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WATERGATE DISCLOSURES: BLACK PANTHER PARTY MAY SUE U.S.

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Editorial: THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

Illegal wiretapping and bugging, clandestine burglaries, infiltration by agent provocateurs and overt acts of violence in the guise of radical activists are among the methods used by the Watergate conspirators. Such methods are not new. They have always been used by the few whose objectives are contrary to the interests of the many.

All genuine people's movements in history have had to contend with such threats to their existence. Such is the nature of the enemies of the people. Early in its existence the Black Panther Party faced this reality. It followed hard on the heels of the appearance of people's armed patrols on the streets of Oakland's Black and oppressed communities checking out police brutality, harassment and intimidation.

Few now remember that the "arms" of those original people's patrols in Oakland usually included law books and the penal code from which relevant chapter and verse would be read aloud for police and victim upon any encounter. Tape recorders assured that all that transpired became a permanent record for future use if necessary. Book, tape recorder and gun -- all LEGAL possessions, used legally.

The holocaust that befell the Black Panther Party was in direct proportion to the rapid fire inspiration our acts engendered in Black and oppressed communities across this land. Our demand for adherence to the law, legally enforced was met with every conceivable illegal response.

Twenty-eight members of the Black Panther Party have made the supreme sacrifice, murdered by police bullets while in the service of the people. Countless others suffered maiming, police brutality, harassment and intimidation. Numberless others to this day languish in prisons across this country and are singled out of an already cruelly oppressed prison population for "special" dehumanizing treatment and the threat of violent death.

With every new Watergate revelation the role and responsibility of the highest echelons of government in planning and executing the vicious assault against the Black Panther Party becomes clearer and clearer. We are resolved that our fallen comrades will not have died in vain: that our name be cleared and that the real conspirators be punished.

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Letter to the Editor

MAY 31, 1973

Dear Sir:

"Thank you for a short and sharp analysis of the phoney energy crisis in your May 26 editorial.

"Major oil companies are bigger than governments and feel able to do things as they please. If they think about public opinion, it's only on how to sell or how to manipulate. The so-called energy crisis has a few extra goodies for the oil powers: It holds down the outcry about pollution, both as to opposition to Alaskan pipelines and controls on refineries and associated chemical plants. Also, the crisis neatly keeps the workers in line -- at least while the companies are switching over to full automation wherever they can. And, since oil companies are now calling themselves total energy companies, having bought up a lot of coal mines and reserves as well as controlling natural gas, they always have something to sell, at better prices (for them) and bigger profits, of course."

Serve the People!

Vince Williams
Houston, Texas

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“OPERATION GEMSTONE: THE GREAT WATERGATE CONSPIRACY”

A Black man, Elmer Davis, languishes in a southern California jail today falsely convicted of the breaking of the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist on the evening of September 3, 1971. The actual burglars were two anti-Castro Cubans hired by "Operation Gemstone" conspirators.

The following excerpt from "Operation Gemstone: The Great Watergate Conspiracy" tells this story and further exposes the many tenacles of this enormous plot to consolidate power in America in the hands of a few.

The excerpt is taken from a work in progress by the radical Citizen's Research and Investigating Committee (CRIC), located in Beverly Hills, California. THE BLACK PANTHER has been given exclusive pre-publication rights to provide our readers with this shocking expose.

Part IV:

On September 25, 1971, under the assumed names "George Leonard" and "Ed Warren", Liddy and Hunt made the trip to Los Angeles, cased Fielding's office, and returned to Washington with a positive recommendation on the proposed burglary. Hunt then called on his old CIA associate Bernard Barker to recruit two agents from the Miami Cuban exile community to actually perform the burglary. The Labor Day weekend was chosen for the break-in.

On the evening of September 3, the two Cuban agents, Eugenie Martinez and Felipe DeDiego, dressed in delivery men uniforms, entered the building in which Dr. Fielding's office was located, and told the custodian that they had a suitcase to deliver to the doctor. The suitcase actually contained photocopiers to copy Ellsberg's psychiatric files.

While Liddy and Hunt were acting as lookouts outside, the two Cubans, after being admitted to the building, broke into Fielding's office, broke open his filing cabinets and searched through the files. They allegedly found no material on Ellsberg. Liddy and Hunt then flew back to Washington and informed Krogh that: "It was a clean operation but it failed to produce."

The burglary of Fielding's office was officially attributed by the Bevery Hills Police to Elmer Davis, a convicted burglar and narcotics addict. Davis (who is Black) had been arrested for another burglary, and a detective convinced him to confess

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to the Fielding burglary in exchange for a deal that he would only be prosecuted for petty theft. Police often make such deals so they can "clean up the books". Davis ended up being tried and convicted on the burglary count.

In October, James W. McCord, Jr., an electronics eavesdropping specialist with the CIA, was hired as security coordinator for the newly formed Committee to Re-Elect the President by C.R.P. director of administration Robert Odle. McCord was recommended for the post by White House counsel John W. Dean, III.

In November, Hunt made a series of telephone contacts with Cubanborn Bernard L. Barker, who was a CIA contract agent during the Bay of Pigs preparations, and who had already helped him out on the Fielding burglary. Barker then began assembling a team of field agents from the Miami Cuban community, including Eugenie Martinez, Frank Sturgis, and Virgilie Gonzales.

During the same period, Barker was attempting to obtain blueprints of the Miami Beach convention hall and its air-conditioning system from Miami architect Leonard Glasser. At the time, only the Democratic convention had been scheduled there.

In December of 1971, Liddy formally moved over to the Committee to Re-Elect the President, being hired ostensibly as financial counsel by Jeb Magruder, also on the recommendation of John Dean. His real role, however, was to continue the political espionage of Operation Gemstone.

While Liddy, Hunt, McCord and Barker were engaged in planning this cladestine operation, a story broke in Los Angeles to which most of the mass media gave little attention because at the time it seemed farfetched. Louis Tackwood, an informer for the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department for almost ten years, surfaced in the fall of 1971, and through the efforts of the Citizens' Research and Investigating Committee made this story public.

Besides detailing his role as an agent provacateur and informer in the Angela Davis and Black Panther related police actions, Tackwood claimed that while working for the police he had learned of plans involving elements of the Criminal Conspiracy Section of the L.A.P.D. and the FBI to provoke violence during the demonstrations planned for the Republican National Convention then scheduled to be held in San Diego the following August.

According to Tackwood, a special task force called "Squad 19" would infiltrate the various anti-war and anti-poverty groups involved in the demonstrations and provoke street battles between the demonstrators and the police. At the same time, bombs would be set off inside the convention, possibly even killing a number of delegates. These actions would then be blamed on the demonstrators, giving President Nixon the excuse to declare a state of national emergency, invoke special powers to round up and detain militants and radical activists, and cancel the 1972 elections. This, of course was James McCord's Pentagon role as part of the Special Emergency Task Force in charge of "censorship and detention during times of emergency". In a tape made for CRIC, Tackwood stated (fully eight months before the Watergate story broke): "I'm not gonna

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show CRIC, I'm not telling nobody all what I got on `Squad 19' on the San Diego conspiracy. But I'm gonna show you some of it since it's starting to come out, anyway. But I'm not giving up everything because, man, this is my only life insurance, you see where I'm coming from?

"I'm giving up only two names. There's Martin and there's White. All right. Now, Martin was the code name for my contact, and I'm gonna tell you, he's CIA all the way… Now the control, the man over Martin is White. I only heard a little about him, but they say he's the money man, nobody's over him but the top dogs. Martin and White, that's all I'm gonna give you now. This is my life insurance."

What provides a possible link with Operation Gemstone is that James McCord often used the code name "Martin". In fact, he gave "Edward Martin" as his name to the police when he was arrested at the Watergate. And Hunt has used the code name "White".

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

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WRITE US

THE BLACK PANTHER is your newspaper, so let us know what you think about the opinions expressed in our columns. Write us. The Editor and staff are eager to know your reactions. As space permits we will share your letters with our readers.

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ELAINE BROWN SPEAKS OUT ON WATERGATE: ANNOUNCES POSSIBILITY OF BLACK PANTHER PARTY LAWSUITS

Ms. Elaine Brown Public Information Officer for the Black Panther Party and a recent candidate for the Oakland City Council announced last week that the Black Panther Party has begun to confer with its attorney's regarding the possibility of filing a series of civil lawsuits seeking damages and demanding an immediate court injunction against the U.S. government for illegal surveillence and harassment. The charges stem from the recent evidence which emerged from the Senate Watergate hearings and other sources.

