S2.8 21-0011 Subject: Appropriateness Of A Monument Dedicated To The Black Panther Party
From: Vice Mayor Kaplan, President Bas, Councilmember Taylor And Fife
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Urging The National Park Service To Initiate An Exploratory Survey To Analyze The Appropriateness Of A National Park Or Monument In Potential Locations In The Greater San Francisco Bay Area Dedicated To The Black Panther Party And Urging President-Elect Joseph R. Biden To Utilize The Results Of The Exploratory Survey To Establish Such A National Park Or Monument In The Bay Area And Other Locations
As a Pastor in Oakland, I support the adoption of the resolution to request an Exploratory Survey to be done by the National Park Service. This survey will be to determine the appropriateness of establishing a National Park or Monument dedicated to the history and legacy of the Black Panther Party in prominent Bay Area and other locations, and utilizing the results to urge President Biden to establish such a National Park or Monument in said locations in the Bay Area and other locations. Thank you
Nathalio Gray
I am in full support of the city of Oakland, the birthplace of the Black Panther Party, adopting a resolution urging the National Park Service to initiate an exploratory survey to evaluate the importance of a National Park or Monument to the Black Panther Party. African descendants deserve to see their memories in the public arena. Monuments inhabit space and space is power. They provide an opportunity to shape culturally significant memories that determine how African descendants are publicly held and remembered. The Black Panther Party's work on behalf of Black communities and other marginalized people is part of American history and the truth of their work warrants public recognition. Thank you, Dana King
We would like to take the time to thank all of the participants and those in agreement with what we feel is a necessary measure to take not only by the City of Oakland but for the country in it’s entirety.
The City of Oakland was “Ground-Zero” for the origination of The Black Panther Party of Self Defense. As an Oakland Native it is puzzling that there are monuments of Jack London, roadways for war time heroes, Chester Nimitz and General MacArthur, but have the audacity to question the appropriateness of a tribute to The Black Panther Party. This is particularly troublesome given today’s openly chaotic environment and tensions. The Black Panther Party was a Movement that engaged in and encouraged peaceful protests at our state capitals but were ultimately utterly demonized for it.
To quote the late Friedrich Nietzsche “We have art in order not to die of the truth.“ We all have relatives that have died on this battlefield we call home. We as a family feel the art is not only appropriate IT IS NEEDED and NECESSARY.
As a former resident/student of Oakland I support the resolution which will ultimately lead to the establishment of a Black Panther Party National Park. As a Board Member of the Huey P. Newton Foundation, our mission is to preserve & promulgate the history, ideals, & legacy of the Black Panther Party. A National Park with a Visitors Center & Museum would become a beacon of black history education as well as inspiration & fellowship for Oaklandanders & others. The NPS is America's storyteller & responsible for sharing the history of our diverse population & has acknowledged the need to address underrepresented people in national parks as. The former NPS Director Jon Jarvis stated, “it is time that the NPS strategically organize its many urban parks & programs towards building relevancy for all Americans, to connect with their lives where they live, rather than only where some may spend their vacation”. John H. Franklin, a former chairman of the NPS Advisory Board, stated the story is often noble, but sometimes shameful & sad. In an age of growing cultural diversity, the Service must continually ask whether the way in which it tells these stories has meaning for all our citizens. President Obama stated, “I believe our national parks should reflect the full story of our country, the richness & diversity & uniquely American spirit that has always defined us, that we are stronger together, that out of many, we are one.” Oakland deserves this honor-please approve.
Kieron Slaughter
I fully support the City of Oakland's proposal to adopt a resolution urging the National Park Service to initiate an exploratory survey to analyze the appropriateness of a National Park or Monument in potential locations in the greater San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to the Black Panther Party. I also support the City of Oakland urging President-Elect Joseph R. Biden to utilize the results of the exploratory survey to establish a Black Panther Party National Park or National Monument in the Bay Area and other locations.
Despite the groundbreaking function of the Party, there is no national recognition for the thousands of men, women, and young people who served within the Black Panther Party or for the social programs that were created by the Party, many of which, such as the free school breakfast program, still exist today as governmental programs. Furthermore, survival programs such as the Sickle Cell Anemia program, Peoples Free Dental Program, Peoples Free Optometry Program and others provided meaningful services to people that otherwise would not has adequate access.
A National Park unit with the accompanying Visitors Center would become a beacon of black history education as well as inspiration and fellowship for Oakland and Bay Area residents and would provide access to information otherwise not accessible to the public in mass.
Sincerely,
Olivia Anglade
Now a white woman in my mid-60's, as a child, I watched the Black Panther Party on television and was impressed by its discipline, breakfast program, and community support; so impressed that their work and that of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez started me on a life-long path of activism. I was also deeply shaken by the fear that strong young Black men and women insisting on self-determination and dignity stirred in my parents, the police, and society. Now we understand the systemic racism that generated such fear and a terrible end for too many of those young people. Our society needs to understand the Panthers' work and movement, to learn from it, to grow from it. As its birthplace, Oakland should lead in creating a monument and a National Park that teaches this history, for all to learn. Doing so will create a destination in Oakland for people of all races, and generate substantial tourism revenues for Oakland, just as the National African-American Museum does on our National Mall in D.C. Given recent images of white supremacist insurrection in our nation, we need these other images as a counterbalance now more than ever.
