What’s old is new again, again. Fox News knows
how to get ratings and the Black Pan
thers are back.
This U.W. site has the backstory on the Black Panther Party Seattle chapter. Check out this 1969 photo showing the Seattle Panthers gathering at the Capitol, weapons in hand.
Click for the super high res.
Image shows several armed members of the Seattle Chapter of
the Black Panther Party for Self Defense standing on the steps of the Washington State Legislative Building, February 28, 1969.
A group of Seattle Panthers led by Lt. Elmer Dixon gathered on the steps of the Capitol in Olympia to protest a bill that would make it a crime to exhibit firearms “in a manner manifesting an intent to intimidate others.” In contrast to a California demonstration, they did not enter the building and they were not arrested. Image courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.
What funny timing for me for this photo! My mom was just telling me a story about walking through the U. District in 1969 and a Black Panther handed her a flyer, trying to engage her in conversation. She said he was really intelligent but she was rather intimidated by him, as he towered over her. I can now put an image to this story!
Another instance of “funny timing”: I am a deputy court clerk for King County Superior Court and today, not half an hour after seeing this photo, I processed sentencing documents for someone convicted of 2 counts of “Display of a weapon to intimidate”! So I gather the Panthers’ protest was not successful.
Now that is a coincidence, TomK, as about 30 minutes after viewing this picture, I was convicted of two counts of….oh.
Hey, what’s Blagojevich doing there?
@Bruce: I was thinking he looked more like Dan White than blago
I’m sorry I had to fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.