Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge

Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge (ISUPK) is an American non-profit organization and black supremacist,[1][2][3] extremist religious sect[4] based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The group is part of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement,[1][2][3][4] which regards American blacks as descendants of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.[3][4] The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the ISUPK a hate group, citing its extremist ideology and black supremacist rhetoric.[1][2][3]

The ISUPK High Holy Day in Harlem, N.Y., Passover 2012.
The ISUPK performing in Washington, D.C., on October 10, 2014, at the corner of H and 7th Street N.W.
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The group is a part of the One West Camp movement, an offshoot of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ,[3] and uses a variation on the former name of that group.[3] Alongside numerous other sects and organizations within the Black Hebrew Israelite movement,[4] ISUPK expounds extremist, black supremacist, religious anti-Semitic, and anti-White racist beliefs,[4] as well as homophobic, transphobic, and sexist beliefs.[4]

Volume controversy

ISUPK has demonstrated many times at the corner of Seventh and H streets in Washington, D.C., since 2004,[5] but residents complain that the group amplifies its open-air preaching to more than 90 decibels and that its message is offensive.[6] Some homeowners say that the group accuses white and gay people of destroying historically black neighborhoods, and at least one resident has complained of being called a "cracker, a slave owner, [and] a white devil," but they reiterate that the volume of the group's message, rather than the message's content, is the real problem.[7]

The ISUPK's volume and the volume of other groups prompted Washington's municipal government to consider passing an ordinance in order to "resolve the issue."[8] The measure would have limited the volume of daytime noncommercial speech to 70 decibels, but it died because of free-speech concerns.[9] ISUPK's regional director, General Yahanna, defended the group, saying that residents' real issue was not sound, but the content of the group's message.[8] The group identifies its message as saving local residents' souls and discouraging people from drugs and crime; it regards its separatist teachings as the real objection which residents have.[7]

References
  1. "God and the General. Leader Discusses Black Supremacist Group". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. Fall 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. "Racist Black Hebrew Israelites becoming More Militant". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. Fall 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. "History of Hebrew Israelism". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. "Extremist Sects Within the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement". Adl.org. New York: Anti-Defamation League. September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. Seregi, Marianne. "How Loud is Loud? Across the District, Residents Are Seeking Relief From Jarring, Vexing, Headache-Inducing Noise". The Washington Post. Saturday, September 22, 2007. pp. B01. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. Segraves, Mark (February 21, 2008). "Bring The Noise". WTOP-FM. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. Sabar, Ariel (March 12, 2008). "In a Changing Neighborhood, the Gospel Falls on Achy Ears". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. "Faith group hit for being too loud". The Washington Times. February 27, 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. Stewart, Nikita (February 20, 2008). "Measure Tabled Over Unions' Free-Speech Concerns". The Washington Post. pp. B02. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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