Ep. 14: Witch Hunts pt. 4b - COINTELPRO & its attack on the Black Panther Party

*Content warning** political violence, racism, and brief mention of suicide.

 

*A FEW VERBAL MISTAKES*: at 2 occasions I referred to the BPP's early name as the "Black Panther Party OF Self Defense" & "Black Panther Party of Defense" which is incorrect. It should have been said, "Black Panther Party for Self Defense"...sorry-sometimes my mouth has its own plan  -_-

 

Hi there,  listeners! This episode examines the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s campaign against the Black Panther Party under the secret so-called "counter-intelligence program" known as COINTELPRO. Through different people's accounts, we trace how a community-based organization that provided free breakfast for children, health clinics, and sickle-cell testing became one of the government’s most hated, highest-priority targets.

     The discussion follows the founding of the Party, its social programs & the FBI’s tactics of infiltration, surveillance & what is referred to as “snitch-jacketing,” which culminated in the raid that killed Illinois chairman Fred Hampton in 1969. We weigh out why the Party’s vision of independence: feeding, educating, and protecting their communities, was perceived as a danger to the political establishment...spoiler: when marginalized groups begin to see the system as unnecessary, the patriarchy doubles down.

     This installment also marks the near conclusion of the Witch Hunt series’ exploration of COINTELPRO. After the conclusion of COINTELPRO, there will be one last episode (i think!) of the witch hunt series regarding a few '90s tropes and demonizations. Then my usual case-per-episode will resume...cases that reveal how power-imbalances and patriarchy can have devestating consequences. MMByyyeeeeee!

 

Show notes:

Feeding America's link for donating and seeking help:

https://www.feedingamerica.org/ 

 

SOURCES:

 

https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/black-panther-partys-free-breakfast-program-1969-1980/ 

 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Panther-Party 

 

https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/10/01/massive-immigration-raid-on-chicago-apartment-building-leaves-residents-reeling-i-feel-defeated?fbclid=IwY2xjawNLbpRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLZFZ5SG9TSEJLMDczWThlAR5Nw5TCvTppZeDbAkIWG6B5QZVk2AAblKWL5gB8etZPL-U-gKpxv0eX_S_40A_aem_cZbI2ZmbmOj0jtZit4-NAg 

 

https://digitalchicagohistory.org/exhibits/show/fred-hampton-50th/the-assassination?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

 

https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3632 

 

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/mulford-act 

 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/immigration-agents-become-increasingly-aggressive-in-chicago 

 

https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=lacs_fac_scholar 

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/02/13/judas-and-black-messiah-fact-check-was-fred-hampton-drugged/4390689001/