Black Panthers Carry Rifles into California State Capitol Building

Photo Sacramento Bee / Getty Images

On May 2nd, 1968 a group of 24 members of the Black Panthers Party entered the California State Capitol armed with rifles.   They left peacefully and Bobby Seale made a statement to reporters gathered outside.

“Black people have begged, prayed, petitioned, demonstrated, and everything else to get the racist power structure of America to right the wrongs which have historically been perpetuated against black people. All of these efforts have been answered by more repression, deceit and hypocrisy. As the aggression of the racist American government escalates in Vietnam, the police agencies of America escalate the oppression of black people throughout the ghettoes of America. Vicious police dogs, cattle prods, and increased patrols have become familiar sights in black communities. City Hall turns a deaf ear to the pleas of black people for relief from this increasing terror.”

Sources:

Here’s How The Nation Responded When A Black Militia Group Occupied A Government Building, by Nick Wing, Huffington Post, Dec 21 2016.