About the Program

Learn about the history and journey of the Black Panther Party with Louisiana Black Panther Party members, Dr. Angela Allen-Bell of Southern University Law Center (SULC), and community figures.

In this program, Dr. Allen-Bell provides a legal and policy overview of what happened to the Louisiana Black Panther Party, followed by a panel of BPP members who will discuss their work and legacy. The panel includes the esteemed La. Black Panthers Betty Toussaint-Ailsworth, Ron Ailsworth, General Reco Forbes, Brian Hunter, Jason Lawrence, Robert King, Malik Rahim, and Mariama Curry. They discuss their roles in the Black Panther Party, the community services, aid and organizing they provided when the government would not, their experiences at the hands of law enforcement and the legal system, the myths they would like to dispel about the Black Panthers, and strategies for the future.

Rayvon Addison of SULC introduces the program, followed by Dr. Bell and the Panthers. Omorosa Newman follows with an overview of state and federal redress possibilities, Tianshu Fu provides an international perspective, Attorney Juan LaFonta outlines direct actions, and Louisiana Federal and State Representatives and the New Orleans NAACP present recognitions to the Louisiana Black Panther Party. The program will close with Trent Smith‘s call to action to pass the mantle to the next generation.

Please see a full program of the event below:

Dispelling the Myth of Black Pantherism

New Orleans Public Library

October 28th, 2023

I: Rayvon Addison: Black Panther Party Founding, Mission & Goals

II. Professor Angela Bell: Looking Back: Law & Policy Issues

III. Louisiana Black Panther Panel

     1. Betty Toussaint-Ailsworth

     2. Ron Ailsworth

     3. General Reco Forbes

     4. Brian Hunter

     5. Jason Lawrence

     6. Robert King

     7. Malik Rahim

     8. Mariama Curry

V. Omarosa Newman: Looking Forward: Law & Policy & Redress

VI. Tianshu Fu: A Perspective from an International Student

VII. Attorney Juan LaFonta: A Perspective from the Next Generation

VIII. Trent Smith: The Charge for us Moving Forward

IX. Awards and recognitions presented by:

State Representative Candance N. Newell

State Representative Delisha Boyd

Demetric Mercadel on behalf of Louisiana Federal Representative Troy Carter

Chief of Staff Charles E. Toney, Jr. on behalf of Councilmember Freddie King

Patrick Coleman, New Orleans NAACP

XI. Q & A