The Black Panthers, an organization of radical and political views, was founded in 1966 in Oakland, California. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale's original goal when they first founded this organization was to protect the African American's from police actions that many blacks considered brutality. When they first established this group, it was named the Black Panther Party. This "Self Defense" label did eventually drop from their name not too long after the organization became known. Over time, the group began to favor violent revolution, if necessary to bring out a change in society.
             During the middle 1960's the Black Panthers began to work with the white radical and revolutionary groups that shared their goals. This often caused major violent disagreements between the police and African Americans. In 1972, Black Panther, Elmer Pratt, was convicted of a robbery-related murder and sentenced to 27 years imprisonment. Pratt was announced in the Times Daily as "a Vietnam War Hero", and he was admired for his charisma and warrior spirit. It also stated that as an opinion... Pratt was framed for the murder by the authorities because he dared to stand up for his people as the leader of the Black Panther Party. Pratt's lawyer, Johnnie L. Cochran, was well convinced that Pratt would not receive a fair trial. With the help of Pratt, Mr. Cochran helped the public understand how the Black Panthers help the black communities in need. Stating that the Black Panthers are a group of black people who mixed black, nationalism and socialism, shotguns, free breakfast programs for children, medical clinics, and free schools for the black community.
             Although never proven anything but guilty, it is very possible that Pratt was innocent of murder. And in a later investigation, it was found that the FBI did have an interest in "neutralizing Pratt as an effective Black Panther Party functionary." A more detailed investigation was done over this trial tr...