In a shocking turn of events, Dr. Umar Johnson’s FDMG Academy faces imminent closure as the City of Wilmington, Delaware, announces plans to auction off the property due to unpaid taxes and registration fees. This devastating news comes just weeks before a critical deadline on August 25, leaving Johnson scrambling for funds amid frozen accounts and mounting financial liabilities.

In a heartfelt yet desperate plea, Johnson revealed that he received no prior notification of the auction, only a notice hastily placed on the door of the school. The city demands over $60,000 in back taxes and fees, a staggering sum that Johnson claims he cannot pay due to his financial situation. “Why are they trying to sell our campus at the very moment that our accounts are frozen?” he lamented, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Tariq Nasheed, a prominent figure in the community, has weighed in on the crisis, labeling it a potential “nail in the coffin” for pan-Africanism. He criticized Johnson’s lack of transparency regarding the school’s financial status and past promises, suggesting that the community has been misled. “You have been notified on the dates, the paperwork. You got to pay taxes on this land,” Nasheed stated, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

As supporters rally for a protest at City Hall, the fate of the FDMG Academy hangs in the balance. This unfolding drama not only threatens the future of Johnson’s vision but also raises critical questions about accountability and leadership within the pan-African movement. With tensions running high and the clock ticking, the community watches anxiously to see if Johnson can avert this impending disaster and salvage his dream of a school for African American children.