BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY:
THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY'S IMPACT ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
COINTELPRO
Threatening letter from the FBI to Martin Luther King Jr.
[Source: The New York Times]
The BPP's beliefs and actions following the Sacramento incident were seen as a major threat to the stability of American society, causing many to side against them, including organizations such as the FBI.
Edgar J. Hoover, the first director of the FBI, involvement with the BPP came as the party began to gain prominence during 1967/68.
“Over the years, our approach to investigative problems in the intelligence field has given rise to a number of new programs, some of which have been most revolutionary, and it can be presumed that with a continued aggressive approach to these programs, new and productive ideas will be forthcoming. These ideas will not be increased in number or improved upon from the standpoint of accomplishments merely through the institution of a program such as COINTELPRO which is given another name and in fact, only encompasses everything that has been done in the past or will be done in the future.”
-Edgar J. Hoover: First Director of the FBI
“J. Edgar Hoover: First Director of the FBI, 1924”
[Source: Library of Congress]
COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) was established in 1956 to police "political radicals" within the United States and soon focused exclusively on the Black Panther Party. Edgar Hoover pledged that 1969 would be the last year of the Party's existence.
"The Black Panther Party, without question, represents the greatest threat to internal security of the country."
-Edgar J. Hoover: First Director of the FBI
"[Counterintelligence Matters -- Black Nationalist Hate Groups -- Black Panther Party]"
[Source: National Archives]
“The Purpose of this new counterintelligence endeavor is to expose, disrupt, misdirect, or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalists, the-type organizations and groupings."
-Federal Bureau of Investigation