The recent disclosures of the existence of a secret, massive, domestic intelligence program, involving illegal spying, wiretapping and burglaries does not surprise her, Elaine explained. "That this fly-by-night network includes groups such as the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Justice Department, all linked together within one huge web of subterfuge and crime, surprises me even less", Elaine went on to say.

"For years the Black Panther Party has publicly maintained that such a conspiracy did, in fact, exist; that they did, in fact, regularly carry out clandestine activities outside the realm of the law; and, that they were, in fact, operating under the direct orders of Richard Milhous Nixon, for the express purpose of undermining, subverting, and ultimately destroying the human rights movement in general and the Black Panther Party in particular. Now, the facts speak for themselves."

Substantiating her claims, as well as providing the basis for the upcoming lawsuits, Elaine pointed to Nixon's latest back-to-the-wall statement in which he admitted a series of three "operations" dating back to a program of wiretaps in 1969 as well as other sources. "It is hard to believe that the so-called `Interagency Committee on Domestic Disorders program' was never put into effect. Nixon claimed that this 1970 plan was halted simply because Hoover opposed it."

The New York Times, the New York Daily News, Jack Anderson's syndicated column as well as Newsweek magazine have all published information that expose Nixon's claim as a lie. Newsweek, in fact, quotes "high Administration officials" admitting that "burglaries were committed in connection with the Seattle Seven, Chicago Weathermen, Detroit Thirteen and Berrigan cases". The same issue raises the questions of whether Nixon's men broke into the New York offices of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund as well as burglaries committed against Black Panther Party Attorney Charles Garry, in which a number of important legal documents were taken.

The New York Times disclosures, were even more particular to the Black community's movement toward freedom and liberation. They quote sources who actually worked on a report of this 1970 "secret police" plan, who commented on the Nixon administration's growing concern with the "Black problem". These same sources also specifically mention a growing "concern" in regard to the Black Panther Party.

Elaine pointed out that the government was forced to drop their "ludicrous" charges of conspiracy to murder the president against David Hilliard for the very reason that they refused to turn over their illegal wiretap information. How many other Black and progressive people, she questioned, have unfortunately been convicted by these same procedures?

"In view of these most serious findings, which substantiate our previously

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disputed assertion of criminal behavior on the part of the U.S. government, the Black Panther Party not only feels it necessary to issue our most forceful denunciation and condemnation of these activities, but we are also considering filing suit to safeguard the rights of the many Black and poor people who are the targets and the victims of Nixon's `secret police'," Elaine said firmly.

Senator Sam Ervin, Chairman of the Watergate probe, has told reporters that the 1970 plan, revealed a "gestapo mentality" on the part of the top government officials. "This is not", Elaine mused, "too far away from the cries of `Fascism', that characterized the late `60's and early `70's."

Concluding the interview, Ms. Brown, who garnered over 34,000 votes in the April 17th Oakland municipal elections, displayed the forceful insight and powerful wit for which she is becoming well-known: "Nixon's feeble attempts to cover himself behind the shabby cloak of `national security' reminds me of the story of The Emperor's New Clothes. It is sad that many people have failed to see or to curtail the government's repressive machinery. It is also outrageous, for, in reality, what we have before us is simply the naked and obscene goal of Power which lies exposed, a move for total control."

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ELAINE HITS CITY GOVERNMENT ON WOMEN

On Tuesday, June 19th, Elaine Brown appeared again before the Oakland City Council to represent Oakland Black and poor communities. Elaine, along with numerous other women, addressed the issue of female representation in city government. In a letter to the council the women pointed out that women presently occupy a mere 12 out of 94 positions on the city's 15 boards and commissions.

When Elaine spoke, she not only reaffirmed the demand for a 50:50/ male-female representation on the boards and commissions, she added that all 20 of the now vacant slots should go to women and that the women and women's organizations present should meet as the city's official citizen's committee to suggest nominees for these posts. Although the Council hedged on the demand for 50:50 representation, they did resolve to set up a women's citizen's committee meeting which they would consult prior to filling the 20 vacant positions. This marked Elaine's first appearance at the City Council since her 34,000 vote whirlwind campaign ended on April 17th.

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WINSTON-SALEM BRANCH HONORS COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS

(Winston-Salem, N.C.) - The Winston-Salem Branch of the Black Panther Party held a spirited awards ceremony last week to honor persons in Winston-Salem who have exemplified a high level of dedication and concern for the Black, poor and oppressed community here. Among those honored were persons in administrative positions in government, community organizers, welfare mothers, ministers, youth and senior citizens. At the ceremony it was announced that the Branch here would begin organizing now to take part in the 1974 city elections.

The ceremony was held at the Dungeon Club on North Liberty Street. It took place in observance of the first anniversary of the death of Joseph Waddell, a Black Panther Party member who was assassinated last year at Central Prison in Raleigh, N.C. Authorities claimed he died of a heart attack.

Engraved plaques were given to individuals who had been working with the Survival Programs. Financial contributors and persons providing legal services to the community, putting into practice their love and concern for people, also received plaques and awards. After each recipient walked proudly to the front to receive their award, they spoke to the audience concerning the need of uniting the community to achieve our common goals. They represented all segments of the city, and have worked hard to form a unified base in the community.

Among those honored was Mrs. Lee Faye Mack, Woman of the Year. Mrs. Mack, long-time activist on issues affecting the Black community, stated that she is now working toward uniting Black women of the city. Student of the Year was Charles Zollicoffer, the student body president of Winston-Salem State University and a member of the Black Panther Party. Reverend Moses Small was named Minister of the Year for his dedicated work in directing an economic program for ex-prisoners and other positive activities in the city. Rodney Sunder was named Black Businessman of the Year because of his active work in the community and his support of the Party's Survival Programs. Recognition was given to Laybeyette Jones, Clarence Falls and Louise Wilson for their work in anti-poverty agencies because they have "used their administrative positions for greater service to the people".

Larry Little, coordinator of the branch, spoke to those assembled concerning the plans of the branch to expand its programs and services. He recalled Joseph Waddell's history in the Party, explaining that he became the chief organizer at Central Prison after joining the Party while he was incarcerated.

Following the ceremony, everyone relaxed at a surprise birthday party for Julius Cornell, a founding member of the local branch.

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“DAVID HILLIARD MUST BE HOSPITALIZED”

(Vacaville, Calif.) - David Hilliard, incarcerated member of the Black Panther Party, is suffering a worsening condition of his chronic ulcer and should be immediately hospitalized, Dr. Beverly Williams, his personal physician, told THE BLACK PANTHER this week.

"Examination carried out last Saturday established that David's ulcer is bleeding again", Dr. Williams said. "This condition requires hospitalization, the complete absence of tension and intensive care", she added. "For this reason we are urgently requesting permission of Vacaville Medical Facility authorities to place David in the hospital."

Dr. Williams emphasized that David's condition is seriously aggravated by his incarceration in the violence-ridden prison situation. Also, the special harassment, intimidation and insult David is singled out for by racist guards, makes impossible his recovery and seriously endangers his life.

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6 CHICAGO COPS INDICTED

(Chicago, Ill.) - The movement to establish community control of police in Chicago was recently underlined by the indictment of 6 former Chicago policemen on charges of conspiracy to extort pay-offs from Near North Side tavern owners. The six are all alleged to be members of one of three police extortion rings that are believed to have been operating simultaneously in the East Chicago Avenue and Austin Districts.

City investigators are supposedly probing a third group of tavern extortionists known unofficially as the "Captain's Ring".

The six named in the indictment are former Chicago policemen Lt. Morgan P. Gardner, Lt. James S. Kinnally, Lt. James Murphy, Lt. Raymond J. Skawski, Sgt. Robert J. Sammon and Sgt. James B. White. All have resigned, retired or have been fired from the Chicago Police Department as of last August. The extortion conspiracy was supposed to have been in operation until then.

The indictments give strong justification to Chicago's City-Wide Campaign for Community Control of Police movement, which held a successful 2-day conference here in Chicago on June 1st and 2nd.

At this conference, which drew over 1,000 participants and which was widely supported by numerous social and political organizations, the conference's moderator, Bobby Rush, described police control as an alternative to increasing police criminality. In the last 36 months more than 80 policemen in Chicago have been indicted for crimes ranging from tavern shakedowns to pushing narcotics.

