[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E64-E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 2017

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of 
the founding of the Black Panther Party.
  Originally called The Black Panther Party for Self Defense, the Party 
was founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in response to the 
wide-spread poverty, lack of economic and educational opportunities, 
and police oppression experienced by the African American community in 
Oakland, California.
  Promoting the idea of ``All Power to the People'', and unwilling to 
wait for the political and social leaders of the time to address the 
needs of the African American community, the Panthers took action 
themselves to force change and bring about liberation from all forms of 
human exploitation and oppression.
  The most immediate need that the Party addressed was the rampant 
abuse of power by the police, and they soon began undertaking patrols 
and holding rallies to highlight incidents of police brutality 
throughout the East Bay. The images of armed Panthers storming the 
State House in Sacramento in 1967 in opposition to the Mulford Act 
brought national attention to these efforts, and highlighted the dire 
circumstances that many African Americans experienced on a daily basis.
  Beyond self-defense, the Panthers undertook a wide assortment of 
social programs to help improve the quality of life for inner-city 
blacks, organized around the Party's Ten-Point Program. The Panthers 
started a free breakfast program for children, medical clinics, drug 
and alcohol rehab programs, free groceries and clothing giveaways, 
legal aid, education and a housing cooperative, among other 
initiatives.
  As the Panthers numbers and influence grew nationwide, federal 
authorities saw their work as a threat to national security and 
undertook operations to monitor, obstruct, and undermine the party's 
activities. FBI Director Hoover even called the Party the ``greatest 
threat to the internal security of the country'' in 1968, and directed 
the covert ``COINTELPRO'' to neutralize the Party and its members.
  Despite this opposition by the authorities, throughout the 1960's and 
1970's the Panthers became a national force for social

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change, empowering a new generation of African Americans to seize 
political power, partnering with other disenfranchised communities 
around the country, and demonstrating that the legacy of slavery and 
racial oppression still prevented so many from experiencing the promise 
of prosperity and equality that is the foundation of the American 
dream.
  I must also personally thank former Party Chairwoman Elaine Brown for 
her bold leadership, for being a strong role model for African American 
women, and for her friendship. Since 1971 I have witnessed her ability 
to face challenges with ``righteous indignation'' and a deep love for 
all people who lack power in our country. I was proud to work on her 
trailblazing campaign for Oakland City Council, and learned from her 
the importance of focusing on issues that have the ability to improve 
people's daily lives. For that I am deeply grateful.
  As we see so apparently every time another young African American is 
shot by police, the work of the Panthers is far from done. On behalf of 
California's 13th Congressional District, where the Panthers first came 
together and where their efforts were headquartered, I extend my 
sincerest congratulations to the Black Panther Party on the occasion of 
its 50th anniversary. Thank you to all who continue the work to combat 
racial oppression, and work for a world of true justice, peace, and 
equality.

                          ____________________