Op-Ed: Former Black Panther supports Trump

“In times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were a single tribe rather than a nation of tribes.” – Thomasina Jordan

The Black Panther Party was a political organization founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in 1966 in Oakland, California. The party was active in the U.S. until 1982. It had chapters in major American cities, including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Seattle. They were also active in many U.S. prisons and had international chapters.

The party was founded to stop the excessive force used by the Oakland Police Department against minorities. Police brutality contributed to the party’s growth among Black Americans, who valued the party to fight de facto segregation. In 1969, the party created programs to help the underprivileged. This included free breakfast for children, free education and free community health-care programs.

With riots breaking out across the U.S. in the 1960s, it proved civil rights tactics were incapable of addressing problems in Black communities. Concerned urban Black leaders needed to find a way to stop police brutality and social unrest in their cities. They needed self-protection and the Black Panther Party emerged to do what the Civil Rights Act couldn’t do to safeguard their communities.

There were two faces of the party. One that roamed the streets protecting minorities from abuse by aggressive police and the other that inherited the discipline, pride and calm assurance of Malcolm X. They became heroes in Black communities by infusing nationalism with street toughness. They combined the rhythms of the Black working-class with California’s Bay Area politics and social rule.

David Hilliard, 82, a founding member of the Black Panthers, and visiting speaker at New Mexico University, is never shy when it comes to his opinions about Donald Trump. During an interview with Black writer Carol Mitchell, Hilliard expressed his enthusiasm for Trump. “I knew Trump when he was a college student in New York and he supported the Black Panthers and the work we did.”

Hilliard told Mitchell “Trump is a decent man, and he gave money to us when we needed it to help finance many of our programs for the needy.” He said Trump is still a friend to all Black Americans.

“He’s not a racist, fascist, white man. He has always supported Black Americans.” – David Hilliard

Mitchell queried, “So, in your opinion, now that Trump has 34 counts of being a felon, Trump has always been part of the Black community or familiar with the Black community?” Hilliard retorted, “That’s right.” He even suggested Trump was being persecuted because he “likes Black folks.”

Hilliard’s grandson Eric Jones, a bay area Democrat, immediately criticized Mitchell for airing her interview with Hilliard claiming he has cognitive issues and doesn’t have a good memory. Yet the interview was played on numerous social media sites that shows Hilliard was extremely coherent.

Since Trump was convicted, his campaign has stepped up its outreach to Black voters, with many surrogates saying he and the Black community share a common frustration over our unfair justice system. Eric Trump said his father’s conviction means certain segments of the population might vote for him, but they will vote for his political values.

“My father is an amazing guy. He’s a patriot. He loves America and says what’s on his mind. He’s not like any typical politician.” – Eric Trump

This isn’t the only evidence that the Black community is starting to board the Trump express train back to the White House. Donald Trump recently packed a park for a speech in the South Bronx, much to the dismay of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Before he was elected president, the people in New York and many top Black celebrities loved Donald Trump. He was kind and generous and gave to Black churches and minority causes. But in 2016, the Democratic Party aggressively attacked Trump as a racist and a bigot in the Black community.

Recently, numerous frustrated Black celebrities vocalized their support for Trump, especially from the rap-hip-hop world. Azelia Banks, Kodak Black, Waka Flocka Flame, and Lil Wayne have come out in support of Trump. Snoop Dogg proclaimed that he has “nothing but love” for Donald Trump.

As these approvals from hip-hops grow, the left squirms a little more each time they are revealed.

Even YG, known for his anti-Trump anthem “F*** Donald Trump,” softened his criticism of Trump, citing Trump’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as a reason “Black people have joined him.” “I’m speaking about them mf-s***** in the hood. I am speaking on their behalf, cause they don’t. They say, that Joe Biden ain’t done nothing for us, while Trump is passing out money for us.”

Rapper Sexyy Red was among the most recent to publicly pledge her allegiance to Trump, when she said during a podcast appearance last month that she wants to see Trump get back in office.

She told the radio audience that, “We like Trump, and we support him in the hood.”

In the past, critics have falsely accused Trump of being racist. These are the same critics who will not credit Trump for passing the First Act that gave 91% of the first time Black offenders a chance to leave prison early on reduced sentences. But Black communities are grateful for this.

President Joe Biden criticized Trump’s efforts to court the Black vote during a rally to kick off his “Black Voters for Biden-Harris” campaign effort last week. He told a Black audience Trump is “pandering and peddling lies and stereotypes for your vote so he can win this for himself, and not for you.”

Steve Covey wrote, “Tearing someone else down never builds you up.” This is especially true in politics. Democrats depend on class envy to win elections, telling half-truths about their opponents. Since more Blacks are moving right, they fear losing elections since they took the Black vote as a guarantee for many years. That’s why the Left is brutally assassinating the character of Donald Trump.

At one time, Trump owned a large amount of rental property in Harlem. This acclimated him with the Black community. The Hilliard family rented a home from him. He generously supported Black causes and worked with Black celebrities to improve Black Harlem for everyone living there. Donald Trump was not just a landlord, he was a special friend to the people of Harlem for years.

This is why the Left wants to bury Trump in the political graveyard. Since his common sense politics are attracting Black voters who are fed up with progressive policies that do nothing for them. They want someone who will address their needs, not a political party’s ludicrous agenda that they will never want or need.

“You know the funny thing is, I don’t get along with rich people. I get along with middle class people and poor people much better than I get along with rich people.” – Donald Trump