Bob Rush told the conference: "The police force costs taxpayers more than $300 million a year and instead of fighting crime, they're adding to it." Rush is the Coordinator of the Illionis Chapter of the Black Panther Party.

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Also arrested by the FBI was Sgt. Charles G. Nickels, who was indicted on a charge of giving per jurous testimony about the tavern shakedowns to an investigative grand jury. Nickels was a member of the Chicago Police Department's Intelligence Division at the time of his arrest.

In December of 1972, twenty-four Chicago police were named in federal indictments which charged them with being members of another extortion vice ring allegedly led by former District Commander Clarence Braasch.

All six recently indicted Chicago policemen are charged with extorting pay-offs from owners of nine Near North Side taverns in July of 1966. The indictment states that the six operated on what is called the "package system", in which different members of the crooked police ring would pick up tavern payments and then split the money with other corrupt cops.

The nine taverns that were the alleged victims of the police shakedown are Barnaby's, 7 W. Tooker Pl.; King's Ransom, 20 E. Chicago Avenue; Liberty Inn, 661 N. Clark St.; Mother's, 26 W. Division St.; New Jamie's, 1110 N. Clark St.; Rush Over, 900 N. Rush St.; Rush Up, 907 N. Rush St.; Spirit of 76, 26 W. Division St.; and The Store, 1036-38 N. State St.

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ATLANTA: POLICE SHOOTING OF 14 - YEAR OLD GIRL SPARKS UPROAR

(Atlanta, Ga.) - The Atlanta community is in an uproar over the June 4th, police shooting of 14-year-old Pamela Dixon. Politicians, clergy, civic leaders and community persons have demonstrated their disapproval of the Atlanta Police Department as a result of the shooting. Although Pamela is now in "Satisfactory" condition at Grady Memorial Hospital with a wound in the abdomen, witnesses believe that Patrolman J.D. Roberts intended to murder her.

Pamela, who has a history of mild mental disorders, had been "acting up with a knife" one week before the shooting incident. At that time, her mother, Mrs. Zelma Pines, called the police who gently subdued Pamela and transported her to the hospital. When Pamela again "acted up with the knife", Mrs. Pines, thinking that the police would act fairly, again called them.

When the seven officers arrived, Patrolman Roberts ordered one of Pamela's neighbors, who had already subdued Pamela and was taking the knife from her, to move away. Roberts then taunted Pamela, "Come and get me", he said. Robert's threatening manner compelled Mrs. Pines and other by standers to plead, referring to Robert's club, "Don't hit her with that stick, and don't shoot her!" The police using harsh language, then told Mrs. Pines, that if she did not move, she would be arrested.

Pamela then walked off her porch and stopped about twenty feet from Roberts, the knife still at her side. At this point Roberts aimed his .38 service revolver at Pamela's chest and shot. Pamela had not been attacking, had not been warned to drop the knife, and had not been acting "crazy". Although the sergeant in charge had told Roberts not to shoot, Roberts racism apparently overcame him and he shot anyway.

Much protest has been voiced over

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the incident. Pamela's parents along with thirty residents of the Capital Homes housing project, Pamela's home and cite of the incident, swore out a warrant for "aggravated assault" but J.D. Roberts was cleared as Judge Kermit C. Bradford refused to hold the case over for grand jury action. When Mrs. Pines heard the ruling she was led in tears from the courtroom after calling out to Roberts, "Murderer". Many other cries of protest came from the predominantely Black courtroom audience.

"You people had better watch out", one brother warned as he pointed at a group of Sheriff's deputies. During the hearing, even one of the officers involved in the incident said he was "surprised" that Roberts shot.

Meanwhile, police claim that Pamela, swinging a butcher knife, attacked Roberts, who is 6 feet 2 and weights 180 pounds. She has been charged with aggravated assault.

Atlanta Police Chief Inman, ignoring community protests, has refused to suspend Roberts. Instead, Inman transferred him to the department's communications division. What has been described by one community leader as a "pretty hostile" crowd of 300 people met at Cook School and vowed to await grand jury action against Roberts.

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GEORGE LUCAS MURDER WHITEWASHED

(Chicago, Ill.) - The official "investigation" of the death of Black Cook County Jail inmate George Lucas, has finally come to an end. At least, as far as Chicago authorities are concerned. George Lucas was pronounced dead on the morning of February 9, 1973, in Chicago's Cook County jail infirmary, after guards there had thrown a blanket over his head "to restrain him". A coroner's jury ruled this month that Lucas' death was due to "natural causes". But all the evidence points to the conclusion that he was smothered to death by prison guards.

The jury panel's finding may cause more controversy than the circumstances surrounding the death of George Lucas. The "natural causes" finding was returned after only one hour's deliberation which followed a three-day inquest at the County Morgue. The jury heard the testimony of Cook County jail inmates, guards and medical authorities during the three days.

Two pathologists testified that oxygen deprivation was a crucial factor in the death of Lucas. Pathologist James Bowman of the University of

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Chicago stated that "his air supply was cut off". A Maryland pathologist, Dr. Ronald N. Kornblum, who made a second autopsy after Lucas' body had been exhumed on May 15th, repeated his previously announced finding that Lucas died from a "Sickle Cell Crisis" resulting from oxygen deprivation. Pathologist Bowman disagreed with the Sickle Cell theory but agreed on the lack of oxygen point.

The second autopsy was performed after a Chicago organization called the Alliance to End Repression demanded it, when it was discovered that the pathologist who performed the first autopsy didn't even have a license to practice medicine.

Edwin F. Turner, one of three guards testifying before the jury, said that George Lucas had been violent in the early hours of February 9th and had to be restrained by prison guards: "I think it (the blanket) was to keep him from spitting in the face of the officers", Turner said. None of the guards who testified at the inquest would reveal who it was that forced the blanket over George Lucas' head. Other guards testified that no blanket was placed over Lucas' head at all.

Casting doubt on the official version of the death of George Lucas was the fact that other of his fellow inmates testified that they had seen Lucas being beaten and smothered by guards at Cook County Jail. Two of the inmates have been transferred from the jail to avoid retaliation by the guards.

One of them, Ronald Woodward, said that on February 9th, he was standing about nine feet from Lucas' bed in Ward I when he saw the guards carrying Lucas, bodily. Woodward said that they were beating Lucas, who was bleeding from mouth and face wounds. A blanket was "smashed" down over Lucas' face by one guard and another grabbed him around the neck, Woodward said, adding that Lucas arched his back and then went limp.

Flint Taylor, a lawyer in behalf of the Lucas family called the "natural causes" coroner's jury verdict "an outrage" and vowed to pursue the case until justice is rendered. He contended that evidence presented by inmates and others indicated beyond a doubt that Cook County Jail guards murdered George Lucas. Lucas' sister, Dorothy, who was present at the inquest called the whole investigation a "farce"; and added that the verdict of the jury was to be expected.

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NEW ORLEANS: GROCER ATTACKS BLACK YOUTHS

(New Orleans, La.) - Black parents in this city are growing more aware of the threat posed to their children by the presence of Arthur Green, owner of Green's B&S Food Store, in their community. Arthur Green, a Black man, has attacked and beaten several youth in and outside his store at 3143 N. Rocheblave Street The store depends upon the Black community for its existence and yet returns nothing to the community.

The New Orleans Chapter of the Black Panther Party has undertaken the task of the enlightment of Arthur Green, and alerting the Black community. He can play a positive, constructive role in the community. Failing this, the community must cease its support of the store.

Green accused Carlton Thomas, age 11, Darryl Thomas, 10 and Cornelius Doyle, 11, of setting the store on fire recently, and attempted to have them arrested, even after a New Orleans Fire Department investigation proved that faulty wiring had caused the fire.

Later, Green drew a gun on the three young brothers he had accused of arson, and shot at them and a friend of their's outside his store for the alleged theft of a loaf of bread. His paranoid attack just a few months after he tried to have them arrested naturally concerned their parents. Mrs. Earline Thomas, Carlton's mother, went to the store and spoke to Green about his attack on her son. She was met with vulgar cursing and a .45 caliber revolver. Mrs. Thomas, her son, and her unborn baby were all threatened and banned from the store. Investigation reveals that fully 40% of the youth in the community are banned from Green's store. A Black businessman who's only concern is drawing money from his people has no place in our community.

When someone put some slugs in the stores bubble gum machine, Green ran outside and grabbed the first young person he saw, nine-year-old Tina Roach, and beat her with his belt. Tina's aunt, Madeline Doyle, who was with Tina when Green suddenly attacked, protested but was only cursed at and Green continued the assault.

