A description of the Panther Party is complex as many individuals had different experiences within it. It was a revolutionary time. Rage was everywhere. In 1966 Oakland was dealing with a same sense of purpose and volatile relationship between police and blacks. Anyone could carry a firearm right to bear arms on public property as long as the arms were visible. The Panthers's armed Vanguard maintained a legal distance observing the police doing their job. The protest moved from LA to the capitol in Sacramento.

The 10-point Panther Platform included wants of: freedom, decent housing fit for the shelter of human beings, education, immediate end of police brutality, employment, welfare and health. This should sound really familiar to us considering the recent Black Lives Matter campaign. The objective was to dismantle oppressive capitalism. There was no time to screen members as the party grew way too quickly and cities wanted their own local chapter of the Black Panthers. It was a mixed bag of key players.

An urban look evolved with black leather jackets and the slogan of 'Black is beautiful' along with the progressiveness of black militants with natural afros and dashikis and a different portrayal of "self." There was a new swagger within the African American community.

'White' privilege felt threatened especially J. Edgar Hoover, head of the government intelligence service, who saw the Panthers as the nation's #1 terrorist threat. His mission was to have a counter intelligence program against its members with instructions to 'neutralize' by:
1)Preventing a rise of a messiah in the party
2)Preventing groups from gaining responsibility
3)Causing problems (i.e. discrediting individuals)
4) Recruiting informants

Yet, the face we tend to forget were the non threatening programs initiated during this period of unrest such as the Free Breakfast program cooked by Black Panthers which served some 20 thousand children weekly and 'free' clinics.

'Panther Pads' existed where members lived together, forming a community of whatever had to be done to take care of each other. There was crisis and chaos after the outright murder of Bobby Hutton, age 17, who surrendered after an explosion in the house where he was.

In '69 Nixon was elected with a platform to crack down, to repress without restriction, to enforce law. "Justice is incidental with law and order." The FBI manipulated the police with untruths calling the Panthers terrorists, and raided and bombed Panther headquarters. Not enough funds were available to defend and give the jailed legal help. Unable to post bail for 2 years, fundraising was held amidst the protests and fancy fundraisers were also held to have monies for legal representation. Finally the New York 21 received a victory of 156 not guilty verdicts.

Bobby Seale, co leader of the Panthers was arrested for an incendiary speech in '69 and chose to represent himself during the trial yet he his mouth was taped and he was tied down like a slave. Afterwards Bobby Seale ran for mayor and created momentum with his stump speeches. With the help of other Panther chapters voter registration was upped from 20 to 50 thousand. Although it wasn't enough to win the run off election, it was a victory nonetheless. Seale has remained an activist.

Eldridge Cleaver, author of 'Soul on Ice' made the party credible,"If a man like Malcolm X could change and repudiate racism, if I myself and other former Muslims can change, if young whites can change, then there is hope for America."Yet, he was uncontrollable and caused dissension within the leadership. Eldridge, a fugitive from the justice system, sought refuge in both Cuba and Algeria. Eventually he returned to the U.S. and became a born again Christian and Reagan supporter.

Huey Newton was charged with the Oct 28 1967 shooting of an officer and the movement to 'Free Huey' ensued. In 1970, he was finally re-tried and freed and continued to work for the survival of the Breakfast Feed the children and the Sickle Cell Anemia programs. Sadly Newton suffered from mental issues, surrounding himself with ex-convicts and became known for his abusive ways. He was killed in a drug related incident in '89.

Fred Hampton became the spokesman for the Panthers. "You can jail revolutionaries but you can't stop a revolution." His voice was for racial unity, joining various groups by class and building a broad base coalition. Unfortunately it was his body guard who was an informant. In December of ' 69 the FBI attacked the 21 year old Hampton's apartment with no warning nor implementation of tear gas but rather a submachine gun riddling Hampton and his apartment with bullets. The government had a corner on violence. The city of Chicago later would pay a large monetary settlement to Hampton's family.

4 days later in LA the Panthers prepared themselves knowing something was going to happen. The LA SWAT team would raid its headquarters. The media was notified and the nation saw what was happening first hand.

After the LA raid, the Panthers began to fall apart with no cohesiveness. The chanting of 'Power to the People' can never be forgotten by those who not only lived through those turbulent times but by those who now continue the struggle for equality. Let us not forget why Black Lives Matter in our white privilege society.