New Black Panther Party

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New Black Panther Party
ChairpersonKrystal Muhammad[1]
FounderAaron Michaels
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
HeadquartersDallas, Texas, U.S.
Ideology
Colors  Red   Black and   Green
Slogan"Freedom or Death"
Party flag
Website
www.nbpp.org

The New Black Panther Party (NBPP) is an American

black nationalist organization founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1989.[3] Despite its name, the NBPP is not an official successor to the Black Panther Party.[4] Members of the original Black Panther Party have insisted that the new party has no legitimacy and "there is no new Black Panther Party".[4]

The

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights consider the NBPP to be a hate group,[5][6][7] accusing the organization and its leaders of racism, antisemitism[8][9][10][2] and anti-Zionism.[11][2]

The NBPP traces its origins to the Black Panther Militia created in 1990 by original Panther Michael McGee in Milwaukee. However, as McGee expanded his organization, it later came under the control of Aaron Michaels in Dallas. In turn, Aaron Michaels lost control of the leadership of the group to Khalid Abdul Muhammad, a former leading member of the Nation of Islam, who proceeded to fill the ranks of the New Panthers with ex-Nation of Islam members and other Black Muslims. Under Muhammad and his successors' leadership, the New Panthers shifted radically from the ideology of the original Black Panther Party towards an extremist form of Black nationalism.[12]

The NBPP is currently led by Krystal Muhammad.[1] Malik Zulu Shabazz announced on an October 14, 2013 online radio broadcast that he was stepping down and that Hashim Nzinga, then national chief of staff, would replace him.[13] This move created a schism within the group. A vote was held and Krystal Muhammad was elected leader of the group. However, those loyal to Nzinga left and formed a splinter group called the "New Black Panther Party for Self Defence" or "NBPP SD".[14]

History

In 1987, Michael McGee, an

Dallas, Texas established a chapter of the Black Panther Militia in 1992, but choose to refer to his chapter as "The New Black Panther Party".[16]

Over time, McGee lost influence over the overall groups while Michaels' grew, and eventually, it would be Aaron Michaels who took overall leadership of the Panthers groups, now using "New Black Panther Party" as their banner.[16] Michaels became increasingly radical, and so too did the group.

In 1994, Khalid Abdul Muhammad, a prominent member of the Nation of Islam, survived an assassination attempt from a former member of that group. Following the attempt on his life, Muhammad left the Nation of Islam and went to Dallas to recover, and it was during this time that Muhammad became aligned to Aaron Michaels, and subsequently joined the NBPP. By 1998 Muhammad had seized entire control of the NBPP from Michaels by filling with former members of the Nation of Islam and other Black Muslims.[16] In 2012, Michaels claimed it was at this point he departed from the NBPP.[17]

In 1998, Khalid Abdul Muhammad brought the organization into the national spotlight when he led an armed group of NBPP members to provide armed protection to the family of

Black Nationalism
".

Khalid Muhammad died of a brain aneurysm on February 17, 2001,[19] and was succeeded by Malik Zulu Shabazz, a protege of Muhammad's as well as his personal attorney. Like Muhammad, Shabazz continued to push the NBPP in an increasingly anti-Semitic and racial segregationist direction.[16] Under Shabazz's leadership, the group would continue to appear across America during instances of racial tension and conflict, however, Shabazz was never able to return the group to the high profile it had in the media and public's mind during Muhammad's time.[16]

Ideology

The New Black Panther Party identifies with the original

Huey Newton Foundation members, containing a significant number of the original party's leaders, once successfully sued the group; their ultimate objective in doing so—to prevent the NBPP from using the Panther name—appears to have been unsuccessful. In response to the suit, Aaron Michaels branded the original Panthers "has-been wannabe Panthers", adding: "Nobody can tell us who we can call ourselves."[20]

Although the NBPP says it sees capitalism as the fundamental problem with the world and revolution as the solution, the new party does not draw its influences from Marxism or Maoism as the original party did. Instead, it promotes the Kawaida theory of Maulana Karenga, which includes black unity, collective action, and cooperative economics.[21] The NBPP says it fights the oppression of black and brown people and that its members are on top of current issues facing black communities across the world. Also, it notes that not all of its members are members of the Nation of Islam, although the group acknowledges universal spirituality practices within the organization.[22]

Over time, many groups subscribing to varying degrees of

antisemitic. The group blames the September 11 attacks on Jews.[23] The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies the NBPP as a black separatist hate group[5] and says that its leaders "have advocated the killing of Jews and white people".[24][25][26]

Organization

Membership size

As of 2009, the NBPP claimed a few thousand members organized in 45 chapters, while independent estimates by the Anti-Defamation League suggest that the group is much smaller but is nevertheless able to attract a large turnout of non-members to its events by focusing on specific issues of local interest.[27]

French Wing

In April 2010, Malik Zulu Shabazz appointed French Black leader Kémi Séba as the representative of the movement in France.[28] However, Séba left the position in 2011.