In addition to unsafe conditions such as the faulty wiring, Green's Food Store also sells poor quality food at high prices. Green employs only his immediate family and refuses to donate anything to the Free Breakfast for School Children Program. Green must come to understand his responsibility to the community if he expects to continue business in the community.

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BLACK ELECTED MAYOR IN MISS.

(Pace, Miss.) - Robert Leflore, a 28-year old college student who promises to provide better services for the Black community, was elected mayor of Pace, Mississippi, last week. Leflore, who also led a full slate of five Blacks with him to victory in the Board of Alderman race, was voted in by a solid Black bloc vote which outnumbers whites 160 to 90 on the rolls of this small town.

A Vietnam veteran and business management major at Delta State College, Leflore states that his administration will be "a community thing. I would like to improve conditions… I've been a citizen of Pace all of my life and there has not been anything done for the Black community since I've been here."

Leflore is the third Black mayor elected in the state, the first being Charles Evers, elected four years ago in Fayette. He ran unopposed again this year. Black candidates were defeated in mayors' races in six other bi-racial Mississippi communities, but many Black candidates won city council and board of aldermen seats in a number of other cities.

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SEATTLE: SISTER BRUTALIZED AT HOME

(Seattle, Wash.) - On May 21st, at about 5:00 p.m., Ms. Renaulda Blount, age 24, was at home baby sitting when police entered her home and brutalized her. Ignoring Ms. Blount's questions and failing to show any identification or search warrant, officers Nieniec and Espinosa searched her home. The officers told Ms. Blount they would have kicked down her door if she had not opened it.

After forcing Ms. Blount face-down between the cushions on her couch, police handcuffed, beat and kneed her in the back. A plastic device tied around her ankles stopped circulation in her legs. Police, as usual, made derogatory remarks about her character. She was then taken to Georgetown Police Station and charged with suspicion of robbery. But because police had no reason to arrest her, this charge was dropped and replaced with resisting arrest. Consequently, she is going to file suit against the city of Seattle Police Department for false arrest.

Ms. Blount had to pay to get her car out of storage after police impounded it from her driveway. A coat, wig and all her money were taken during the police search. Nothing was returned, however, including the property on her person when she was arrested.

Ms. Blount has poor health. She suffers from a lung disease which causes her joints to weaken and she has vein trouble in her legs for which she wears supportive stockings. During the incident Ms. Blount suffered breathing problems, but the police ignored her when she asked for her medicine. As a result of their brutality she suffered swollen veins in her wrists and hands and a bruised back. The children she was babysitting -- ages three, five, seven and nine years old -- were left unattended after the arrest.

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PRISONER FURLOUGHS DISCUSSED: ILLINOIS PRISON HOLDS FIRST COMMUNITY PRISONER CONFERENCE

(Pontiac, Ill.) - On Sunday, June 3rd, the first Community/Residents Conference was held at the Illinois State Penitentiary in Pontiac, Illinois. Sponsored by the prison inmate population, the conference featured a tour of the prison, free lunch, speeches and a series of workshops, including a workshop labeled Social Justice. This workshop, using the Illinois Unified Code of Justice as its text, discussed the law pertaining to prison inmate furloughs. Prison furloughs have been conspicuously absent at the penitentiary.

Among the invited guests were Yvonne King and Gregory Garrett, two representatives of the legal aid program of the Black Panther Party. There was some initial interference from the prison administration over this invitation, but the Black Panther Party was allowed to participate because of the insistence of the prisoners themselves.

The first Community/Residents Conference (prison inmates here refer to themselves as residents), according to Yaree X, an inmate-resident of the prison, "developed out of the residents' need to interact with the outside community, to which they will someday return". Yaree X is the Muslim minister of the only mosque allowed to function in a penitentiary in the state of Illinois.

Attended by a large group of individuals and representatives from various community organizations, (principally from the Chicago area), the conference began with a tour of the prison's west cellhouse. Special notice was taken of the segregation area. The cells in this area were fortified with chicken-wire. As the tour proceeded, conference participants saw the prison's electronics, auto mechanics, printing and woodwork shops. It was pointed out that nearly all the shops housed obsolete equipment and that more modern equipment should be obtained so that the incarcerated population would be better able to obtain employment upon release.

The tour also featured a visit to a building housing the Highway Sign Industry Vocational Training Center, which prison inmates refer to as the "sweat shop". Prisoners receive a mere $35 to $55 a month for their labor.

After the tour, an opening session was conducted by prison - resident Donald Johnson, who announced that the conference would be dedicated to Malcolm X, George Jackson, "and the brothers who died at Attica". Mr. Johnson then called for a moment of silence in their memory. The guest speaker was Russ Meek, Director of "Search for Truth, Inc.", an organization based in Chicago. He is also responsible for the radio program "Behind the Walls", which gives accounts of events taking place in various prisons.

The visiting individuals and representatives of community organizations agreed to meet at a later date to discuss the first Community/Residents Conference; to decide what could be done collectively to help those incarcerated at Illinois State Penitentiary.

The most important events in the one-day conference were the workshops which included Prison Programs,

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Community Involvement, Youth Development and Social Justice. The latter workshop brought out the disturbing fact that furloughs for the prison population were virtually non-existent. Yaree X informed participants that in three years only one man had been allowed outside the prison on an "illness furlough" (someone in his family had been seriously ill).

Coordinators of the Social Justice workshop pointed out that Joseph Longo, Chairman of the Parole Board, Joseph Coughlin, Acting Director of the Department of Corrections, and David Fogel, Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission, were all invited but did not attend or send explanations as to why they could not be present. The coordinators feel that outside communities should be made aware of such gross irresponsibility.

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CHENOWETH ACQUITTED

(San Francisco, Ca.) - Patrick Chenoweth, a White sailor accused of sabatoging a U.S. aircraft carrier "in time of war", was acquitted of all charges last week. (See THE BLACK PANTHER, February 24, 1973). Chenoweth had been unjustly imprisoned in the Navy's brig at Treasure Island Naval Station since last August, when he was charged with causing $986,000 in damages to the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Ranger, by throwing objects into the gears.

Following a six day trial, a courtmartial board of three enlisted men and two officers deliberated only 3 hours before proclaiming the alleged charges against him false.

The Navy went to great pains to frame Chenoweth, but their case was too flimsy to succeed. In a statement delivered to a crowd of supporters immediately following the trial, Chenoweth called his victory over the U.S. military a victory over "the most dehumanizing machine in the world… the major genocidal force around the globe…"

He plans to file for a special honorable discharge from Navy duty, stating, "I don't think I could live in the Navy any longer".

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RANK AND FILE TEAMSTERS JOIN FARM WORKERS IN SAFEWAY PICKET

Rank and file of the Teamsters Union picketed a North Oakland Safeway store last week to aid the United Farm Workers (UFW) strike against Safeway's continued sale of non-union lettuce and grapes, and to show support for the UFW in its struggle against the racist growers and the corrupt leaders of the Teamsters Union.

This rank and file support comes as the Teamsters Union leadership continues its efforts to undermine the Farm Workers, led by Cesar Chavez, through the signing of "sweetheart" (which have been unenforced) contracts with the growers.

A Teamsters rank and file spokesman on the line at the Telegraph Avenue supermarket, gave the following statement to THE BLACK PANTHER:

"We have a group called the Committee of Concerned Teamsters, a group of union members from many Bay Area Teamster local unions. We are very concerned because our dues money and people in our union are being used in an attempt by the national Teamsters leadership to destroy the UFW, which we feel is the only group which has shown a true ability to organize farm workers. As part of their campaign, top Teamsters officials have gone through the back door and have signed sweet-heart contracts with the growers without consultation, against the wishes of the farm workers.

"They have used all kinds of anti-labor tactics such as running strike-breakers through UFW picket lines; encouraging union members to intimidate the workers; they have formed an alliance with the anti-labor Farm

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Labor Federation -- an employer group -- in order to push for the passage of legislation in congress denying the Farm Workers their right to boycott. They have done everything they can to discredit and destroy the UFW.

"We feel that the fate of the labor movement in the country, and also the fate of our union, is involved here. We feel that these same Teamsters officials have given Teamsters poor representation in the past.

"There are truck drivers, warehousemen, cab drivers, and several other locals here today. Many locals in the Teamsters Union in the past have had their local control taken away and put into the hands of the International as reprisals on many different issues. This is certainly a threat that the International can use against us if they wish.

