NEW HAVEN PANTHER ACTIVISM

“Free the New Haven Panthers.”

As a result of the trial of the Black Panther activists accused of the murder of Alex Rackley, the group that became known as the “New Haven Nine” inspired a significant amount of Black Panther activism, nationally and locally within New Haven. As was the case with the flyers here, the New Haven chapter of the Black Panthers turned to various protest campaigns as a method of vocalizing their discontent with what they saw as racist policing in the United States. Using catchy slogans like “For Immediate Release: New Haven 9 Political Prisoners” and “Free Our Sisters, Free Ourselves,” the Panthers made clear the ways in which they had to unite to fight back against the oppression faced by those who were being wrongly tried for Alex Rackley’s death.

“Free Our Sisters, Free Ourselves.”

The flyers made clear that, although the May Day Rally was certainly a significant event in New Haven’s history, it wasn’t the only protest that took place regarding the activists’ incarceration. Additionally, the pamphlets emphasized the specific experiences of women activists, like Ericka Huggins, who was experiencing the specific ramifications of being a Black woman affiliated with the activist group. What remained to be seen during the May Day Rally was how these intersectional experiences would be reflected in what became a historic protest effort, bringing people to New Haven from all over the United States.