CER 26-0080 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Al-Malik Farrakhan Cease Fire... Don't Smoke Brothers & Sisters, Inc. Ceremonial Resolution of 2025

This ceremonial resolution (CER 26-0080) honors Al-Malik Farrakhan and his organization, Cease Fire… Don’t Smoke The Brothers & Sisters, Inc., for 30 years of service to the District of Columbia. It recognizes the organization’s founding in 1993 and its work addressing gang violence, supporting ex-prisoners, and advocating for criminal justice reform - including organizing truces between rival gangs, registering over 4,000 new voters from correctional facilities, and opposing harsh sentencing laws. The resolution has no binding effect; it is purely symbolic recognition of their community impact.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics: Sentencing Violent Crime

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Council Passage

Sep 2025

Signed into Law

Sep 2025

Introduced Sep 16, 2025 Signed Sep 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was enrolled and formally adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The enrolled version includes additional substantive content about the organization's entrepreneurial initiatives and community mediation work that was not present in the original draft.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include recognition of the organization's business development efforts and community mediation work between different ethnic communities.

SCOPE

Added recognition of Cease Fire's establishment of the first Black-owned bottled water business in 1995, including ongoing contracts and entrepreneurial skills training.

Added recognition of Cease Fire's mediation work between Korean and Black communities, martial arts training sponsorship for 15 Black youth, and violence prevention projects that reduced gang conflicts.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill format from draft version to enrolled original with proper Council headers, date (September 17, 2025), and page numbering for official adoption.

Adjusted some text formatting and spacing throughout the document during the enrollment process.

Floor votes · Council Sep 17, 2025

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Sep 17, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Sep 17, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Sep 16, 2025

Introduced

CER26-0080 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors