IDs / TIMECODES AUDIO / VIDEO OPEN - FADE UP SOT Protest Montage “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” 2014 V/O Stanley Nelson The stories in the news today remind me of the sentiments of almost 50 years ago, when many young black people felt that policing for them was unfair . 1966 JAMAL JOSEPH BLACK PANTHER PARTY During that time period being Black in America meant that you didn’t walk down the street with the same sense of safety and the same sense of privilege as a white person. BILL CALHOUN BLACK PANTHER PARTY There was absolutely no difference in the way the police treated us in .. in Mississippi than they did in California. They may not have called you Nigger every day but they treated you the same way they did in Mississippi . WAYNE PHARR BLACK PANTHER PARTY The police jump on you. Beat you up. Put the gun at your head. This is what we were going through on a daily basis . SOT CONTEMP PROTESTER I’m tired of this, I’ll stay here as long as I have to! V/O Stanley Nelson Now, as then, the need for change is real. Nearly every black man I know has a story about an encounter with the police. I myself have been stopped, searched, and had a gun put to my head for no rational reason. SOT BLACK PANTHERS MARCHING Left! Left! Left! V/O Stanley Nelson One response to police brutality in 1966 was the founding of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense . SOT HUEY NEWTON BLACK PANTHER PARTY We use the black panther as our symbol because the nature of a panther. Panther doesn’t strike anyone but, when he is assailed upon, he’ll back up first. But if the aggressor continues then he will strike out. ELBERT “BIG MAN” HOWARD BLACK PANTHER PARTY When I first met Huey and Bobby, they were in the process of forming an organization for primarily self-defense . // We didn’t plan to have a nationwide organization or anything like that. We were organized in dealing with the problem in Oakland . V/O Stanley Nelson In 1966, California law allowed civilians to carry loaded weapons as long as they were not concealed - as do many states today . And the newly-formed Black Panther Party took advantage of the law . SOT HUEY NEWTON BLACK PANTHER PARTY The California Penal Code Section 12020 through 12027 and also the Second Amendment of a Constitution guarantees the citizen the right to bear arms on public property . ELBERT “BIG MAN” HOWARD BLACK PANTHER PARTY Huey said we’re gonna carry our guns and we’re gonna follow the police and if they stop someone we’re gonna stop, we’re gonna maintain a legal distance and we’re gonna observe these so-called law officers in the performance of their duties . SOT Panthers on police patrol “Are you there? We’re coming around the corner, just stay facing the way you are.” SHERWIN FORTE BLACK PANTHER PARTY We would stop. We would get out of the cars. We would walk up to the scene. Those who had rifles, would carry them in the open. Clearly visible . SOT HUEY NEWTON BLACK PANTHER PARTY We would stand at a distance where the police couldn’t say they were interfering with their arrest or their detention of the individual and make sure that there was no brutality . V/O Stanley Nelson The police were confronted by citizens who were not just voicing their opinions, but were armed . RAY GAUL OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT They would take the weapon and pass it across like this. And it would sweep right over the officer. SHERWIN FORTE BLACK PANTHER PARTY No one would do anything until a policeman ejected a round in the chamber then we would all eject rounds in the chamber and all up and down the streets you could hear this clackity-clack-clack-clack-clack . RAY GAUL OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT And then when the traffic stop or the incident’s over, they bring the weapon down across by you like this and get back in their car and drive off . It was pretty intimidating. V/O Stanley Nelson The Black Panther Party spread quickly, partly because young African Americans across the country had similar experiences with the police . ERICKA HUGGINS BLACK PANTHER PARTY We would get calls from Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, North Carolina; from Washington, D.C. ; Bridgeport, Connecticut. Every city small or large you could think of wanted a chapter of the Black Panther Party . V/O Stanley Nelson There’s no question that the Panthers were provocative . But there’s also no question that law enforcement exaggerated the threat they posed, and overreacted . SOT REPORTER Do you feel the nation is in trouble? SOT J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI I think very definitely it is. SOT REPORTER What is the answer? SOT HOOVER The answer is vigorous law enforcement. SOT REPORTER That’s the only answer? SOT HOOVER That’s the only answer. SOT REPORTER How about justice? You hear a lot about justice with law enforcement. HOOVER Justice is merely incidental to law and order. SOT ANCHOR FBI Director J Edgar Hoover today asserted that the Black Panthers represent the greatest internal threat to the nation . Hoover said the Panthers have perpetrated numerous assaults on police and have engaged in violent confrontations throughout the country . CLAYBORNE CARSON When Hoover identified the Black Panther Party as the Number one threat to the national security of the United States at a time when they are fighting in Vietnam, of course that was crazy, but it was politically very effective. It says to law enforcement at the local level, “we can take the gloves off now. We don’t have to respect the civil liberties and we can go after them with everything we’ve got“. SOT - REPORTERS Police say there was sniper fire throughout the early morning hours so they moved in cautiously... SOT Police and Black Panthers clashed in Houston, New Orleans and other cities... SOT The Black Panther - police shoot out lasted 30 minutes... SOT In the pre-dawn hours in Chicago today, police and Negroes fought a fixed battle... 2014 V/O Stanley Nelson Obviously, we are nowhere near this today. In fact, we may be at a transformative moment. People of all ages and races are recognizing the problems with policing in black communities and are protesting. SOT - PRESENT DAY PROTESTS “We’re fired up! Can’t take it no more!” V/O Stanley Nelson Now, there is a chance for real change. But police departments and political leaders must not over react as they did 50 years ago. They need to listen. SOT - PRESENT DAY PROTESTS “When I say No you say violence! “No - violence!” “No - violence! “No justice no peace!” END