workingclasshistory:

On this day, 6 April 1968, just two days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, 17 year old Black Panther “Little” Bobby Hutton was murdered by police in Oakland, California. Hutton had been the very first recruit to the Black Panther Party. He had been involved in a shootout with police until he surrendered. He left his weapon, took off his shirt and emerged from the basement where he was holed up, barechested with his hands up. He had been advised by a comrade to surrender naked, but he was embarrassed and left his trousers on. Police shot him at least 10 times, killing him. Six days later, over 1000 people came to his funeral, at which actor Marlon Brando delivered the eulogy. His killing spurred rapid growth of the BPP. http://bit.ly/2IhNGc5