Key West Lou COMMENTARY / BLACK PANTHERS RETURN

BLACK PANTHERS RETURN

By Louis Petrone

History repeats itself.

The Black Panther movement began in 1966 and had basically run its course by 1982. Small straggler groups of no significance remained.

Tough blacks! They challenged police brutality. For them, the revolution had come. Police were “pigs.” The Black Panthers were militants who believed in social revolution. They  burned and blew up buildings, shot and killed police officers. Vietnam was in full swing. They opposed the draft and de facto segregation.

In the end, some were killed, others went to jail, and a number have escaped capture and prosecution to this day. Interestingly, some became prominent political figures and were elected to public office.

Ferguson several months ago reactivated the movement. In Dallas, Texas. They call themselves the New Black Panthers.

Five insignificant groups existed in Dallas till the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson. The five came together and formed the Huey P. Newton Gun Club. Huey Newton was a leading Black Panther back when. Later when Staten Island’s

Eric Garner was killed, they added his death to to their list of reasons why they exist.

The Dallas Black Panthers are shades of the 1960s organization.  They label police as “pigs.” and claim police brutalize black people.

The Black Panthers assert two reasons for their formation. They were formed for purpose of self-defense. The self-defense of blacks. A second reason is they support gun rights. Surprisingly, Texas is one of six States that does not have an open carry gun law. They support such a law. In so doing, they refer to themselves as the Black NRA.

The Dallas group consists of former Army Rangers and private citizens. They wear military apparel and carry assault rifles.

Violence begets violence. A people can only be defecated on so long before they react. The Dallas Black Panthers are as Texans of old: Don’t Tread On Me!

The contingency refer constantly to the fact that in the past 12 years in Dallas, over 70 unarmed individuals have been shot and killed by police. Most of them black and Hispanic. They further are quick to point out that the Grand Jury process does not work. There have been no indictments in Dallas since 1973 of any police officer who killed any one.

They are serious minded. They patrol Dallas streets. Their training significant. Knives play a big part. From their perspective, a knife changes the whole game. They train their “troops” to perform slash and stab maneuvers.

The group publicly marches singing…..”No longer will we let the pigs slaughter our brothers and sisters and not say a damn thing about it.” Also…..”I used to salute the f–king flag! Now I use it for a rag!” “Black power” is another chant.

They compare themselves to the American Revolution’s Minute Men.

The Dallas Black Panthers are not a rag tail group. They are well funded. Donations come in from all over the country. Some think the Koch Brothers support them. They are not considered a liberal group. They are believed to be to the far right.

They are considered a hate group. Denounced as such by the Anti-Defamation League, The Southern Poverty Law Center and Bobby Seale. Bobby Seale co-founded the original Black Panthers with Huey Newton in 1966.

It is expected the movement will grow and spread.

Startling!

Assumed police power is the reason we are at this point. Police abuse in every form must be stopped. Attempts are being made. None enough. We are not even to first base yet in addressing the problem.