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'''The Black Panther Party''' (originally named the ''The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense'') was a  [[United States]] based militant organization from 1966 to 1971, which consisted of thousands of members and spread across several major cities. In 1969, then director of the[[FBI| Federal Bureau of Intelligence]], [[J. Edgar Hoover]], said, "The Black Panthers are the greatest threat to the internal security of [[America]].”<ref>http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/13/interviews/seale/</ref>

'''The Black Panther Party''' (originally named the ''The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense'') was a  [[United States]]-based militant organization that operated from 1966 to 1971. The Panthers had thousands of members and spread across several major cities. In 1969, then-director of the[[FBI| Federal Bureau of Intelligence]], [[J. Edgar Hoover]], said, "The Black Panthers are the greatest threat to the internal security of [[America]].”<ref>http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/13/interviews/seale/</ref>

==History==

==History==

The Party was organized in 1966 by two [[Oakland]] college students, [[Huey Percy Newton]] and [[Bobby Seale]], to fight  the [[United States]] government for being a "raciest [and] capitalists state". The group particularly criticized the United States economic structure, called for the government to change to a more [[communist]]ic economic structure. Contrary to [[civil rights]] activist [[Martin Luther King]], the Black Panther Party used speeches to call for violent action to settle [[civil rights]] disputes. After King's assassination in 1968, the group began to arm its members as well as provide [[military]] training.

The Party was organized in 1966 by two [[Oakland]] college students, [[Huey Percy Newton]] and [[Bobby Seale]], to fight  the [[American]] government as a "racist [and] capitalist state". The group criticized in particular the American economic structure, callinf for the government to change to a more [[communist]]ic economy. Contrary to [[civil rights]] activists such as [[Martin Luther King]], the Black Panthers called for violent action to settle racial disputes. After King's assassination in 1968, the group began to arm its members as well as provide them with [[military]] training.

The Black Panthers marched into the [[California]] state capital fully armed, leading to the arrest of some group members.  Because many prominent Panther members had [[criminal]] records, the police began to confront the party's leadership. The confrontation led to the death of more then 29 police officers as well as Black Panther members.<ref>http://www.stanford.edu/group/blackpanthers/</ref> Bobby Steale, one of the founders, was arrested after the confrontation.  This raid had the effect of limiting the Black Panthers ability to function. The leaders of the now split apart group looked for asylum. This led to airline hijackings in [[Cuba]], [[Algeria]] and [[North Korea]], where they requested political asylum.  

The Black Panthers marched into the [[California]] state capital fully armed, leading to the arrest of some group members.  Because many prominent Panther members had [[criminal]] records, the police began to confront the party's leadership. The confrontation led to the death of more then 29 police officers as well as Black Panther members.<ref>http://www.stanford.edu/group/blackpanthers/</ref> Bobby Steale, one of the founders, was arrested after the confrontation.  This raid had the effect of limiting the Black Panthers' ability to function. The leaders of the now split-apart group sought asylum. This led to airline hijackings in [[Cuba]], [[Algeria]] and [[North Korea]], where they requested political asylum.  

==Partnership==

==Partnership==

The Black Panther Party carried out many organizational initiatives along with the arming and rioting they carried out. They formed links with organizations such as ''Peace and Freedom Party'', ''Poor People's March'', ''Brown Berets'', ''Cesar Chavez'', along with others  farm labor movements;  ''American and Indian Movement''; and  the''Young Puerto Rican Brothers''.  

The Black Panther Party carried out many organizational initiatives along with arming mmbers and rioting. They formed links with organizations such as the Peace and Freedom Party, the Poor People's March, the Brown Berets, [[Cesar Chavez]] and with other farm labor movements;  the American Indian Movement; and  the Young Puerto Rican Brothers.  

Black Panther founder, Bobby Seales, claimed that the reasons for the joining of other coalitions was because the organization was for "all power to all the people, not just black power.”<ref>http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/13/interviews/seale/</ref> They also worked with the ''Preventive Medical Health Care Clinic's'' and ''Breakfast for Children Program'', which gave the militant group good publicity.  

Seales claimed that the reasons for the joining of other coalitions was because the organization was for "all power to all the people, not just black power.”<ref>http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/13/interviews/seale/</ref> They also worked with the Preventive Medical Health Care Clinics and the Breakfast for Children Program, which gave the militant group good publicity.  

==Membership==

==Membership==

Two years after the Black Panthers founding, in 1998,  the organization consisted of 400 hundred members, mainly from the poor parts of Oakland. When [[Martin Luther King]] died the party grew to include five thousand members with over 45 chapters and branches. The organization also published a newspaper which by 1969, circulated to over 250,000 subscribers.  

Two years after the Black Panthers, founding, in 1998,  the organization counted 400 hundred members, mainly from the poor parts of Oakland. When [[Martin Luther King]] died membership grew to five thousand with over 45 chapters and branches. The organization also published a newspaper which by 1969 circulated to over 250,000 subscribers.  

==References==

==References==