Sekou Odinga
Encyclopedia
Nathanial Burns known better as Sekou Odinga is an American activist who was imprisoned for actions with the Black Liberation Army
in the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1965 Sekou joined the Organization of Afro-American Unity
(OAAU), founded by Malcolm X
. After Malcolm's death the OAAU was not going in the direction he wanted and in 1967 he was looking at the Black Panther Party
. In early 1968 he helped build the Bronx
Black Panther Party.
On January 17, 1969 two Panthers had been killed by police and a fellow New York Panther who was in police custody was brutally beaten. Sekou was informed that police were searching for him in connection with a police shooting. At that point Sekou joined the black underground with the Black Liberation Army.
He remained underground, partaking in revolutionary clandestine activity for twelve years until his capture. Upon being captured he was charged with six counts of attempted murder, nine predicate acts of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO)
, including the liberation of Assata Shakur
from prison and violent theft of an armored truck. He is serving a consecutive twenty-five years to life state sentence and a forty year federal sentence.
The two Black Panthers murdered in January 17, 1969 in the grounds of UCLA were Alprentis "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins. Both were UCLA students
and leaders of the Los Angeles Black Panther Party Chapter.
Joan Bird, a New York Black Panther was brutally beaten by Manhattan Police officers prior to being booked. The arresting officers stated their prisoner had fallen during the arrest.
Joan Bird was a pianist and music child prodigy who had headlined a solo performance at New York's prestigious Lincoln Theater when she was 19 years old.
All charges against Joan Bird and Sekou Odinga were eventually cleared in the Panther 21 case (1969-1971). One of the longest (2 years) and most expensive criminal court trials in NY city.
All 21 Black Panther Party members were found not guilty after 45 minutes of deliberation.
-The Briar Patch: The Trial of the Panther 21 by Murray Kempton
-Agents of Repression by Ward Churchill
-Perversions of Justice:The Prosecution and Acquittal of the Panther 21 by Peter L. Zimroth
Black Liberation Army
The Black Liberation Army was an underground, black nationalist-Marxist militant organization that operated in the United States from 1970 to 1981...
in the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1965 Sekou joined the Organization of Afro-American Unity
Organization of Afro-American Unity
The Organization of Afro-American Unity was a Pan-Africanist organization founded by Malcolm X in 1964. The OAAU was modeled on the Organisation of African Unity, which had impressed Malcolm X during his visit to Africa in April and May 1964...
(OAAU), founded by Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
. After Malcolm's death the OAAU was not going in the direction he wanted and in 1967 he was looking at the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
. In early 1968 he helped build the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
Black Panther Party.
On January 17, 1969 two Panthers had been killed by police and a fellow New York Panther who was in police custody was brutally beaten. Sekou was informed that police were searching for him in connection with a police shooting. At that point Sekou joined the black underground with the Black Liberation Army.
He remained underground, partaking in revolutionary clandestine activity for twelve years until his capture. Upon being captured he was charged with six counts of attempted murder, nine predicate acts of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO)
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
, including the liberation of Assata Shakur
Assata Shakur
Assata Olugbala Shakur is an African-American activist and escaped convict who was a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army...
from prison and violent theft of an armored truck. He is serving a consecutive twenty-five years to life state sentence and a forty year federal sentence.
The two Black Panthers murdered in January 17, 1969 in the grounds of UCLA were Alprentis "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins. Both were UCLA students
and leaders of the Los Angeles Black Panther Party Chapter.
Joan Bird, a New York Black Panther was brutally beaten by Manhattan Police officers prior to being booked. The arresting officers stated their prisoner had fallen during the arrest.
Joan Bird was a pianist and music child prodigy who had headlined a solo performance at New York's prestigious Lincoln Theater when she was 19 years old.
All charges against Joan Bird and Sekou Odinga were eventually cleared in the Panther 21 case (1969-1971). One of the longest (2 years) and most expensive criminal court trials in NY city.
All 21 Black Panther Party members were found not guilty after 45 minutes of deliberation.
-The Briar Patch: The Trial of the Panther 21 by Murray Kempton
-Agents of Repression by Ward Churchill
-Perversions of Justice:The Prosecution and Acquittal of the Panther 21 by Peter L. Zimroth