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Entitled: "Black Panther Convention, Lincoln Memorial" shows a man on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial holding a banner for the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention. The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary black nationalist and socialist organization active in the United States from 1966 until 1982. Initially, the Black Panther Party's core practice was its armed citizens' patrols to monitor the behavior of police officers and challenge police brutality. In 1969, the Black Panther Party instituted a variety of community social programs, most extensively the Free Breakfast for Children Programs, and community health clinics. Government repression initially contributed to the growth of the party as killings and arrests of Panthers increased support for the party within the black community and on the broad political left. Black Panther Party membership reached a peak in 1970, with offices in 68 cities and thousands of members, then suffered a series of contractions. As concessions were made by the government on these issues, public support for the party waned, and the group became more isolated. In-fighting among Party leadership led to expulsions and defections that decimated the membership. The history of the Black Panther Party is controversial. Scholars have characterized the Black Panther Party as the most influential black movement organization of the late 1960s. Other commentators have described the Party as more criminal than political. Photographed by Thomas J. O'Halloran June 19, 1970.