"The vast majority of Teamsters don't know what they think about the situation. They're confused, and they've been fed a lot of false propaganda. Our presence here is an effort to educate them. I would say at least 10% of the union membership understands the situation and supports our efforts.

"There are very few members consciously taking part at this particular time because the Teamster leadership is not easy to disagree with. They have been known to use repressive measures in the past, having goons attack members and other corrupt acts. There are more than thirty picketers here today. We feel that as we increase our efforts to educate our brothers and sisters in the Teamsters, we're sure we're going to get a lot more support."

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BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS ORGANIZE

(Washington, D.C.) - The beginning of a Black trade union movement uniting Black workers from different regional and occupational backgrounds into a single organization has appeared recently in Washington, D.C. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) which first appeared last fall, has set out to organize chapters across the United States in an effort to recruit as many members as possible into their framework.

Following its national convention in May, the Coalition announced several resolutions it had passed and the purposes of the new movement. Coalition Steering Committee member William Lucy, Secretary-Treasurer of the predominantly Black, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO, stressed that the Coalition is "not a civil rights organization… We're not a separatist organization. We are a worker's movement".

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists will have over three million Black workers, men and women, to draw its membership from. Dues are $5 a year for regular membership. A truly people's movement working in the laboring people's interests has long been lacking in the American labor movement. The Coalition could fill this need. It's first resolutions show promise that it will.

The CBTU's first convention condemned Nixon administration budget cuts in social services; supported the "spring offensive" against the cuts announced by several civil rights groups; and supported the struggles of the United Farm Workers and the striking Farah clothing plant workers in Texas. Other resolutions called for "progressive" tax reform, cutting out loopholes for the rich and corrupt corporations and shifting the tax burden from the poor to the rich, together with a strong new minimum wage law covering all workers including government, farm and domestic household workers.

The rights of women were also supported. Many women are forced to support large families in absence of a father in the household on wages that are less than the wages that male employees receive for the same work. This places an added burden on Black and poor women who find themselves in this situation.

The nearly 1,200 trade unionists who met on May 25 - 27 laid down a framework for establishing a strong Black labor movement in this country. The CBTU will publish a monthly newsletter to inform its membership of its advances and activities across the country.

For further information contact Bill Hamilton, P.O.Box 13055, Washington, D.C. 20009/or phone (202) 223-4460.

HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS?

The Intercommunal News Service is constantly striving to improve our service to our readers. If you are having any problems with your subscription or home delivery of THE BLACK PANTHER, please contact Central Distribution at 8501 E. 14th Street, Oakland, California 94621, or call (415) 638-0195.

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PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE

NATIVE AMERICAN BILL

(Boston, Mass.) - Massachusetts Legislator James E. Smith has introduced a bill proposing a commission, including Native American members, which would return land to Native Americans which had been seized by the government for public use. Smith says the bill received a favorable report from the State Administration Committee and is being considered by the rules committee.

OIL EXPERT WARNS U.S.

(Beruit, Lebanon) - Nadim Pachochi, an Arab oil expert, said recently Arab oil-producing countries could bring the U.S. to the brink of a severe energy crisis within one year, by merely holding production at its present levels. He said that a total oil embargo would be unnecessary, "All the Arab producers need do is merely to refuse to increase production".

SIRHAN'S BROTHER CONVICTED

(Los Angeles, Ca.) - Shaif Sirhan, elder brother of the assassin of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was recently convicted of threatening the life of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. A federal court jury returned the verdict after hearing evidence that Sirhan sent threats in an anonymous letter to Secretary of State William P. Rogers while Mrs. Meir was visiting the U.S.

KENT STATE RE-INVESTIGATED

(Kent, Ohio) - The Justice Department is studying the May, 1970, Kent State University shootings to determine if the decision against a federal grand jury investigation "was properly founded". "A fresh look" is being taken at the incident responded Attorney General Elliot Richardson to Kent President Glen Olds.

BERKELEY HOUSING EMERGENCY

(Berkeley, Ca.) - Following a court decision voiding the Berkeley Rent Control ordinance, the city council recently declared a housing emergency after being prompted by a crowd of angry tenants. Five of the council's nine members, however, continue to vote against implementing a new Rent Control ordinance. The declaration by the council may affect the court decision, which was allegedly based upon "there not being an emergency housing crisis in Berkeley".

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BY HUEY P. NEWTON: REVOLUTIONARY SUICIDE

Huey P. Newton's latest book, Revolutionary Suicide, is not only an account of the life of the revolutionist, Huey P. Newton, but it is also an account of the New American Revolution. This is a revolution that will inevitably succeed because America's oppressed have discovered the way of their liberation; they have discovered "revolutionary suicide".

Last week's Black Panther presented the first part of the opening essay of Revolutionary Suicide. The this enlightening part of the essay, "Revolutionary Suicide: The Way of Liberation", follows.

PART 2

Revolutionary suicide does not mean that I and my comrades have a death wish; it means just the opposite. We have such a strong desire to live with hope and human dignity that existence without them is impossible. When reactionary forces crush us, we must move against these forces, even at the risk of death. We will have to be driven out with a stick.

Che Guevara said that to a revolutionary death is the reality and victory the dream. Because the revolutionary lives so dangerously, his survival is a miracle. Bakunin, who spoke for the most militant wing of the First International, made a similar statement in his Revolutionary Catechism. To him, the first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man. Unless he understands this, he does not grasp the essential meaning of his life.

When Fidel Castro and his small band were in Mexico preparing for the Cuban Revolution, many of the comrades had little understanding of Bakunin's rule. A few hours before they set sail, Fidel went from man to man asking who should be notified in case of death. Only then did the deadly seriousness of the revolution hit home. Their struggle was no longer romantic. The scene had been exciting and animated; but when the simple, overwhelming question of death arose, everyone fell silent.

Many so-called revolutionaries in this country, Black and white, are not prepared to accept this reality. The Black Panthers are not suicidal; neither do we romanticize the consequences of revolution in our lifetime. Other so-called revolutionaries cling to an illusion that they might have their revolution and die of old age. That cannot be.

I do not expect to live through our revolution, and most serious comrades probably share my realism. Therefore, the expression "revolution in our lifetime" means something different to me than it does to other people who use it. I think the revolution will grow in my lifetime, but I do not expect to enjoy its fruits. That would be a contradiction. The reality will be grimmer.

I have no doubt that the revolution will triumph. The people of the world will prevail, seize power, seize the means of production, wipe out racism, capitalism, reactionary intercommunalism-reactionary suicide. The people will win a new world. Yet when I think of individuals in the revolution, I cannot predict their survival. Revolutionaries must accept this fact, especially the Black revolutionaries in America, whose lives are in constant danger from the evils of a colonial society. Considering how we must live, it is not hard to accept the concept of revolutionary suicide. In this we are different from white radicals. They are not faced with genocide.

The greater, more immediate problem is the survival of the entire world. If the world does not change, all its people will be threatened by the greed, exploitation, and violence of the power structure in the American empire. The handwriting is on the wall. The United States is jeopardizing its own existence and the existence of all humanity. If Americans knew the disasters that lay ahead, they would transform this society tomorrow for their own preservation. The Black Panther Party is in the vanguard of the revolution that seeks to relieve this country of its crushing burden of guilt. We are determined to establish true equality and the means for creative work.

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

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OAKLAND - A BASE OF OPERATION!: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS VS. THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW

On April 25, 1973, the Black Panther Party along with the California Legislative Council for Older Americans filed an appeal of a suit the two organizations had brought against the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Aside from the formal problems of consumer protection even more fundamental questions are raised -- the people's rights to know and be informed.

The "right to know", the right to be informed and to have access to pertinent information, is supposed to be part of the legal and moral foundations of this country. In fact, the First Amendment of the Constitution, regarding Freedom of Speech and Press was intended to serve as "guarantee" to

-- B --
this right; as the author of the First Amendment, James Madison, put it: "… the right of freely examing public characters and measures, and of free communications thereon, is the only effective guardian of every other right." Down through the years, however, as the American Constitution moved from being a beautifully - worded essay on 18th century society to the actual cornerstone of American law, concrete practice has not always lived up to its lofty pie-in-the-sky theory.

