Roughly 25 community members came together to watch two films that spotlight the city’s pivotal role in the fight for liberation: Agnès Varda’s Black Panthers 1968 and Shola Lynch’s Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners. The films offered not only a window into the past but a mirror reflecting the struggles and solidarity still needed in Oakland today.

Agnès Varda’s Black Panthers 1968 is an on-the-ground documentary capturing the resiliency of the Black Panther Party as they rallied to free Huey Newton, co-founder of the movement. Filmed in Oakland at the height of the Panthers’ activism, the film is a testament to their ability to unite working-class people and oppressed communities against police violence and systemic injustice. Varda’s work doesn’t just document history; it brings to life the defiant hope of the movement and its roots in the city’s streets.

The second film, Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners, is an account of Angela Davis’s trial and the international movement to secure her release. Davis, a scholar, communist and activist, was charged with crimes related to a 1970 courthouse shootout. Lynch’s documentary recounts the global solidarity campaign that demanded her freedom, framing it as both a personal and collective story of resistance. It’s a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when movements cross borders and people stand united against oppression.

FRSO Oakland members led the program, situating these stories in Oakland’s broader revolutionary history. They reminded attendees of the Black Panther Party’s core mission – building unity between oppressed nationalities and working-class people to fight systemic inequality. They also illuminated the government’s counterattacks, particularly through COINTELPRO, the FBI’s covert program that sought to dismantle revolutionary movements.

The discussion didn’t stop with history. Participants connected the lessons of the films to ongoing struggles in Oakland, particularly the work of the newly formed Oakland Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (OAARPR). This group, a local chapter of the national NAARPR which emerged from the fight to free Angela Davis, works alongside families of police violence victims and pushes for community control of the police.

In this context, the group also critiqued the failures of Oakland’s Community Police Review Agency, highlighting its ineffectiveness as a key example of the city's ongoing systemic issues with police corruption and violence. This discussion tied the historical and contemporary struggles together, underscoring the urgent need for real change.

Adding a tangible connection to the past, CARP displayed a collection of artifacts that captured the spirit of the Black Panthers and the Free Angela Davis campaigns. Old political pins reading “Free Angela Davis and all political prisoners” and “Black Panther Party: All power to the people” sat alongside the Panthers’ iconic “Ten-Point Program”, photo books, and pamphlets from the 1980s. These materials bridged generations, underscoring the enduring relevance of these struggles.

The films and discussions drove home a powerful message: the fight for justice is as urgent today as ever. In a city shaped by revolutionary victories and ongoing battles, the event called on everyone to organize, educate and resist with renewed purpose.

Oakland's legacy as a beacon for liberation movements lives on – not just in history books but in the work unfolding right now. From the Black Panther Party’s bold defiance to today’s campaigns for police accountability, the message resonated loud and clear, the struggle continues, and our commitment must match its urgency.

#OaklandCA #CA #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #BlackPanthers #NAARPR #FRSO #CARP

Chicago, IL – International Revolutionary Day convened at noon, at Ground Zero, as it does every year on December 4 here in Chicago. The Black Panther Party Cubs refer to 2337 W. Monroe as Ground Zero and say the Black community's 9/11 occurred here 1969 – with the government assassination of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, Sr. and Peoria Chapter Defense Captain Mark Clark.

Chairman Fred, Sr. represented the left wing of the Panthers – he always talked about the party as being a part of the international proletarian revolution, and he was for class unity; he sought out Puerto Rican and white working class revolutionaries to bloc with.

This year at Ground Zero, Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. of the Black Panther Party Cubs and Comrade Mother Akua Njeri gave a virtual tour of the events of December 4, 1969. Solidarity statements were read from individuals and organizations. Afterwards, Chairman Fred, Jr. and the Cubs led a march from the site to The Wall, a mural of Chairman Fred, Sr. done by the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective at the corner of Madison and California on Chicago's West Side.

Later in the evening, International Revolutionary Day was re-convened at the Fred Hampton Memorial Museum in Maywood, Illinois, Chairman Fred, Sr.'s home. The family of Mark Clark was also in attendance.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #BlackPanthers #FredHampton #Antiracism #PoliticalRepression #Antifascism #InternationalRevolutionaryDay

Esa misma noche un policía de Chicago balaceo a Sharron Grant, un muchacho Negro de 23 años de edad, quien murió por los impactos de bala disparados contra él. Los familiares de Grant sostienen que el estaba desarmado y estaba saliendo de una fiesta. Los vecindarios del barrio de Englewood, encendidos de furia, apedrearon y lanzaron botellas a los carros policiales. La policía contesto con más balas y arrestos. Por primera vez, en lo que respecta a nuestra memoria, perros policiales entrenados para atacar fueron llevados al lugar de los hechos. Todo esto ocurrió un Viernes por la noche.

Al día siguiente, sábado por la mañana, el área estaba sellada. Los líderes de las iglesias hicieron un llamado a los residentes para que se quedaran en sus casas, mientras una delegación compuesta por la familia de Grant y activistas comunitarios fueron a la estación de policía. Dos personas fueron arrestadas por el sólo hecho de estar paradas afuera cerca de las puertas de la estación de policía.

