Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel encouraged yesterday Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's deployment of Fruit of Islam members in areas of the city hit especially hard with violence this year. Emanuel said that Farrakhan, whose name has become synonymous with anti-Semitic remarks, has a "role to play in helping to protect our neighborhoods and our citizens."

Emanuel's support comes after both the police union and several city aldermen backed Fruit of Islam efforts to make human walls of protection in violence-plagued neighborhoods.