B.P.P. AND OLDER AMERICANS FILE SUIT

In August, 1972, the Black Panther Party filed suit against John Kehoe, Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs for the state of California and Gordon Bishop, Chief of the Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services. The suit, in which the Black Panther Party was joined by the California Legislative Council for Older Americans -- a 5,000 member organization of senior citizens based in San Francisco -- was directed at confronting the people's right to know: "This freedom of information action is brought to compel the defendant officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs… to make available for public inspection complaints they receive from consumers against unethical and abusive `practices of collection agencies."

The Bureau of Collection and Investigative Service (BCIS) receives more than 1,000 consumer complaints annually against collection agencies. They are authorized not only to receive these complaints, but also "to receive, investigate and take disciplinary action against collection agencies which have violated the Business and Professions Code". Many collection agencies, not only in the state of California but throughout the country, prey upon poor lower-income people and harass and intimidate them, all because they have been hired by some company or business to collect on back payments. It doesn't matter to the collection agency if the sofa you just bought already is coming apart; if the glue has come out of the legs of a chair which was supposed to be one piece or if the contract you signed was fraudulent; their sole concern is that you pay up -- Now!

TO PUBLISH CONSUMER COMPLAINTS

It was in this regard, the unnecessary and intimidating harassment of consumers, that the Black Panther Party first contacted the BCIS. In a letter from Huey P. Newton, dated July 6, 1972, the Party requested an opportunity to inspect the complaints that had been filed with the BCIS during the years 1971 and 1972 concerning collection agencies in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. As part of the overall community education program, Brother Huey sought these complaints for publication in THE BLACK PANTHER, rating the collection agencies according to the number and seriousness of the complaints. The offer was also made to delete the name and address of the complainant in order to protect his or her identity, and also to furnish, when possible, the disposition of these complaints. Such a rating would provide a much-needed service to the community and would urge businessmen in the community to investigate the merits of these complaints before assigning their claims to collection agencies that seemed to engage in unethical practices. In his declaration accompaning the suit, Huey Newton's intent was clear: "The Party focused upon collection agencies because poor people are often victimized by abusive practices of the unscrupulous agencies." He added, "The Black Panther Party has proudly joined with senior citizens in this lawsuit because we know that seniors are the most susceptible, because of their fixed low-income status, and the least protected group from abusive collection practices."

Ms. Isabel Van Frank, speaking for the Older Americans agreed: "Many collection agencies… rarely investigate the underlying merits of the claims they have been assigned to collect. In addition, their telephoning the senior debtors for payment, threats to take legal action unless they are paid and threats to harm the consumers credit rating if they do not pay, can and does cause extreme emotional suffering…" The California Legislative Council for Older Americans, too, sought to publish these consumer complaints in their monthly newsletter.

On November 14, 1972, Judge Vernon Stoll ruled against the Black Panther Party and the Older Americans, claiming that:"… the records here sought to be recovered are exempt public records under Section 6254 (f) of the Government Code." An appeal was filed in the Superior Court on April 25, 1973.

THE CASE IS APPEALED

Judge Stoll's ruling hinges upon his questionable interpretation of the California Public Records Act, which in general provides that all records of public agencies (state or local) are public records, open to public scrutiny and examination, unless excepted. Section 6254 (f) of this Act sets forth the list of exceptions. Upon the request of the Older Americans, the Legislative Council of California interpreted this section. Interestingly, the exceptions to the general rule are: "1. Records of complaints to state or local police agencies; "2. Records of investigations… and records of intelligence information of security procedures of state or local police agencies; "3. Investigatory or security files of any other state or local agencies compiled for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes."

The Legislative Council, in fact, went on to mention that since the concern surrounds securing records of complaints, the question becomes whether or not the BCIS is a state police agency; the Legislative Council correctly concluded that it is not and therefore its records are open and public. This opinion, on the part of a highly respected state agency, was totally ignored by Judge Stoll in making his decision.

Briefly, the appeal revolves around these same issues. One interesting argument raised by Attorney Hiestand relates to the fact that the BCIS routinely discloses consumer complaints to the collection agencies that are to be investigated. If this occurs, and it does, to disclose any person outside the agency "constitutes a permanent waiver" and any BCIS claim that their files are "security information" are dashed. A second argument Attorney Hiestand successfully utilizes within the appeal is that the public interest in disclosure of consumer complaints filed with the BCIS clearly outweighs the public interest in suppressing these records. To counter the BCIS argument that in publishing the complaints, false charges might be involved, the fact that the disposition of each complaint would also be included miminizes this chance.

THE RIGHT TO KNOW

Yet, the central argument to the appeal comes back to the central question in the entire case itself: the people's right to know. James Madison, Chairman of the Committe that drafted the First Amendment to the Constitution, recognized long ago that: "A people who mean to be their own governers, must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or tragedy, or perhaps both."

Huey P. Newton, up-dating this same concern, put the entire case into proper perspective with these words: "The Black Panther Party understands why the Department of Consumer Affairs does not want to release these complaints to the public. It is because the Department-despite its name - is more representative of business, including the collection agencies it is supposed to police, than of the consumer. The two officials administering the BCIS… are former businessmen. They receive few complaints against collection agencies because consumers either do not know the Department exists or, what is worse, know it will not do much to help consumers. The Black Panther Party hopes, by making the complaints public… to also alert the people to the existence of the Department. We also believe that publication of these complaints will insure that the Department does a better job in investigating consumer complaints… "We have helped bring together, through this action, a unity of Black power and Senior power… In this way both groups will achieve their goals."

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BLACK PANTHER PARTY PROGRAM MARCH 29, 1972 PLATFORM: WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. WE WANT FREEDOM, WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

We believe that Black and oppressed people will not be free until we are able to determine our destinies in our own communities ourselves, by fully controlling all the institutions which exist in our communities.

2. WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every person employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the American businessmen will not give full employment, then the technology and means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.

3. WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY BY THE CAPITALIST OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

We believe that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of Black people. We will accept the payment in currency which will be distributed to our many communities. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of over fifty million Black people. Therefore, we feel this is a modest demand that we make.

4. WE WANT DECENT HOUSING FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.

We believe that if the landlords will not give decent housing to our Black and oppressed communities, then the housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that the people in our communities, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for the people.

5. WE WANT EDUCATION FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT EXPOSES THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS DECADENT AMERICAN SOCIETY. WE WANT EDUCATION THAT TEACHES US OUR TRUE HISTORY AND OUR ROLE IN THE PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY.

We believe in an educational system that will give to our people a knowledge of self. If you do not have knowledge of yourself and your position in the society and the world, then you will have little chance to know anything else.

6. WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.

We believe that the government must provide, free of charge, for the people, health facilities which will not only treat our illnesses, most of which have come about as a result of our oppression, but which will also develop preventative medical programs to guarantee our future survival. We believe that mass health education and research programs must be developed to give all Black and oppressed people access to advanced scientific and medical information, so we may provide ourselves with proper medical attention and care.

7. WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

We believe that the racist and fascist government of the United States uses its domestic enforcement agencies to carry out its program of oppression against Black people, other people of color and poor people inside the United States. We believe it is our right, therefore, to defend ourselves against such armed forces, and that all Black and oppressed people should be armed for self-defense of our homes and communities against these fascist police forces.

8. WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.

We believe that the various conflicts which exist around the world stem directly from the aggressive desires of the U.S. ruling circle and government to force its domination upon the oppressed people of the world. We believe that if the U.S. government or its lackeys do not cease these aggressive wars that it is the right of the people to defend themselves by any means necessary against their aggressors.

9. WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND POOR OPPRESSED PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS FOR ALL PERSONS CHARGED WITH SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.

We believe that the many Black and poor oppressed people now held in U.S. prisons and jails have not received fair and impartial trials under a racist and fascist judicial system and should be free from incarceration. We believe in the ultimate elimination of all wretched, inhuman penal institutions, because the masses of men and women imprisoned inside the United State, or by the U.S. military are the victims of oppressive conditions which are the real cause of their imprisonment. We believe that when persons are brought to trial that they must be guaranteed, by the United States, juries of their peers, attorneys of their choice and freedom from imprisonment while awaiting trials.

10. WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hoid these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right. It is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

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Intercommunal news: OSLO CONFERENCE: ARMED STRUGGLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA “INEVITABLE”

A joint United Nations/Organization of African Unity conference of "experts for the support of victims of colonialism and apartheid in southern Africa" was held during the week of April 8th in Oslo, Sweden. The conference was participated in by representatives of more than fifty countries, individually invited experts, members of the U.N. and O.A.U. Secretariats, specialized agencies and other inter-governmental organizations.

