Mayor Alioto promises vigorous action against Panthers

KPIX Eyewitness news report from April 28th 1969 by Rollin Post featuring an interview with San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto after a raid on the Black Panther Party's headquarters following an incident that began when a member of the Black Panther Party aimed a gun at a policeman. Alioto says "I have pointed out for some time that we ought not to treat the Black Panthers as some kind of a political organization or some kind of a social organization. This is an organization that not only exhorts to the use of violence but trains in the use of violence." Alioto goes on to claim that the Black Panthers "do not represent the black community" and "they do not represent those strong militants in the black community who are fighting their claims within the system." Concludes with Alioto calling the Panthers "a police problem throughout the country" and he vows to continue taking vigorous action against the Black Panthers. Also see KPIX report reference number KPIX 38502. Remastered edited and catalogued for the web by Shira Peltzman.