Detroit Evening Report: Vigil held for longtime Detroit activist Malik Shabazz after suffering heart attack

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast.

Supporters gather at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich. after Malik Shabazz suffered a heart attack.

Longtime Detroit activist Malik Shabazz is on life support after suffering a massive heart attack.


Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.


Shabazz, founder of the New Black Panther Party/New Marcus Garvey Movement, was taken to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on Monday and is listed in critical condition.

A vigil was held in his honor in front of the hospital on West Grand Boulevard Tuesday afternoon.

Pastor  “Mo” Hardwick helped organize the gathering. He says it’s moving to see how many people showed up to support Shabazz.

“I see compassion for a man who exemplified compassion over people who were hurt and so we come to fight for him as he fought for others,” Hardwick says. “This is the new face of Detroit with compassion. Minister Malik Shabazz, live on and be healed.”

Shabazz has organized anti-crime citizen patrols and has demonstrated for civil rights in Detroit for many years. He also co-founded the Detroit 300 patrol group.

Other headlines for June 27, 2023:

  • Detroit Mayor Duggan expected to announce plans to turn vacant lots into solar panel parks
  • Thousands in Metro Detroit still without power after Sunday’s storms
  • Detroit Golf Club preps for Rocket Mortgage Classic
  • Air quality alert extended to Wednesday for all of Michigan

WDET reporter Juma Sei contributed to this story.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

Author

  • Jerome Vaughn
    Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.