Estos eventos son parte de la verdadera historia detrás del famoso porcentaje de asesinatos en Chicago y de lo que el Alcalde Daley está haciendo para contrarrestarlo. 665 homicidios se han cometido en la ciudad de Chicago, ésta poseá el primer lugar en muertes a lo largo y ancho de la nación. Daley quiere reducir este número para así poder atraer a los sectores suburbanos blancos, de la clase media y alta de regreso a la urbe metropolitana, esto es después de 35 años de suburbanizacion. Él ha invertido los últimos dólares de la ciudad en un puñado de Escuelas “Trofeo,” arreglos florales públicos, esculturas en parques y festivales de música. Finalmente, Daley ha estado del lado de las corporaciones, al borde de la ciudad, con toda clase de prebendas y ofertas monetarias.

Al mismo tiempo, el Alcalde Daley tiene el mismo trabajo que cualquier otro Alcalde de ciudad grande – desde el punto de vista de la clase dominante, la gente que esta fuera del círculo de poder debe de ser controlada. Las Panteras Negras se referían a la policía como “un ejercito de ocupación,” por alguna razón. La población negra de Chicago, 37%, la más golpeada por la explosión del desempleo y recortes en los servicios es una caja con explosivos (polvorín) a los ojos de Daley. A la clase media negra se le ofrecen algunas prebendas, al resto, el garrote policial nocturno.

Para mantener subyugados a los africano-americanos y latino americanos, hay una tacita criminalización hacía los jóvenes de estas comunidades. Para el año 2010 el Departamento de Justicia calcula que 7.7 millones de personas habrán servido tiempo en prisión. Según este calculo, 1 de cada 3 hombres negros irán a la prisión, comparado con 1 de cada 6 hombres Latinos (hispanos), y 1 de cada 17 hombres blancos (anglos).

El Alcalde Daley esta implementando el mismo modelo policial que Nueva York ha usado. Este modelo, o algo parecido a este, esta siendo implementado en Detroit, Minneapolis, e incluso, exportado a México. En Junio, en un evento por demás obvio, el Alcalde envió 100 oficiales en una Unidad de Respuesta dirigida al Distrito de Harrison. Esto es en el Oeste de la ciudad, donde ocurre el más alto índice de muertes. Algunos fines de semana más de 200 personas fueron arrestadas en una noche. El racismo de este plan reside en el hecho de que las autoridades de Chicago usan la palabra “crimen” para justificar el encierro de jóvenes negros de una comunidad que la ciudad ha ignorado o robado de todo, menos los servicios especiales de la policía.

Lo que ha hecho más obvio el racismo de estas acciones, es el de separar a los arrestados. A las personas arrestadas por comprar drogas les pusieron cargos por mala conducta. Los adolescentes blancos que fueron arrestados fueron enviados a los suburbios, sin mencionar una sola palabra sobre la guerra en contra de las drogas. De hecho, solo 3 de los 60 clientes de drogas, arrestados en un fin de semana, viven en el Distrito de Harrison.

Sin embargo, los jóvenes Negros son los más perseguidos. Hay nuevas cámaras vigilantes ($ 20,000.00 cada una) que serán usadas para respaldar casos en la corte. En estos días, los jueces tienen acceso a un sistema de Fax que funciona las 24 horas, lo que les permite girar órdenes inmediatas de arresto o cateos de viviendas. La estrategia de Nueva York incluye reporteros de la corte que viajan con los policías para transcribir las palabras de las personas que son sorprendidas en la calle, para así usarlas en su contra cuando más tarde tienen que enfrentar a la corte. No es ninguna coincidencia que el plan piloto de Nueva York “arresto para los hombres limpia ventanas (squeegee men)” forma parte de los primeros tres planes favoritos del nuevo superintendente, este subió a la fama for su manejo de la situación en un barrio de Washington Heights donde ordenó el acordonamiento e interrogamiento de todos aquellos que entraban al mismo.

El Verano del 2003 fue el verano de la rebelión en Benton Harbor. Fue el verano en el que la clase dominante se apresuró a escribir mini-cheques para paliar la situación. Pero, Chicago es una ciudad mucho más grande e importante en la escala de pobreza. A los presupuestos del Estado y del Condado se les esta pidiendo meter el hombro al costo de mantener la sobreabundante fuerza laboral de un sistema económico en decline profundo. Y no pueden firmar ese tal mini-cheque. El presupuesto al sistema Correccional del estado de Illinois ha crecido en un 110% de 1985 al 2000, mientras que el presupuesto para la Educación Superior ha sido recortado. Enfrentados a esta profunda crisis económica, los políticos y los económicamente poderosos no quieren hacer este tipo de gasto.

Fue un verano en el que los políticos empezaron ha hablar más y más sobre el poco personal presidiario y programas de trabajo para los que salen en libertad, simple y sencillamente porque las prisiones están llenas. Mientras tanto, los policías de la ciudad en uniformes nuevos antimotínes hacen barridas y arrestos masivos todas las noches, metiéndole miedo a los residentes, quienes viven temerosos ante el fantasma del crimen. En realidad, Chicago tiene actualmente el mas bajo nivel en crimen que se ha vivido en los últimos 30 anos.