Most important, for the first time official representatives of the nine African Liberation movements of southern Africa fully participated. They represented Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, South-West Africa and Guinea- Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands.

The United States, Britain, France, South Africa and Portugal were not represented at the conference. The U.S., UK and France were invited but refused to participate. The conference was also totally ignored by the controlled media in the U.S. THE BLACK PANTHER here presents a report on the results of this most important event.

The week-long conferences' most important achievement was the public recognition of both the legitimacy and inevitability of the armed struggle now taking place in southern Africa.

With regard to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), the conference called for recognition of the Liberation Movement as the sole and authentic representative of the people of Zimbabwe. It called for a series of far tougher sanctions including a blockade against South Africa and Mozambique; measures against immigrants to Rhodesia; seizure of cargoes proved to be of Rhodesian destination or origin, these to be sold and the proceeds turned over to the Liberation Movement.

With regard to South Africa the conference called for disengagement, the withdrawal of investments and a halt to new investments, the termination of the purchase of gold, platinum and other minerals and full implementation of an international arms embargo and a call to trades unions to prevent the supply of arms and other equipment to South Africa.

With regard to the Portuguese territories of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, the conference called for support to be given to those liberation movements recognized by the OAU; for an international embargo by the UN on the supply of all arms, military material, ships or aircraft. The conference called on those members of NATO which refuse to supply arms to Portugal to use their influence within the organization to persuade its other members to stop doing so.

With regard to Namibia (South-West Africa), the conference urged steps for giving the UN Council for Namibia strength that it alone should represent the territory, including the renunciation of any existing treaties to which South Africa is a party.

The conference called for annual UN funds to be alloted to the Council for Namibia, no negotiations with South Africa and a call for all governments to close down consulates in Namibia.

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There were also more general resolutions with particular reference to assistance in training high level cadres for the three Portuguese territories where the liberation movements now administer large areas and are approaching the stage of establishing governmental structures.

One resolution under proposal for action on Zimbabwe, which could be extended to include South Africa and Portugal, read: "All countries, especially OAU member states, should examine investments and trade interests in their countries of those states, and corporations that violate sanctions or otherwise support the illegal Rhodesia regime and make clear their readiness to take action against those interests."

What the liberation movements want most are arms and money with no strings attached. The public recognition of the legitimacy and inevitability of armed struggle represents a most significant advance in the world community. As the struggle advances in southern Africa it becomes more essential to keep the issue before the notice of the international community. This conference has helped to do this.

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BLACK G.I. “RESIGNS” -- OPPOSES U.S. ROLE IN AFRICA

(Kaiserslautern, W. Germany)-Brother Larry Johnson, a private in the U.S. Army, recently told his commanding officer that he was "resigning" from the U.S. Army in protest against the involvement of the United States in Portugal's colonial war against the African peoples of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

In the knowledge that the United States has supplied the Portuguese army with napalm, defoliants, fighter planes, bombers and military transport planes, Brother Johnson refused to follow any more orders. At his base camp, the U.S. Army Depot in Kaiserslautern, W. Germany, Brother Johnson's commanding officer Captain Green, sent him to the psychiatrist. Green was completely unable to understand Brother Johnson's position. "The individual feels that he is no longer a member of the Army", Green said, according to the Liberation News Service. "He says this is because of U.S. aid to Portugal and that Portugal is using the money to enslave and suppress the Black people of Mozambique…" However, the psychiatrist could see, and a second psychiatrist verified, that PFC Larry Johnson was not crazy.

On June 18, Brother Johnson will face a military court-martial, on charges which include refusal to follow the orders of a commissioned officer and refusing to report to work. Although he faces a long prison term and the stigma of a dishonorable discharge, the brother further refuses to cooperate in the American military's occupation of Western Europe. He points out that the $436 million in U.S. aid to Portugal over the next five years and the training of Portuguese navy officials at the U.S. Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, California, is aimed at the suppression of African people's liberation movements.

Brother Larry will be facing in military court an experience in racism and exploitation from the same source as the apartheid experienced by the people of Mozambique, Angola and Guinea-Bissau -- the giant U.S. industrial/military complex.

As Richard Nixon continues to try to cover up his illegal attempt to obtain absolute power (Watergate) Brother Larry courageously confronts and exposes the U.S. military's role against the struggles of our African brothers and sisters.

We must defend PFC Larry Johnson in his noble effort. By doing so we, at the same time, support the African liberation struggles.

Their struggle is ours, ours is theirs.

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Africa In Focus

(New York, N.Y.) - The American Committee on Africa released recently materials documenting $215 million of loans to the government of South Africa by more than 40 banks in the USA, Canada, Britain, France and Holland. Among the major U.S. banks were Wells Fargo Bank, Republic National Bank of Dallas, First Israel Bank and Trust Company of N.Y., First National Bank of Louisville, Maryland National Bank, United Virginia Bank, Central National Bank in Chicago, City National Bank of Detroit and Wachovia Bank and Trust Company.

(Mozambique) - Portugal has just completed building a network of 150 land strips and 30 airfields in northern Mozambique for counter-guerrilla operations. The U.S. admitted earlier this year to the sale of 12 Bell helicopters, at a price of $1.9 million for use in Mozambique against liberation forces. Clark MacGregor, a former White House assistant and official of the Committee to Re-elect the President (shades of Watergate), recently returned from a trip to southern Africa. His trip is expected to result in further arms transactions between the U.S., Portugal and South Africa.

(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) - A medical conference on childcare in Africa was held here in mid-May. The conference was attended by pediatricians from a number of African countries. Discussions centered on health services, daycare centers and family planning.

(Lusaka, Zambia) - Five persons were killed and 21 wounded recently in land mine explosions near the Angolan border. Portuguese and Rhodesian soldiers, in efforts to terrorize villagers, regularly cross the Zambia/ Angola border and mine roads and fields. It was also announced here that a South African plane dropped hand grenades on a village in the same area, but the village had been evacuated on a tip beforehand.

(Yaounde, Cameroon) - President Alhaji Ahmadou Ahidjo, returning home after a nine-day official visit to the People's Republic of China, summed up his impression of the journey: "By all that it has built, the People's Republic of China shows its growth and its progress. It brings proof that true development can only come from each peoples' own efforts."

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Features: ATTORNEY EXPOSES U.C.L.A. “VIOLENCE CENTER”: PSYCHOSURGERY PLOT UNFOLDS

The following is the concluding portion of the testimony of Attorney Fred J. Hiestand before the California Senate Committee on Health and Welfare regarding a proposed Center for the Study and Reduction of Violence to be constructed on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout his powerful and informative presentation, Attorney Hiestand, (representing the Black Panther Party among other human rights organizations), laid bare, bit-by-bit, the actual goal of the "study": to show that psychosurgery is a type of brain operation that can leave its victims mindless robots, helpless automations. From experimental drug treatments to tests of "preventative models for violence" on predominantly minority L.A. high school students to the actual brain surgery itself, the scope and intent of this center is terrifying. It must be stopped. By way of summary, Attorney Hiestand's conclusion explains why:

Now I recognize that Dr. West has stated that there will be no psychosurgery performed at the Center. This statement, however, was made in response to a question from Senator Beilenson at the April 14, 1973 hearing before this Committee as to whether Dr. Stubblebine's (the Director of the Department of Mental Hygiene, who has already authorized $500,000 to be allocated to the Center out of reserve funds) statement to the San Francisco Examiner that "some psychosurgery may be performed" was correct. Note that Dr. West confined his denial to the geography at the Center. Senator Beilenson astutely observed that the denial was irrelevant inasmuch as the NPI at UCLA does not perform psychosurgery on the premises. But what about the final proposal to CCCJ, which speaks vaguely of:

"the development of treatment models designed to ameliorate or supplant the expression of violent behavior. Treatment programs will emphasize patient/inmate performance and responsibility in demonstrating alternative and socially acceptable behavior. A partial list of facilities which will be used to develop treatment models and implement pilot and demonstration programs are: Atascadero State Hospital; Camarillo State Hospital; UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute; California Medical Facility, Vacaville."

Will Dr. West assure us that psychosurgery will not be performed at these institutions (other than UCLA) with the cooperation, assistance, or even academic legitimization, of the proposed Center?

