The tragic death of Minnesota resident Renee Nicole Good has sent a ripple effect across the states. Major cities are seeing tensions rising between residents and ICE. With no ceasefire from either side in sight, some groups are banding together to protect protestors. In Philadelphia, the Black Panther Party is making it clear they’re meeting agents by any means possible.
The Back Panther Party for Self-Defense was founded in the 1960s by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Throughout the decades, the party has stood against tyranny and civil rights injustices. Philadelphia’s group recently appeared at the anti-ICE protest at Philadelphia City Hall. They were armed with military-style weapons, making it clear that they were there to protect the city’s residents.
Now, an interview with the group’s Chairman, Paul Birdsong, is going viral along with footage from demonstrations. “No ICE agent would ever run up on me, I guarantee you they won’t. I’ll put a hole in their chest the size of a window. Safelite repair, Safelite replace! That’s what’s going to happen if they touch me,” Birdsong tells a reporter. He goes on to explain the protection they’re providing the city’s residents following an “unarmed woman” being “killed by ICE.”
After emphasizing that the party holds ICE agents accountable for their actions, Birdsong provides background on the group. “We’re the same Black Panther Party from back in the day,” he says. “But we’re a little more aggressive now. Ya dig?” He also shares that communities with a high immigrant population must “take care,” suggesting the need for potential escorts to and from their homes.
Meeting Force With Force
“If you are going to legally arm yourself, arm yourself with something bigger than what they’ve got,” Birdsong continues. “Those who serve in the public, they should be fearful of the public. They should be fearful that the public is going to be dissatisfied with the job they’re doing. Not feeling like they’re tyrants, not feeling like they’re bullies.” He ends the interview by saying, “I think you want to correct the ideology of the pig, and the mentality of the slave catcher. You meet them with equal force.”
The video, posted in the Suppressed_News Reddit forum, has garnered overwhelming support. “Most based video I’ve seen all week,” one user says. They then share a historical tidbit, explaining how the Black Panthers “spooked” (then) California Governor Reagan in 1967 with their show of force. Others on Reddit wished for their protection, saying, “May they be watched over and protected in all that they do.”
One Reddit user made yet another historical reference to past insurrections. In the thread, they said, “Remember why they made laws about loaded open carry. They know that armed insurrection is the only way that we win this.”