2013 schism

In October 2013, Malik Zulu Shabazz announced he was stepping down as leader of the organization. He attempted to place Hashim Nzinga as his main successor. However, this move prompted a body of the group to gather for a meeting, where they elected Krystal Muhammad as their new chairperson. These events prompted a split of the organization into two competing factions. Muhammad's faction retained the name "New Black Panther Party", while the Nzinga faction dubbed themselves "The New Black Panther Party for Self Defence" or "NBPP SD". The two groups remain at odds, each attempting to control the name recognition of "The New Panthers".[14][29]

Controversies

Quanell X (center), the party leader in Houston, at Joe Horn protest, 2007

The New Black Panther Party became involved in a melee outside Congresswoman

Zionist" media complex bent on defaming African Americans and, by extension, the New Black Panthers.[31]

In 2006, the New Black Panther Party regained the media spotlight by intervening in the

District Attorney Mike Nifong convict the accused lacrosse players.[32]

On April 12, 2007, after the case brought by Nifong collapsed and the Duke Lacrosse players were exonerated, Malik Zulu Shabazz appeared on

Bill O'Reilly. Malkin said, "There's only one whore on this split screen and it's you, Mr. Shabazz." Shabazz replied, "You should be ashamed of yourself for defending and being a spokesman for Bill O'Reilly, who has no respect for women."[33][34]

Calling the NBPP extremist, critics have cited Muhammad's Million Youth March in

New York Police Department
as Muhammad urged the crowd to attack officers who had attempted to confiscate firearms. Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, but only a few in the clash suffered injuries. The Million Youth March was subsequently named an annual event.

King Samir Shabazz, a former Nation of Islam member and head of the New Black Panther Party's Philadelphia chapter, has a long history of confrontational racist behavior. He advocated racial separation and made incendiary racial statements while promoting anti-police messages in the media and on the streets of Philadelphia. He publicly announced, "I hate white people. All of them." He also suggested the killing of white babies.[5][35][36][37][38] Shabazz was arrested in June 2013 for carrying a loaded, unlicensed weapon.[39] The party has claimed his arrest is part of an "onslaught of attacks against the New Black Panther Party."[40]

Alleged voter intimidation in Philadelphia

Alleged instance of voter intimidation in Philadelphia during the 2008 US presidential election.

During the

Republican poll watcher Chris Hill stated that voters were complaining about intimidation, while the District Attorney's office stated that they had not been contacted by any voters.[43] The New Black Panther with the nightstick was escorted away by the police.[44]

On January 7, 2009, the

Voting Rights Act of 1965 over the incident at the Philadelphia polling place. The suit accused members King Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson of being outside a polling location wearing the uniform of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and said that Shabazz repeatedly brandished a police-style baton weapon.[45] The suit sought an injunction preventing further violations of the Voting Rights Act. After the defendants did not appear for court, a default judgment was entered.[citation needed] On May 29, 2009, the Department of Justice requested and received an injunction against the member who had carried the nightstick, but against the advice of prosecutors who had worked on the case, department superiors ordered the suit dropped against the remaining members. On July 6, 2010, J. Christian Adams, a former lawyer for the Justice Department, testified before the Commission on Civil Rights and alleged that the case was dropped because "[w]e abetted wrongdoing and abandoned law-abiding citizens".[46] Former Civil Rights Division Voting Section Chief Christopher Coates testified on September 24, 2010, "I am here today to testify about the Department of Justice's final disposition of the New Black Panther Party case and the hostility in the Civil Rights Division and the Voting Section toward the equal enforcement of some of the federal voting laws." (pp. 7, 22–25; pp. 8, 1–2)[47] Abigail Thernstrom, the Republican-appointed vice chairwoman of the Commission, wrote that the Panthers should perhaps have been prosecuted under section 11 (b) of the Voting Rights Act for [its] actions of November 2008, but the legal standards that must be met to prove voter intimidation—the charge—are very high. And "The incident involved only two Panthers at a single majority-black precinct in Philadelphia. So far—after months of hearings, testimony and investigation no one has produced actual evidence that any voters were too scared to cast their ballots."[48]

