Changes

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, calling for the government to change to a more [[communist]]ic economy. Contrary to activists such as [[Martin Luther King]], the Black Panthers called for violent action against [[racism]]. After King's assassination in 1968, the group began to arm its members as well as provide them with [[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, calling for the government to change to a more [[communist]]ic economy. Contrary to activists such as [[Martin Luther King]], the Black Panthers called for violent action against [[racism]]. 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 of the visible militancy of the the BPP, they often face police pressure. raids all across the country took the lives of prominent leaders such as Fred Hampton, the leader of the Chicago chapter, who was killed in a barrage of police bullets as he slept.

The Black Panthers marched into the [[California]] state capital fully armed, leading to the arrest of some group members. Because of the visible militancy of the the group, they often faced police pressure. A number of clashes in the Chicago area left members of the Panthers and police officers either killed or wounded.  A raid on the Panther's headquarters in Chicago led to the death of Fred Hampton, the leader of the Chicago chapter, who was killed and others wounded when the police opened fire.

The [[FBI]], under the leadership of of [[J. Edgar Hoover]] carried out a program of counter-intelligence known as [[COINTELPRO]]. Hoover's agents used false letters and undercover agents to create a divide in the BPP's leadership.

The [[FBI]], under the leadership of of [[J. Edgar Hoover]] carried out a program of counter-intelligence known as [[COINTELPRO]]. Hoover's agents used false letters and undercover agents to create a divide in the BPP's leadership.