La policía de Chicago no tiene ningún interés en poner fin a los crímenes en los barrios Africano americanos, Puerto Riqueños o Latino americanos. Están apuntando a estos barrios para así obligar a estos sectores oprimidos a abandonar las áreas donde han vivido por generaciones. Las mentiras del Alcalde Daley pueden confundir a algunos por algún tiempo, pero la verdad está saliendo a flote, y los hechos dan la pauta de que la gente oprimida continuará luchando por sus derechos.

#ChicagoIL #Commentary #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #BentonHarbor #PhilipCline #AfricanAmericanHarrisonDistrict #ShurronGrant #BlackPanthers #elBarrioDeEnglewood

That same night, a Chicago cop, firing through the open window of his squad car, shot and killed Shurron Grant, a 23-year old Black man. Family members say Grant was unarmed and leaving a party. The angry Englewood neighborhood crowd threw rocks and bottles at the police cars. The police retaliated with more gunfire and arrests. For the first time in memory, police dogs trained to attack were brought to the scene.

By Saturday morning, the area was locked down. Church leaders were calling on residents to stay inside, while a delegation of Grant’s family and activists went to the police station. Two people were arrested for standing outside the station door!

These events are a part of the true story behind Chicago’s famous murder rate and what Mayor Daley is doing about it. 665 homicides have made Chicago known as the top murder city in the nation. Daley wants to reduce this number in order to lure suburban, white, upper and middle-class people back into the inner city, after a 35-year trend of their moving out. He spent the last city dollars on a handful of trophy schools, flower boxes, high-end park sculpture and music festivals. Finally, Daley stood at the city border with corporate free-ride money offers.

At the same time, Mayor Daley has the same job as every other big city mayor – in the eyes of the ruling class, the people who are locked out of the wealth must be controlled. The Black Panthers called the police an ‘occupying army’ for a reason. Chicago’s Black community – 37% of the city’s population and hit hardest by exploding unemployment and cuts in services – is a tinderbox in Daley’s eyes. The Black middle class is offered small buy-offs and everyone else is given the police nightstick.

To keep African Americans and Latinos down, there is an all out criminalization of the youth of those communities. By the year 2010, the Justice Department projects that 7.7 million people will have served prison time. The projection says that Black males will have a 1 in 3 chance of doing time, compared with 1 in 6 for Hispanic males and 1 in 17 for white males.

Mayor Daley is using the same police model that New York used. This model, or something like it, is now used in Detroit, Minneapolis, and even exported to Mexico City. In a very public event in June, the mayor sent out 100 officers in a Targeted Response Unit to the Harrison District. This is on the city’s West side, with the highest rate of murders. Some weekends over 200 people were arrested in a night. The racism of this plan is that the city uses the word ‘crime’ to justify its locking up the Black youth of a community that the city has ignored or robbed of all but police services.

To make the racism even clearer, the arrestees were sorted. The people arrested for buying drugs were given misdemeanor charges. The white teens arrested were sent back to the suburbs without a word about the war on drugs. In fact only three of one week’s 60 drug customers arrested actually lived in the Harrison district.

The Black youth, however, are being prosecuted to the fullest extent. There are new surveillance cameras ($20,000 each) that will be used to nail cases in court. Judges now have a 24-hour fax system that will allow instant subpoena and warrant abilities. The New York strategy includes court reporters driving with officers to transcribe the words of people in the street to be used against them in court later. It is no coincidence that the chief architect of the New York ‘arrest the squeegee men’ plan is in the top three of the new police superintendent choices here. He rose to the top for his handling of a Washington Heights neighborhood where he had police block off and question everyone that entered.

Summer 2003 was the summer of the rebellion in Benton Harbor. It was the summer that saw the ruling class rush to write mini-checks to diffuse that situation. But Chicago is a city on a much bigger scale. The county and the state budgets are being asked to shoulder the price of warehousing all of the city’s surplus labor of an economic system in deep decline. And they can’t sign that check. The state of Illinois corrections budget has grown 110% from 1985 to 2000, while the budget for higher education has been slashed. With the economic crisis, the politicians and the rich don’t want this expense.

It was a summer where the politicians increasingly spoke about prison guard understaffing and work release programs, because the prisons are full. Meanwhile, the city cops in new riot outfits do sweeps – mass arrests – nightly, telling the residents to be afraid of crime. In truth, Chicago has the lowest overall crime rate in 30 years.

The Chicago police are not concerned about crime in the African American, Puerto Rican or Mexican neighborhoods. They are targeting those neighborhoods to drive down the oppressed even further. The lies of Mayor Daley may fool some for a while, but the truth is becoming clear. And events show that oppressed people will fight back.

#ChicagoIL #Commentary #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #BentonHarbor #PhilipCline #AfricanAmericanHarrisonDistrict #likeShootingFishInABarrel #ShurronGrant #EnglewoodNeighborhood #BlackPanthers #ChicagosBlackCommunity