Huey P Newton and Black Panthers Interviews

Speaker 1: Let me ask you a question in light of that thing that was in the paper this morning. You had sent out instructions to, um, to keep Oakland cool and such because the police were ready and prepared to— for the Panthers.

Speaker 2: To use restraint. And we're asking the Black community in general not to respond to the vicious attacks that the police are making upon our people.

Speaker 1: We feel that Chief Gaines and Mayor Redding would like to provoke the community Do you think the action this morning at Panther headquarters is representative of the general feeling within the department, or just the acts of several men?

Speaker 2: I think what happened this morning is the modus operandi of the police. I say this based upon the fact that the police are not responding Emotionally or on the spur of the moment. 10 months ago, or 12 months ago now, the police shot up our office on 58th and Grove Street. I had witnesses to this, but it's difficult to report one criminal to another criminal. It was not reported to the police department. So it's nothing new for the police to provoke Black people in our community. They do it every day. And this is why that the solution that the Black Panthers offer to The people, the citizens in general, is to stop this kind of action, is to— for the police to withdraw from the community. If the police were to withdraw from the community and the black community control its own police institution, as well as all the other institutions within our community, we feel that law and order would exist and peace.

Speaker 1: Do you feel confident you'll be able— you'll be released on bail? What was presented in the trial by either side—

Speaker 2: No, that's why I'm sure that it was a comp— I respect— oh, Mr. Greer. Mr. Greer was a paid man, I believe, by the DA's department. He was held in protective custody at Lake Merritt Hotel. And he stated that he had— well, there's information that he had quit his job or he hadn't worked for some time, and that I think that the DA's department was paying his way. I think that it was strictly a Judas-type sellout. I think that it was a paid man.

Speaker 1: In terms of the verdict, again?

Speaker 3: Well, it will only affect it in this respect, that we've constantly maintained that this is the conduct and the attitude of the certain members of the police department, and that they're running roughshod over the rights of the Black community. We have filed a suit in the federal court under the Civil Rights Act, and we intend to continue and prosecute that case.

Speaker 2: I, I understand that the police About the community, both black and white community. We've been dedicated to law and order ever since the origin of the party, and that it hasn't stopped now. We're asking— we've asked in the past, and the opportunity is still open to Chief Gaines and the mayor to negotiate with the Black Panther Party. And we're willing to talk. And as always, that our communication lines are open, and that we would like to have some peaceful solutions. I'm asking you to stop talking about the community, both black and white community. —solution to the crucial problem throughout the black community. Today, or when they fired into our office, it's hard to say. That it's difficult to deal with rabble-rousers. First, you have to civilize and tame them, or socialize them. It seems that they have no respect for law and order. They have no respect for the values of man. And they seem to be very unsocialized, and they need first to be taught the basic values Now, as far as the Black Panther Party is concerned, we're willing to open up schools throughout the community and teach the police the law and also the other government officials. We can teach them the nature of our— the needs of our community. And we will— we would like to see a peaceful solution, because we don't want to see anyone killed or hurt. This is on either side. I think it's unfortunate when people are— when— Can I ask you a question?

Speaker 4: Thank you.

Speaker 2: Same process, y'all have to keep quiet. We have been trying to keep out of the press, but what's happening is that the police forces of the state, of the country, are moving down.

Speaker 4: Before I was arrested was all dedicated to seeing to it that Huey P. Newton is set free, and I plan to go back to that with a little bit of rededication to it. Come here, James.

Speaker 1: Your side of the story.

Speaker 4: My part was in ducking bullets and to see to it that the public becomes aware of what's being done to this man. We haven't changed in that regard, and we intend to. Rededicate ourselves to that effort, and to work hard on it, and to see to it that Huey P. Newton is set free.

Speaker 5: Or collaborators or associates, which is showing them a bit more respect than they have shown for him.

Speaker 4: What I hope happens to it.

Speaker 5: How's he well treated, Elder? Yes. Showing the party to the public.

Speaker 2: Before he criticizes the problems during your campaign.

Speaker 1: Just a notice, though.

Speaker 4: Just a notice. The only problems are—

Speaker 5: because we believe in law and order. We believe not in law and order in terms of fascism and justice, and we all— we believe this is what we want. But we're saying that we'll act a party with the community control of police petition. Now, this is very legal, to get registered voters to sign the petition to vote in a new community control of police, decentralized police Police department. Police department, you know, where the people actually control, place a proposition on the ballot. Now, say the majority of the people vote in. You see, now that's what we're getting. We're getting the majority of the signatures even on the petitions even before we go to the ballot. Then the majority of the people can actually in fact vote. After they voted in, say the police department said, well, we're not removing ourselves. Then that police department will be officiating itself as fascist. They presently have fascist tactics now, of course. But then at the point where it officiates itself as fascist in this manner, where it denies the people's right to vote and vote out and vote in new systems for their future safety, security, and happiness, then I would automatically advocate overt guerrilla warfare upon that illegal police department, you see.

Speaker 1: But you don't feel we're at that point yet?

Speaker 5: I don't feel we're at that point yet, no. I don't. I think that it's very necessary for even the radicals in the streets to see this.