My name is Fredrika Newton, and I am the widow of Dr. Huey Newton and President of the Dr Huey P Foundation. I support the adoption of the resolution to request an Exploratory Survey to be done by the National Park Service. This survey will be to determine the appropriateness of establishing a National Park or Monument dedicated to the history and legacy of the Black Panther Party in prominent Bay Area and other locations, and utilizing the results to urge President Biden to establish such a National Park or Monument in said locations in the Bay Area and other locations. Thank you
As a Pastor in Oakland, I support the adoption of the resolution to request an Exploratory Survey to be done by the National Park Service. This survey will be to determine the appropriateness of establishing a National Park or Monument dedicated to the history and legacy of the Black Panther Party in prominent Bay Area and other locations, and utilizing the results to urge President Biden to establish such a National Park or Monument in said locations in the Bay Area and other locations. Thank you
Nathalio Gray
I am in full support of the city of Oakland, the birthplace of the Black Panther Party, adopting a resolution urging the National Park Service to initiate an exploratory survey to evaluate the importance of a National Park or Monument to the Black Panther Party. African descendants deserve to see their memories in the public arena. Monuments inhabit space and space is power. They provide an opportunity to shape culturally significant memories that determine how African descendants are publicly held and remembered. The Black Panther Party's work on behalf of Black communities and other marginalized people is part of American history and the truth of their work warrants public recognition. Thank you, Dana King
We would like to take the time to thank all of the participants and those in agreement with what we feel is a necessary measure to take not only by the City of Oakland but for the country in it’s entirety.
The City of Oakland was “Ground-Zero” for the origination of The Black Panther Party of Self Defense. As an Oakland Native it is puzzling that there are monuments of Jack London, roadways for war time heroes, Chester Nimitz and General MacArthur, but have the audacity to question the appropriateness of a tribute to The Black Panther Party. This is particularly troublesome given today’s openly chaotic environment and tensions. The Black Panther Party was a Movement that engaged in and encouraged peaceful protests at our state capitals but were ultimately utterly demonized for it.
To quote the late Friedrich Nietzsche “We have art in order not to die of the truth.“ We all have relatives that have died on this battlefield we call home. We as a family feel the art is not only appropriate IT IS NEEDED and NECESSARY.
Thank You
The Newton Family
As a former resident/student of Oakland I support the resolution which will ultimately lead to the establishment of a Black Panther Party National Park. As a Board Member of the Huey P. Newton Foundation, our mission is to preserve & promulgate the history, ideals, & legacy of the Black Panther Party. A National Park with a Visitors Center & Museum would become a beacon of black history education as well as inspiration & fellowship for Oaklandanders & others. The NPS is America's storyteller & responsible for sharing the history of our diverse population & has acknowledged the need to address underrepresented people in national parks as. The former NPS Director Jon Jarvis stated, “it is time that the NPS strategically organize its many urban parks & programs towards building relevancy for all Americans, to connect with their lives where they live, rather than only where some may spend their vacation”. John H. Franklin, a former chairman of the NPS Advisory Board, stated the story is often noble, but sometimes shameful & sad. In an age of growing cultural diversity, the Service must continually ask whether the way in which it tells these stories has meaning for all our citizens. President Obama stated, “I believe our national parks should reflect the full story of our country, the richness & diversity & uniquely American spirit that has always defined us, that we are stronger together, that out of many, we are one.” Oakland deserves this honor-please approve.
Kieron Slaughter
I fully support the City of Oakland's proposal to adopt a resolution urging the National Park Service to initiate an exploratory survey to analyze the appropriateness of a National Park or Monument in potential locations in the greater San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to the Black Panther Party. I also support the City of Oakland urging President-Elect Joseph R. Biden to utilize the results of the exploratory survey to establish a Black Panther Party National Park or National Monument in the Bay Area and other locations.
Despite the groundbreaking function of the Party, there is no national recognition for the thousands of men, women, and young people who served within the Black Panther Party or for the social programs that were created by the Party, many of which, such as the free school breakfast program, still exist today as governmental programs. Furthermore, survival programs such as the Sickle Cell Anemia program, Peoples Free Dental Program, Peoples Free Optometry Program and others provided meaningful services to people that otherwise would not has adequate access.
A National Park unit with the accompanying Visitors Center would become a beacon of black history education as well as inspiration and fellowship for Oakland and Bay Area residents and would provide access to information otherwise not accessible to the public in mass.
Sincerely,
Olivia Anglade
Now a white woman in my mid-60's, as a child, I watched the Black Panther Party on television and was impressed by its discipline, breakfast program, and community support; so impressed that their work and that of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez started me on a life-long path of activism. I was also deeply shaken by the fear that strong young Black men and women insisting on self-determination and dignity stirred in my parents, the police, and society. Now we understand the systemic racism that generated such fear and a terrible end for too many of those young people. Our society needs to understand the Panthers' work and movement, to learn from it, to grow from it. As its birthplace, Oakland should lead in creating a monument and a National Park that teaches this history, for all to learn. Doing so will create a destination in Oakland for people of all races, and generate substantial tourism revenues for Oakland, just as the National African-American Museum does on our National Mall in D.C. Given recent images of white supremacist insurrection in our nation, we need these other images as a counterbalance now more than ever.
The Black Panther Party is an important part of our local and national history. We need this!
My name is Fredrika Newton, and I am the widow of Dr. Huey Newton and President of the Dr Huey P Foundation. I support the adoption of the resolution to request an Exploratory Survey to be done by the National Park Service. This survey will be to determine the appropriateness of establishing a National Park or Monument dedicated to the history and legacy of the Black Panther Party in prominent Bay Area and other locations, and utilizing the results to urge President Biden to establish such a National Park or Monument in said locations in the Bay Area and other locations. Thank you
I wholeheartedly support this initiative
Thank you, Robyn Pottorff