Quanell X facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quanell X
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Quanell X at Joe Horn protest, December 2, 2007
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Quanell Ralph Evans
December 7, 1970 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Activist |
| Organization | Nation of Islam, New Black Panther Nation |
Quanell X (born Quanell Ralph Evans on December 7, 1970) is an activist and a leader of the New Black Panther Nation group in Houston, Texas. He is known for his work in the community and for speaking out on important issues.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Quanell Ralph Evans was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were part of the Nation of Islam. After his parents separated, Quanell moved to Houston. He lived with his grandmother, mother, and younger brother in the South Acres area. He went to Worthing High School there.
In September 1990, Quanell decided to join the Nation of Islam after hearing Louis Farrakhan speak. He became known as Quanell X and was chosen to be a spokesperson for the group because of his intelligence.
In July 1992, Quanell X's brother, Quinten Evans, died in Houston. Later, in August 2009, three men were charged in connection with the deaths of Quinten and three other people. Around this time, Quanell X also started working as an aide for State Representative Ron Wilson.
In 2008, Quanell X visited the Holocaust Museum Houston. He shared a statement asking for forgiveness for comments he had made about Jews. He said he understood how his words might have caused concern.
Before becoming a leader of the New Black Panther Nation, Quanell X was involved with M.F.O.I. (Mental Freedom Obtains Independence) and the New Black Panther Party.
Community Work and Activism
Quanell X has been involved in many community efforts. In 1999, he attended the trial of John William King for the murder of James Byrd, Jr.. Quanell X spoke out against the judge's rule that stopped protests outside the courthouse.
In October 2002, Quanell X traveled to Portland, Oregon, for a court hearing. He had previously worked with Jeffrey Battle, who was later convicted of a crime.
On March 30, 2004, Quanell X spoke at a Houston City Council meeting. He asked for a discussion about reparations for slavery, which the mayor had not allowed before. The discussion became heated, and Quanell X was asked to leave the meeting.
In June 2004, Quanell X was charged with trying to avoid arrest. However, the charge was later dropped, and the police department apologized to him. He also helped arrange the surrender of a person involved in a shooting.
Quanell X is known for helping to solve the March 2007 murder case of Texas A&M University student Tynesha Stewart. He was able to get a confession from Timothy Wayne Shepherd, the person suspected in the murder. Quanell X also spoke out when authorities decided not to search for Stewart's body in a landfill. Shepherd confessed to Quanell X, and it was later found that Stewart's remains could not be recovered.
Joe Horn Protest
Quanell X led a protest in Pasadena, Texas, on December 2, 2007. This protest was outside the home of Joe Horn. Horn had shot and killed two men who had broken into a neighbor's house. Horn had been told by a 911 operator not to confront the people, but he did.
Quanell X believed the shootings might have been related to race. He tried to speak to the media near Horn's house. There were also many people protesting against Quanell X's group. These counter-protesters made a lot of noise, chanting and waving flags. Quanell X used a bullhorn, but he could not be heard over the noise. Police were ready in case of any trouble between the groups.
Later, a grand jury looked into the case and decided that Horn would not go to trial. Quanell X then gave a speech on another street. In his speech, he talked about "black power" and how "white laws" were made to protect white people, especially in crimes against Black and Brown people.
Work from 2008 to 2010
On January 24, 2008, Quanell X asked for the resignation of district attorney Chuck Rosenthal. This was after emails showed that Rosenthal had sent and received racist messages while working. Quanell X organized a protest outside the courthouse.
In October 2008, a TV station reported that Quanell X received money for his work in helping to organize protests.
Quanell X also played a key role in another case involving Randy Sylvester Sr., a person suspected in a murder. Sylvester would only confess to Quanell X and told him where his missing children were. Quanell X convinced Sylvester to "do the right thing," and Sylvester led him and the police to the location where the children's remains were found.
After 2010 Community Efforts
In March 2011, Quanell X visited Cleveland, Texas. He spoke about the need for people in the community to be more involved. He raised concerns about how a crime could happen to a child late at night without anyone reporting it. He also questioned why the child's parents were not ensuring her safety.
On August 1, 2011, Quanell X urged people in inner city neighborhoods to stop the "No Snitching" idea. This idea means people don't give information to the police. He said this policy makes elders, women, and children live like hostages.
In July 2013, Quanell X and others protested and blocked a highway in Texas. This was after the decision in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. A large protest also took place in the River Oaks neighborhood. Despite worries about possible conflict, both groups remained peaceful.
Over the years, Quanell X has helped police by getting several people suspected of crimes to turn themselves in. He has also gotten confessions in important cases where the police could not. Many times, people in custody would only talk to Quanell X, so police had to call him to help solve the cases.
2023 Activities
In July 2023, Quanell X gained national attention for his involvement in the case of Rudy Farias. Farias was a Houston man who went missing as a teenager in 2015 and was found in 2023. Quanell X held a press conference where he criticized the Houston Police Department for what he saw as a slow response to the case.
See also
