Abstract
The Black Panther Party was established by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966 to promote Black Power and self-defense through acts of social agitation. While the organization's leaders passionately espoused Malcolm X's theories and socialist doctrine, an ideological consensus within the party was difficult to achieve and some members openly disagreed with the leaders. From the beginning the Black Panther Party's focus on militancy came with a reputation for violence. They often took advantage of a California law which permitted carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun as long as it was publicly displayed and pointed at no one. The BPP sought to oppose police brutality through neighborhood patrols and often followed them to avoid police brutality and perceived racial prejudice. From the fall of 1967 through the end of 1969, nine police officers and 10 panthers were killed; 56 policemen and 348 panthers were wounded in 1969 alone. The group created a Ten-Point Program: a document that called for "Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice and Peace", as well as exemption from military service for African-American men, among other demands.