According to an April 23, 2010 press release from the New Black Panther Party, the Philadelphia member involved in the nightstick incident was suspended until January 2010. "The New Black Panther Party made it clear then and now we don't support voter intimidation ... The charges against the entire organization and the chairman were dropped. The actions of one individual cannot be attributed to an entire organization any more than every act of any member of the Catholic Church be charged to the Vatican."[49]

Bounty for George Zimmerman's capture

Another controversy occurred in 2012 after the NBPP offered a $10,000 bounty for the

United States Constitution granted the right to a citizen's arrest.[50]

Prevented from entering Canada

In May 2007, Chairman Shabazz was invited by Black Youth Taking Action (BYTA)

Brampton, Ontario, super jail project to be dismantled.[52] A spokesperson for the RSU later stated that support for the event was given "before they knew that Shabazz was the speaker."[52]

Shabazz arrived at

Ontario Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister, Monte Kwinter, justified the barring of Shabazz.[53] Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed concern about Shabazz.[54] The press reported that Shabazz was denied entry to Canada because of a minor criminal record.[55] Shabazz flew back to Buffalo, New York and attempted to cross the border by car, but border agents spotted him and again prevented him from entering Canada.[56]

The rally at Queen's Park went ahead without Shabazz, with approximately 100 people, plus at least two dozen journalists. Ryerson University canceled the planned lecture.[54][56] The university administration alerted the RSU that it had received e-mails of threats of violent disruption of the event. The RSU canceled Shabazz's lecture because of safety concerns. Heather Kere, RSU's Vice-President of Education, said, "We definitely recognize there was some criticism of his views" and "we were endorsing the campaign's goals and not the individual speaker." Kere added, "He deflected attention away from the main point of the campaign. We still strongly believe in the campaign."[52]

Hashim Nzinga, Shabazz's chief of staff, blamed Jewish groups for the incident, stating in a telephone interview, "They let these groups like the ADL (

B'nai Brith has won this one, and I'm starting to see the power of the Jewish lobby in Canada, full force. I thought Canada was free. I think this is evidence that black people are being oppressed in Canada."[56]

Involvement of Micah Xavier Johnson

Micah Xavier Johnson, who ambushed and shot at police officers in Dallas, Texas, in July 2016 after a peaceful protest against police killings of African-American men elsewhere in the United States, had "liked" the Facebook pages of several black nationalist organizations, including the NBPP, Mauricelm-Lei Millere and African American Defense League, who according to the Southern Poverty Law Center may have radicalized Johnson.[58] Quanell X, the leader of the NBPP in Houston, Texas, said Johnson had been a member of that city's chapter several years earlier, for about six months.[59] He also said Johnson had been asked to leave the group for espousing dangerous rhetoric and violating the organization's "chain of command", and that Johnson questioned NBPP's tactics, asking why they had not purchased more weapons and ammunition.[60][61][62] In a written statement, the NBPP said Johnson was not a member of the organization and that "a simple like ... via a social media website does not represent membership, affiliation, or endorsement. It simply is what it is ... a like on the page."[61]

Criticism

Criticism by former members of the original Black Panther Party

The Huey P. Newton Foundation issued a news release denouncing the New Black Panther Party. Its release read in part:

As guardian of the true history of the Black Panther Party, the Foundation, which includes former leading members of the Party, denounces this group's exploitation of the Party's name and history. Failing to find its own legitimacy in the black community, this band would graft the Party's name upon itself, which we condemn. ... [T]hey denigrate the Party's name by promoting concepts absolutely counter to the revolutionary principles on which the Party was founded. ... The Black Panthers were never a group of angry young militants full of fury toward the "white establishment." The Party operated on love for black people, not hatred of white people.[63]

xenophobic and described its leaders' remarks as "absurd, racial, [and] categorical".[64]

[W]e will never, ever stoop to the low level of the mentality of a racist to just hate another person because of the color of their skin or ethnicity. We don't do that. That's not the goal objective. The goal objective is human liberation. The goal objective is the greater community cooperation of humanism. The goal objective is to get rid of institutionalized racism.[64]

