Who We Are

Cease Fire…DSTBS was born from the uncompromising vision and lived experience of The Honorable Al-Malik Farrakhan (formerly Leroy 8X Green), a leader forged in the crucible of Washington, D.C.’s streets, courtrooms, jail cells, and communities. After spending 21 years incarcerated—fighting not only for his own redemption but for social justice—Brother Farrakhan returned home in 1993 to find D.C.’s youth locked in cycles of violence and despair. Refusing to stand by, he ignited a movement rooted in radical love, street-level outreach, and unshakable faith in the potential of our people.

From that moment forward, Cease Fire...DSTBS became more than an organization—it became a lifeline. It was launched with a historic truce brokered between five rival gangs in the Mayor’s Office, a moment that galvanized community healing and signaled the start of something revolutionary. Over the last 30 years, Cease Fire has marched, mediated, mentored, and mobilized, reclaiming corners and consciousness alike. With Brother Farrakhan’s unyielding leadership—grounded in his own transformation and belief in our collective power—Cease Fire has stood as a testament to what’s possible when we meet violence not just with policy, but with presence, purpose, and peace.

We are not a campaign. We are a calling. One life, one block, one generation at a time—we don’t just call for peace. We build it.