of the State Justice Institute, wrote a fascinating novel about the event entitled Siege Of The Capital. He was able to interview the major figures involved in the case and is the outstanding authority on what happened in March 1977, why it happened, and what the lessons of the event are for America in the Trump era.