Killing the Messenger

Investigative reporter Thomas Peele talked about his book in which he recounts the murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey on August 2, 2007 in Oakland, California. Mr. Bailey was working on an article for the Oakland Post about Your Black Muslim Bakery, an organization founded by Yusuf Ali Bey who preached a strain of Black Muslim beliefs that was marked by polygamist practices. Following Bey’s death in 2003, his son Yusuf IV assumed leadership of the group, and ordered the murder of Mr. Bailey to stop the publication of his article. Following Chauncey Bailey’s death, a group of investigative reporters, including Thomas Peele, created the Chauncey Bailey project to complete Mr. Bailey’s article. Thomas Peele was joined by Martin Reynolds, the lead editor on the Chauncey Bailey Project at Diesel Bookstore in Oakland. Mr. Peele read passages from his book and responded to questions from members of the audience. close