Black Panther Legend and Former Political Prisoner Dies At 63

June 3rd, 2011 - By TheEditor

At 63, Black Panther Party legend Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt passed away in Tanzania, where he was living with his wife and child.

Pratt was one of the most well known Black Panther Party members, partially due to the fact that he was a long time political prisoner, having spent 27 years in jail for a crime that he did not commit. Eight of those years were spent in solitary confinement.

The former minister of defense for the BPP was convicted for the murder of a white woman in Santa Monica during a robbery attempt in 1968. The victim’s husband identified another man initially as the suspect but interestingly enough, that powerful piece of information never fell on the jury’s ears. In addition, Julius Butler, who was a Black Panther member and a police informant, identified Pratt as the murderer.

Prior to his work with the Black Panther party, the Louisiana native served in the Army and did two tours in Vietnam. He got involved with the Black Panther Party upon his move to California – a move he made to attend UCLA.

 

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  • http://www.google.com/ Jenay

    I really couldn’t ask for more from this arltice.

  • cj falkner

    And this our Great! Country.

  • jdit

    Let’s never allow any of the ‘heroes’ of the movement be forgotten.
    RIP Geronimo.

  • http://theillusionofgod.yuku.com J. Fann

    I do not know any one who can speak of death before or after. Speculation of this proceeding death, and that occurring after death is widespread. But who has ever presented authoritative knowing to cause any one to say, ah, I understand it now?

    I know only about living. And living to me is a good death. In my living of death I seem continuously the death of this moment and the birth of the next to be categorized instantly as another death. I see the death of the thoughts of this moment to be renewed and incorporated by my thoughts which had died the moment before. And I gather some sense of knowing why, as the saying is, “Death gives to life so life can live. Life give to death so death can die.”

    It is by death that regeneration takes place. The two solstice bear witness of death and rebirth; of being absorbed into continuance; of evolving; of advancement. This is the way of my Spirit of lving. Reaching, gathering, giving unselfishly of myself so other may benefit of my struggling and suffering. In this there is a Peace which confounds understanding. I rise to die, and each day become a good death. I die to rise, and each day becomes my resurrection.

    No wonder G. Custer wanted to die with his boots on, as the saying goes. There is no issue as to why Crazy Horse cried out “It is a good day to die.” Awake me also in my death so I may see my vision of giving to life so life can live.

    “Geronimo” Pratt you are never alone!

    To the family of “Geronimo” Pratt, he will aways live as long as you keep him alive in your consciousness
    _________________
    Never give power to anything a person believe is their source of strength – Jufa