The Political Repression of the Black Panther Party 1966-1971

Abstract

Throughout American history, certain organizations have been pulled into the maelstrom of political repression. Repression is action which grossly discriminates against persons or organizations viewed as presenting a fundamental challenge to existing power relationships or key governmental policies, because of their perceived political beliefs (Goldstein, 1978: xvi). These events are generally perceived as aberrations in America despite their reoccurrence (Levin, 1971; Wolfe, 1973; Goldstein, 1978). In the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party was one of several organizations claiming repression at the hands of government officials. Recent releases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Memoranda, describing the activities of COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program), lend credence to the Black Panther Party's accusations. One such memorandum indicated that the Racial Intelligence Section of COINTELPRO was established to expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalists (Blackstone, 1975: 30). Public statements made by key governmental officials in the late 1960s also support these claims of the Black Panther Party. Then Vice