Geronimo Pratt
Geronimo Pratt | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
Service/ | United States Army |
Rank | Sergeant |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | Silver Star Bronze Star (2) Purple Heart (2) |
Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt (September 13, 1947 – June 2, 2011), also known as Geronimo Ji-Jaga and Geronimo Ji-Jaga Pratt, was a decorated military veteran and a high-ranking member of the
The Federal Bureau of Investigation targeted Pratt in a COINTELPRO operation in the early 1970s, intended to "neutralize Pratt as an effective BPP functionary."[1] Pratt was tried and convicted in 1972 for the 1968 murder of Caroline Olsen; he served 27 years in prison, eight of which were in solitary confinement. Pratt was freed in 1997 when his conviction was vacated due to the prosecution's having withheld exculpatory evidence that tended to prove his innocence. This decision was upheld on appeal.[2]
He worked as a human rights activist until the time of his death. Pratt was also the godfather of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.[2] He died of a heart attack in Tanzania, on June 3, 2011.[3]
Early years and military service
Elmer Pratt was born in Morgan City, Louisiana, where his father was in the scrap metal business. Pratt was raised Catholic. Pratt was a star quarterback at Sumpter Williams High School.
He served two combat tours as a soldier in the
.UCLA and Black Panther Party
After leaving the Army, Pratt studied political science at
chief and leader of resistance to US domination, and "Ji-Jaga," after a Central African tribe.In 1971, his wife Saundra was killed when she was 8 months pregnant and her body was left in a ditch. The murder was attributed at the time to a BPP schism between supporters of
By January 1970, the Los Angeles
Murder charges
In 1968, Caroline Olsen, a 27-year-old elementary school teacher, was murdered by gunshot during a robbery on a
His attorney, Johnnie Cochran, argued that the charges should be dropped. He claimed that Pratt had been 350 miles away on the night of the murder. Pratt was convicted in 1972. Journalist and author Jack Olsen reported that FBI "moles" had infiltrated defense sessions and monitored Cochran's phone calls.[9]
Prison
While Pratt was incarcerated at
Murder conviction vacated
The conviction was
On July 24, 1997, Pratt returned to his hometown of
In 1998, Pratt's longtime friend and attorney
Later years
Pratt continued to work until his death on behalf of men and women wrongfully convicted. He participated in rallies in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, whom he had met when both were active as Black Panthers. In his later years, he moved to Tanzania, where he was living at the time of his death.[4]
References
- ^ LA 157-3436, the partially redacted COINTELPRO file on Geronimo Pratt
- ^ a b Jigsaw (September 18, 2003). "Geronimo Ji Jaga: Soulja's Story, Pt 1". allhiphop.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
- ^ Erica Henry (June 3, 2011). "Former Black Panther Elmer 'Geronimo' Pratt dies, attorney says". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c Douglas Martin, "Elmer G. Pratt, Jailed Panther Leader, Dies at 63", The New York Times (June 3, 2011); Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- LA Times(June 3, 2011). Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ a b Edward J. Boyer, "Past Haunts Ex-Panther in New Life : Julius Butler's testimony helped convict Geronimo Pratt of murder. Now, the First A.M.E. Church official's prominence upsets some who say Butler was an FBI informant—a claim he denies", The Los Angeles Times (May 24, 1994). Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ "Slaying May Herald Panther Showdown," The Los Angeles Times (November 13, 1971).
- ^ Hugh Pearson, The Shadow of the Panther, p.444
- ^ Jack Olsen, Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geromino Pratt Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved June 4, 2011
- ^ "Dan Whitcomb, Framed Black Panther spent 27 years in jail". www.hartford-hwp.com. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ "Geronimo Pratt: Black Panther leader who spent 27 years in jail for a crime he did not commit". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
- ^ In re Pratt, 82 Cal.Rptr.2d 260 (Cal.App. 2 Dist.1999)" Retrieved July 22, 2014
- ^ "Tears of Joy Flow as Pratt Is Reunited With Mother". Los Angeles Times. June 15, 1997.
- ^ |website=CNN|date=May 29, 1998
- ^ "Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo ji-Jaga Pratt". Democracy Now!. October 5, 2000. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007.
Sources
- ISBN 0-385-49367-3