Reacting to a video of two NBPP members positioned outside of a polling place on Election Day in 2008 in Philadelphia, Seale agreed with CNN Newsroom anchor Kyra Phillips "to some degree" that the incident was voter intimidation.[64] He also described what he saw as significant differences between the original Black Panthers and the New Black Panthers, particularly between their respective Ten-Point Programs.[64]

2002 intimidation of original Panthers

In April 2002, an event was held in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation of the Black Panther Party. Ron Scott, a co-founder of the Detroit chapter of the Panthers, was a guest speaker, and many in attendance were also original members of the Black Panther Party. During the course of the night, the event was interrupted by 30 members of the New Black Panther Party dressed in motorcycle helmets and steel-capped boots, led by Malik Zulu Shabazz. Shabazz and his NBPP member seized control of the event and ordered under threat of violence that the original Panthers cease criticism of the New Panthers.[12]

2015 assault of Dhoruba Bin Wahad

On August 19, 2015,

Dhoruba Bin Wahad (a member of the original Black Panther Party) and an associate were assaulted by a faction of the New Black Panther Party. Bin Wahad had been attending a conference in Atlanta, Georgia held by the Nzinga faction of the "New" Panthers. Bin Wahad confronted the group about their adoption of the Black Panther name and their rhetoric. The two were ordered to leave but when they refused, Bin Wahad was assaulted. Wahad was left with a concussion, a broken jaw and lacerations from the attack.[65] The event led founding member of the original Black Panthers, Elbert "Big Man" Howard, to denounce the group as "reactionaries" and "thugs".[66][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "New Black Panther Party". SPLcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 8, 2019. Major conflict arose in October 2013 when Shabazz announced he was stepping down from the group to pursue his law career. His second in command, Hashim Nzinga, was named as chairperson, and longtime NBPP group member Chawn Kweli became chief of staff. A portion of NBPP's membership had not been previously apprised of his decision nor did they approve. In reaction, this faction attended an NBPP summit and appointed all new leadership, voting in Krystal Muhammad as their chair.
  2. ^ a b c "New Black Panther Party - Southern Poverty Law Center".
  3. ^ "New Black Panther Party". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  4. ^ . Despite the name, however, there is no direct connection between the NBPP and the original BPP.
  5. ^ a b c "New Black Panther Party." Southern Poverty Law Center. Accessed September 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense Archived January 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine." Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  7. ^ U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, interim report, November 23, 2010 [1]. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  8. ^ "New Black Panther Party Rally Features Elected Officials, Anti-Semitism". Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "New Black Panthers Exploit Gaza Conflict To Promote Anti-Semitism". Archived from the original on January 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Panthers Blame Jews for Congresswoman's Defeat".
  11. ^ "New Black Panther Party For Self Defense" (PDF). The NBPP's bigotry is further evident in its positions on Jews and Zionists. It accuses them of exerting undue influence over national and world affairs to the detriment of minorities in the U.S. and around the world. In promoting this position, the group often evokes classic anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jewish power.
  12. ^ .
  13. ^ "New Black Panther Party Announces New Chairman, Same Hateful Message". Access ADL. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "New Black Panther Party". SPLcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 8, 2019. Malik Shabazz and Hashim Nzinga started a new group with longtime NBPP members Chawn Kweli and King Samir Shabazz. They called it the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense, but their antics were regularly mistaken by the media as those of the New Black Panther Party, a mistake the new group did not bother to correct.
  15. ^ "Official: Aid Inner City Or Face Warfare". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h "New Black Panther Party". encyclopedia.com.
  17. ^ "New Black Panther founder to keep homeland security post for at least a week". January 24, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  18. Washington Post
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  19. ^ Allen, Michael O. (February 25, 2001). "Khalid Buried Near Malcolm X". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "Black Panthers: old v. young". London Sunday Times. March 16, 1997. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  21. ^ Local Objectives Archived July 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at official Web site
  22. ^ 10 Point Platform Archived July 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at official website
  23. , retrieved February 13, 2022
  24. ^ Erica Evans (July 24, 2016). "Who are the New Black Panthers? '60s radicals say new group doesn't embody their ideals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  25. ^ Desmond-Harris, Jenée (November 16, 2014). "The New Black Panther Party, explained". Vox. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  26. ^ "New Black Panther Party". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  27. ^ Inside the New Black Panthers, National Geographic (aired 2009). Discussion of membership size starting at 07:40.
