1970

Angela Davis, a scholar and activist, who was not a member of The Black Panther Party became associated with them because of her activism. Ronald Reagan did not renew Davis’ lecturer appointment because he did not believe in her communist politics due to her involvement with The Black Panther Party. Angela Davis then worked on a case about three black men who were accused of killing a guard in Soledad Prison. When one of the inmate’s younger brother attempted to free his brother by holding hostages at the Marin County Courthouse, Davis was pressed with all the charges because one of the guns was registered to her name. Angela Davis was charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder and fled becoming one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted criminals. When she returned about 8 weeks later, Davis was acquitted of all charges by an all white jury.

1971-73

In 1971, Bobby Seale was on trial for the murder of Alex Rackley, while Fred Hampton murder was viciously led by the police, leaving a pool of his blood at the scene. The trial went on for sixth months and ended with no verdict. In later years, Seale admitted to being an FBI informant; and he admitted to sharing the location of The Black Panther Party headquarters in Oakland California. In 1973, Seale ran for mayor of Oakland, California. Seale wanted to show the world that The Black Panther Party was a political party and not some street gang. Unfortunately, Seale ended up losing to John Reading, but he did receive second-most votes.

1974

In July of 1974, Bobby Seale resign from the Black Panthers. Seales leaves the organization, while other prominent figures follow him such as, John Seale, Bobby’s brother, David and June Hillard, Robert Bay, and many others. Elaine Brown, became the first and only women to lead the black panther party, which was chosen by Huey Newton before he was exiled to Cuba. Black Panther member Betty Van Patter was killed in December 13, 1984. Her body was found floating in the San Francisco Bay. There was no convictions for her murders, but the police believe that black panthers were involved, because Patter was going to expose to Black Panther’s financial crisis.

1977

Huey Newton returns from Cuba, and he faces challenges such as, distraught between the Black Panther Party, a testimony from Crystal Gray, and ordering a beating of a school administrator named Regina Davis. The black panther party was becoming unsettled because of the amount of power that was distributed to woman under the leadership of Elaine Brown, who later resigned. Crystal Gray was a witness to the murder that Huey Newton allegedly committed. Her testimony led to a Black Panther member getting killed because of assassination attempt placed on her. The killing of the black panther conspirator left a bloody trail of blood. Regina Davis was beaten for scolding a male Black Panther member.