More importantly, can Dr. West assure this Committee and the public of anything, since the ultimate control of the Center is completely unclear? I suggest that the vagueness in terms of composition and function of this "Violence Center" deliberate, though as vague as it is the proposal portends political control of what purports to be a medical study. There have unfortunately been other societies in our experience where science, particularly medical experimentation, was put to political uses, but it has always been understood that in principle our society should strive to keep science free from political control.

Finally, the proposal for the Center is dangerous because the descriptions of its components are so vague and general. We are told, for example, that the Center will experiment with drugs, but not what drugs (Center Proposal, p. 30). Do these drugs include Prolixin, a powerful mood stablizer which includes side effects in from 50 to 100% of the cases that include pseudo-Parkinson's Disease -- painful tremors and rigidity, restlessness ("the prolixin shuffle"), muscle contractions, spasms of the back, neck and throat, forced protrusion of the tongue, constant drooling, loss of concentration, increased nervousness, and generalized weakness? Is Pronectine (sussinylcholine chloride) a powerful muscle relaxant that causes complete paralysis of all muscles, including those needed for breathing, one of the drugs with which the Center will experiment? We are told that the Center will "cooperate with law - enforcement agencies and correction facilities"; that it will test out preventive models for violence in the schools, with at least two high schools, one Chicano and one Black in the Los Angeles area as experimental models, but we are not told the names of the schools, and just how the studentry will be utilized in these tests. Why just predominantly minority schools? Has the Center already obtained permission from the Superintendent of the Los Angeles schools and the District School Boards, as well as from the parents of the children who will be studied or utilized in these experiments? And if so, what was the nature, if any, of the disclosure made by Center representatives to obtain this permission?

In sum, to allocate $1.5 million of taxpayers' monies for such a vague program, particularly when it has aroused minority, women's, prisoner and public interest groups, is to show contempt for the citizenry. I know this Committee does not control the ultimate fate of the Center, but you can perform a valuable public service by expressing your specific concerns to all parties involved -- the Health and Welfare Agency, the California Council on Criminal Justice, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration and UCLA. Senator Sam Ervin has already, (understand, written to the LEAA urging that no monies be authorized for proposals like the Center until there has been a more thorough review of scope and nature of their proposed activities by the appropriate Congressional Committees. This Committee might

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undertake similar action and urge that monies be withheld from the Center unless and until specific and detailed information is made public about every research component. In addition, the Center should, before receiving a single cent of public money, come forward with procedural safeguards and mechanisms that will minimize the chances of abuse of research monies and subjects. This ought to include a provision guaranteeing periodic on site inspections and reports of Center activities and research by an independent citizens group. The group should include members knowledgeable about psychiatry, law and medicine, and who not only are independent, but appear to be independent.

When and if these steps are taken, then the public and my clients will rest somewhat easier about a center to study and reduce violence. But if they are done, I suspect we will end up with a center very different from that now proposed or, even more likely, find that the proponents of this particular Center quickly lose their interest and enthusiasm for it.

CONCLUSION

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SUPPORT THE SAMUEL L. NAPIER INTERCOMMUNAL YOUTH INSTITUTE

The Samuel Napier Intercommunal Youth Institute is a school designed to help our children think. It is located in the Oakland Bay Area and it points out through example that other schools have provided only the most basic courses; courses that have little relevance to the survival of poor people. We are trying to expand the concept that the whole world is the children's classroom.

The youth at Samuel Napier receive instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, health, physical education, political education and people's art. All of these courses are geared to the development of a well-rounded human being.

We need the help of all interested people in making our school run smoothly. Since its inception in 1970, its enrollment has rapidly increased. We need more instructors; instructors with everchanging ideas to cope with the everchanging ideas of the children.

If you have teaching skills and can donate some of your time, please contact the Black Panther Party at 8501 East 14th Street, Oakland, California; or phone 638-0195. The children, our youth, are our future. Without their growth, we, as a people, cannot survive.

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE

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WATERGATE LOWLIGHTS

One of the Watergate conspirators, E. Howard Hunt Jr., former head of White House security, effectively blackmailed the White House by threatening to disclose the involvement of high Nixon administration officials in illegal activities unless he received large sums of money and a guarantee of executive clemency. Hunt has been paid more than $200,000 to remain silent and received repeated assurances of clemency, according to government sources.

Former White House special counsel Charles W. Colson says that late last January, and again in February and March, he warned President Nixon that must force former Attorney General John W. Mitchell to admit that he had played a role in planning the Watergate burglary.

John W. Dean, former White House counsel, ordered E. Howard Hunt Jr. to flee the country two days after the Watergate burglary, according to former counsel to Nixon, Charles W. Colson. Colson told federal prosecutors that Dean was one of the first participants in the effort to conceal official connections with the plot.

President Nixon's former personal attorney obtained $75,000 for the indicted Watergate conspirators last June after telling campaign aides he needed all possible cash for an urgent but secret "White House project". The money was turned over to Herbert W. Kalmabach last June 29th by Committee to Re-Elect the President finance chairman Maurice H. Stans, the former Secretary of Commerce.

The Watergate prosecutors have a one page memo addressed to former White House domestic affairs advisor John D. Erlichman that describes in detail the plans to burglarize the office of Pentagon Papers hero Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. The memo, sent to Ehrlichman by former White House aides David Young and Egil Krogh, was dated before the September 3, 1971, burglary.

John W. Dean has told U.S. Senator Lowell P. Weicker Jr. that he was told by an aide to H. R. Haldeman that Haldeman ordered pertinent documents destroyed directly after the Watergate burglary. The documents were said to indicate that Haldeman knew of "actual data" obtained from the wiretap of the Democratic National Committee's headquarters.

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Aid The Farmworkers

On April 16th, the hard-fought contracts which the United Farm Workers Union had won only two years before from California's grape growers expired. Immediately afterwards, the rich and racist growers signed contracts with the notorious Teamsters Union, despite strong protest from the UFW and the farmworkers themselves. The UFW, led by Cesar Chavez, promptly announced that another grape strike had begun; a lettuce strike was already in progress. Nationwide boycotts of both products are underway and are growing daily.

The framworkers need our help. Their struggle is our struggle. To aid the farmworkers is to move us all closer to the goals of freedom and dignity.

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A PROGRAM FOR SURVIVAL

Free Breakfast Program

Provides children a free, hot breakfast every school morning.

People's Free Food Program

Provides free food to Black and other oppressed people.

Liberation Schools

Provides free educational facilities and materials to Black and other oppressed children to promote a correct view of their role in the society.

Intercommunal Youth Institute

Provides Black and other oppressed children with a scientific method of thinking and analyzing things, basic skills for living in the society and a concrete alternative to established learning institutions.

Legal Aid Educational Program

Provides full legal assitance to those involved in legal problems, as well as legal aid classes.

Free Busing to Prisons Program

Provides free transportation to prisons for families and friends of incarcerated men and women.

Free Commissary for Prisoners Program

Provides imprisoned men and women with the funds to purchase necessary commissary items inside the prison.

David Hilliard People's Free Shoe Program

Provides free shoes to the people made at the David Hilliard Free Shoe Factory and elsewhere.

Seniors Against A Fearful Environment (S.A.F.E.) Program

Provides free transportation and escort service for senior citizens to and from community banks the first of each month.

People's Free Community Employment Program

(Being Implemented)

Provides free job-finding services to poor and oppressed people who cannot find work.

People's Free Medical Research Health Clinics

Provides free medical treatment and preventative medical care for the people.

People's Free Plumbing and Maintenance Program

Provides free plumbing and repair services to improve people's housing conditions.

Community Cooperative Housing Program

(Being Implemented)

Provides decent housing, cooperatively owned and managed by the resident families.

People's Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation

Instituted to test and establish a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia, to create better educational programs around Sickle Cell Anemia and maintain an advisory committee of doctors already researching Sickle Cell Anemia.

People Free Clothing Program

Provides new, stylish and quality clothing free to the people.

Intercommunal news Service

Provides news and information about the Black and other oppressed communities throughout the U.S. and the world.

Free Pest Control Program

Free household extermination of rats, roaches, ants and other disease carrying pests and rodents.

People's Free Ambulance Service

(Being Implemented)

Provides free, 24-hour speedy transportation to people in need of emergency medical care.

People's Free Dental Program

(Being Implemented)

Provides free dental check-ups and treatment for the people, as well as an educational program for dental hygiene and preventative dental care.

People's Free Optometry Program

(Being Implemented)

Provides free eye examinations, treatment and eye correctional equipment (glasses, etc.) for the people.

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