  28. ^ "Kemi Seba nommé par le NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY, basé à Washington, Ministre francophone" Archived August 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Official Web site of MDI
  29. ^ "New Black Panther Party for Self Defence". SPLCenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  30. ^ "11alive.com".[dead link]
  31. YouTube
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  32. ^ Biesecker, Michael. "New Black Panthers demonstrate, but not on Duke campus" Archived March 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, The News & Observer, May 2, 2006.
  33. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: NBPP Malik Shabazz on Fox with Michelle Malkin. The O'Reilly Factor. April 12, 2007. Event occurs at 3:30.
  34. ^ "Racial dialogue? Don't bet on it". The Washington Times. April 16, 2007.
  35. ^ "Justice Department Files Suit Against New Black Panthers". Anti-Defamation League. January 9, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  36. National Geographic Channel. Archived from the original
    on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  37. ^ "Arrest in L.A. Grim Sleeper Case; Accused Spies Could Plead Guilty; NY iPhone "Doctor" Fixes All That's Droppable". CNN. July 8, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  38. ^ Dewan, Shaila (July 18, 2010). "Call for Justice Sets Off a Debate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  39. ^ "King Samir Shabazz, NBPP National Field Marshall, Arrested On Weapons Charge". June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  40. ^ "New Black Panthers Respond To King Samir Shabazz's Arrest". July 1, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  41. YouTube
  42. ^ "On Fox News, ex-Civil Rights Division Lawyer Blasts DOJ". July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010.
  43. WTXF
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  44. ^ "Voting Intimidation By Black Panthers In Philadelphia". Fox News. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008.
  45. ^ Justice Department Seeks Injunction Against New Black Panther Party: Lawsuit Seeks to Prohibit Voter Intimidation in Future Elections", US Department of Justice, January 7, 2009.
  46. ^ Racial Motive Alleged in a Justice Dept. Decision", New York Times, July 6, 2010
  47. ^ "The Department of Justice's Actions Related to the New Black Panther Party Litigation and its Endorcement of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act" (PDF). U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. September 24, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  48. ^ Thernstrom, Abigail (July 6, 2010). "The New Black Panther Case: A Conservative Dissent". National Review Online. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  49. ^ "The Phony Politicized Case and U.S.C.C.R. Hearing Against The New Black Panther Party" Archived July 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, The New Black Panther Party, April 23, 2010
  50. ^ "Separatist black group stands by bounty offer for man who killed Florida teen". CNN. March 27, 2012.
  51. ^ "Groups decry visit by New Black Panther leader". Toronto Star. May 14, 2007.
  52. ^ a b c Morrow, Adrian (August 21, 2007). "While you were sleeping: summer in review". The Eyeopener. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  53. ^ a b c Greenberg, Lee (May 16, 2007). "Black activist barred from entering Canada". CanWest News Service. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
  54. ^ a b "Black Panther leader refused entry into Canada". CTV News. May 15, 2007.
  55. ^ CBC News (May 15, 2007). "Black activist denied entry to Canada, group says". Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
  56. ^ a b c d Brean, Joseph (May 16, 2007). "Black Panther stopped at border". National Post. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
  57. ^ Goddard, John (May 16, 2007). "Black activist blocked at border". Toronto Star.
  58. ^ Beirich, Heidi; Lenz, Ryan (July 8, 2016). "Dallas Sniper Connected to Black Separatist Hate Groups on Facebook". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  59. ^ "Dallas shooter was ex-member of Houston's New Black Panther party". KPRC-TV. July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  60. ^ Hlavaty, Craig (July 11, 2016). "Quanell X: Dallas police shooter was excused from Houston group years ago". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  61. ^ a b Fung, Brian (July 9, 2016). "What you need to know about the black nationalists the Dallas shooter liked on Facebook". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  62. ^ Ailworth, Erin; Frosch, Dan (July 15, 2016). "Dallas Shooter Micah Johnson Showed Interest in Black Nationalist Groups". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  63. ^ "There Is No New Black Panther Party: An Open Letter From the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation". Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  64. ^ a b c d Seale, Bobby (July 8, 2010). "CNN Newsroom" (Interview). Interviewed by Kyra Phillips. CNN. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  65. ^ "New Black Panther Party for Self Defence". Southern Poverty Law Center.
  66. ^ Howard, Elbert (August 23, 2015). "Concerning reactionaries and thugs: The New Black Panther Party". San Francisco Bay View.

External links