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This makes it easier for Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made illegal.
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The Black Panther Party was formed and primarily based in Oakland, CA.
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Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale write the first draft of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP) 10 - Point Program.
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Sixteen-year-old Bobby Hutton becomes the first male recruit of the BPP.
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First BPP office opens at 5624 Grove Street, Oakland, CA.
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*in Oakland, CA
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Stokely Carmichael, a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), coins the phrase "black power" in a speech in Seattle. He defines it as an assertion of black pride and "the coming together of black people to fight for their liberation by any means necessary." The term's radicalism alarms many who believe the civil rights movement's effectiveness and moral authority crucially depend on nonviolent civil disobedience.
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The first issue of the Black Panther Party Black Community News Service is published. This four-page mimeograph newspaper headlines "Why Was Denzil Dowell Killed?"
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protesting the legislation that limits the right to bear arms
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A "Free Huey" rally is held at the Oakland Auditorium on Newton's birthday. More than 5,000 supporters attend including Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, James Forman, Ron Dellums, and Peace and Freedom Party representatives.
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becomes best seller
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An FBI memo from J. Edgar Hoover outlines goals to his staff to "Prevent the coalition of militant black nationalist groups."
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Bobby Hutton, 17 year old Black Panther Party member- also the first male recruit, is shot and killed. An Oakland police officer is also killed. The shoot-out also results in the murder of Bobby Hutton; Eldridge Cleaver is wounded. Seven other Panthers are arrested.
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Panther volunteers register Oakland citizens to vote.
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Eldridge Cleaver takes Panther case to the United Nations.
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The West Oakland Panther office opened by Tommy Jones, Glen Stafford, and other dedicated Panther volunteers.
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More than 6,000 protestors come out in support of Huey Newton on the steps of the Alameda County Courthouse in Oakland. The national and international press is present as well as the National Guard.
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The newly formed Brown Berets make their appearance on the courthouse steps in support of Huey.
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The West Oakland Party office is raided and ransacked by police.
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Chairman Bobby Seale and Captain David Hilliard speak to a crowd of 5,000 across the street from the Democratic National Convention.
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Sentenced to 2-15 years. Court of appeals reverses the conviction and then there were two more trials- ends in mistrials. Newton's jury deliberates for four days and in the end come up with a compromise verdict, convicting Huey of voluntary manslaughter. He is acquitted of the assault charge and the kidnap charges are dropped.
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J. Edgar Hoover declares the Black Panther Party the "greatest threat to the internal security of the country".
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Huey P. Newton is sentenced to 2 to 15 years in state prison and removed from Oakland in five minutes. Judge Friedman refuses al meetings for granting a mistrial.
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Four hours after Huey's conviction, two (admittedly drunk) on-duty Oakland police officers commit a drive-by shooting of the BPP office on Grove Street.
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Eldridge Cleaver's parole is revoked and he is sent back to prison.
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The Panthers' Free Breakfast for Children Program (FBCP) is under way at St. Augustine's Church in Oakland.
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Vallejo, CA, Black Panther Party starts Free Breakfast for Children Program with 35 children. Within a week the number of children grows to 110
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Panthers Bobby Seale and Masai Hewitt tour Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
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"Free Huey" rallies are held in 20 major cities at U.S. federal district courts.
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The Liberation School, a BPP survival program, starts.
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In Oakland, the United Front Against Fascism conference runs 3 days. The goal is to plan and discuss community control of police.
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Bobby Seale is kidnapped by Berkeley police after leaving the wedding of Masai Hewitt and Shirley Neely. He is immediately taken to San Francisco and charged with initiating the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and New Haven murder of Alex Rackley.
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The BPP in Chicago opens a free medical health clinic.
Another major survival program. -
Los Angeles police department launches a full- scale attack on Southern California Panthers in a predawn raid. At two separate locations, 400 officers arrest Party members and children. During one shoot-out, Roland Freeman's body is riddled with bullets, but he survives.
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