Have you heard of The White Panther Party? No it was not a white supremacist group formed in opposition of the Black Panther party. Yes it was 3 white hippies (Pun Plamondon, John Sinclair, and Leni Sinclair) I say that respectfully. In Detroit they heard what Huey P Newton said white people could do to support the Panthers. Originally banning together and running a communal building holding similar interests in beliefs and values The Detroit Artists Workshop formed The White Panthers. In November 1968, they emerged as an anti-racist group that supported the Black Panthers. The White Panthers also promoted the anti-war movement and the decriminalization of marijuana. The Panthers originally wrote them off as “psychedelic clowns,” but showed them real love once they saw the actionable change they were making in Detroit. It was mostly popular among younger people — especially those who rejected capitalism, conservatism, and what they identified as American imperialism. Many of these youths protested against the Vietnam War and police brutality, and supported ideas like free love and legal drugs. They had a 10-point program modeled after that of the Black Panthers, and the White Panthers’ first point was complete support of the Black Panthers’ platform. They were targeted by police and raided numerous times before forming as the White Panthers with 54 people once arrested in a single raid, typically for marijuana possession. Following a raid, they provided assistance to people who were left homeless after the Detroit Riots in 1967 which resulted in the death of 43 people including 33 black people and 10 white people. Co-founder John Sinclair is quoted as saying “We dug black people ‘cause that’s there the great music came from and the great weed and the refreshing concepts of sexuality.” OK 👀. Yeah, their perspective and fantasy of Black culture offered them an expression of freedom from everything they felt was wrong with White America. And you can call me biased, but you know the real outside support comes from the Midwest. Major props to the White Panthers. Top tier solidarity indeed.✌🏾
enemies too.