H95.18.1008

Clipping on the back of photo reads--"Aug. 23, 1989-Black Panthers march in Oakland in 1968 to protest arrest and trial of Newton for slaying of Oakland police officer..." Photo shows protest of Black Panters, some standing in a line and others carrying signs that say "Free Huey," "Freedom for Huey." The protest occured in front of the Alameda County courthouse. From the Oakland Tribune, July 17, 1968, article titled "Newton On Stand, says He's Broke": "...On the streets below the seventh-floor courtroom Newton's supporters gathered today for another demonstration demanding his freedom. A noisy crowd of less than 400 Panthers and others gathered outside the courthouse yesterday-a sharp contrast to the turnout of 2,000 chanting pickets when the trial opened. Ground level flagpoles outside the courthouse were bare yesterday, following a foray on the U.S. flag Monday, but today both the American and State of California banners were raised. Most entrances to the courthouse were locked and the seventh floor remained sealed to all but witnesses, court attaches, attorneys, a handful of spectators, a few newsmen with special passes- and, of course, Superior Court Judge Monroe Friedman who is trying the case. ...At the end of yesterday's demonstration at about 3:30 p.m., protesters carefully cleaned Fallon Street between 12th and 13th streets before they left. One member of the Panthers standing in a line at rigid attention in front of the main entrance fainted in the heat. He was quickly revived. The incident apparently prompted the Panthers to discard their 'traditional' black leather jackets in favor of identical sky blue T-shirst for today's vigil. About 100 took up their military formation on two sides of the courthouse today." Newton was on trial for the October 28, 1967 murder of Oakland police officer John Frey. This photo was not printed in the Oakland Tribune until August 23, 1989.

Used: Oakland Tribune