Public Notice Regarding Philadelphia Chapter Suspension 1/7/09 NBPP Official Statement
Philadelphia Chapter of the New Black Panther Party
is suspended from operations and is not recognized by the New Black Panther Party until further notice.
The New Black Panther Party has never, and never will, condone or promote the carrying of nightsticks or any kind of weapon at any polling place. Such actions that were taken were purely the individual actions of Samir Shabazz and not in any way representative or connected to the New Black Panther Party. On that day November 4th, Samir Shabazz acted purely on his own will and in complete contradiction to the code and conduct of a member of our organization. We don't believe in what he did and did not tell him to do what he did, he moved on his own instructions.
It is true that volunteers in the New Black Panther Party successfully served as poll watchers all over the country and helped get the Black vote out. We were incident free. We are intelligent enough to understand that a polling place is a sensitive site and all actions must be carried out in a civilized and lawful manner.
Certainly no advice from the leadership of the New Black Panther Party was given to Samir Shabazz to do what he did, he acted on his own. This will be the New Black Panther Party's Only Statement on the matter.
The NBPP Issues Official Statement re: Election 2008 and Voter Intimidation 11/4/08
The New Black Panther Party for the record, has not officially endorsed any candidate for the Presidency of The United States. However, we would like to take this time to congratulate Senator Barack Obama for a campaign that has inspired and uplifted masses of people throughout the country and around the world. The Obama campaign has conducted itself with extreme professionalism, and has maintained a sense of dignity through some of the most negative tactics and scurrilous accusations we have ever seen during a campaign. Whatever the results of this election, we are extremely proud of the contribution that Senator Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and his children have made to the collective of African-American History as yet another representation of the Black Family. This campaign alone has shaped the minds of generations to come. We have indeed witnessed change.
To be clear, the New Black Panther Party does not now nor ever has, engaged in any form of voter intimidation. We recognize the long legacy of our people who were martyred and paid for our right to vote in their blood. The very origin of the Black Panther Party lies in Lowndes County, Alabama which was birthed as a Voter Registration Drive in an area that had been under-represented, oppressed and where Black People were made afraid to organize and vote under threat of the Klan.
In 2008, the New Black Panther Party stands for the right of our people to vote, free and clear from any and all forms of intimidation or threat whether physical or otherwise. Regardless of any of our members personal feelings as to who to support, we as an organization have been supremely careful and respectfully have withheld either our endorsement or any condemnation. Rather, the New Black Panther Party has chosen to focus its efforts on supporting any of our people who wish to vote, whomever they may vote for, and ensure that they are informed on the issues, have proper transporation to and from the polls and of course that our people, especially our women, youth and elders are completely free from intimidation and threat as they exercise their own individual right to choose and vote.
The New Black Panther membership represents a wide range of views, both politically and spiritually, we are a grassroots national community-based organization which is made up of several chapters throughout several regions in the US and abroad. The New Black Panther Party has over 350 of its members on the ground in 15 Cities in order to ensure that people of color particularly our women, youth and elders, are ensured their right to vote and in order to provide security protecting our people in the face of real and confirmed Neo-Nazi, Skinhead, KKK, Aryan Nation and other White Supremacist threats.
Specifically, in the case of Philadelphia, the New Black Panther Party wishes to express that the actions of people purported to be members do not represent the official views of the New Black Panther Party and are not connected nor in keeping with our official position as a party. The publicly expressed sentiments and actions of purported members do not speak for either the party's leadership or its membership. At this critical time in history, emotions and rhetoric are bound to be intense. As an organization, the New Black Panther Party is committed to the fair representation of all peoples of color in whatever pursuit they should choose. Whether it be fair employment, fair housing or fair voting the New Black Panther Party stands for the full and total representation of the disenfranchised black, brown, yellow and red people who have many times been victims of America rather than treated as citizens of the United States of America.
We only have to look at the case in Paris, Texas where a young 24 yr. old Brandon McClelland who could have grown up to be the next Barack Obama was cut down in his prime by yet another dragging death in Texas. If we look at the case of the Neo-Nazi Skinheads who planned to kill 88 Black Schoolchildren, 14 by decapitation, and culminate their murderous spree in the assassination of Barack Obama then we can clearly see that this may not be the America that some may think. The New Black Panther Party does not issue threats of violence to those who we may not agree with. We are the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and we defend our people against the virulent oppression and racism that unfortunately has not yet been purged from this nation. Whether it is on the ground in Jasper, TX for James Byrd, or in Cincinnati for Timothy Thomas, or in NY for Sean Bell, or in W. VA for Megan Williams, or in Paris, TX for Brandon McClelland or in ATL for Catherine Johnston, the New Black Panther Party has stood time and again for liberation, justice, equality and peace for our people.
Official Statement of the New Black Panther Party
11/4/08