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Richard Aoki, a revolutionary, civil right activist and a memebr of the BPP passed away
On March 15, Richard Aoki, a revolutionary and a civil rights activist died. Aoki was a founding member of the Black Panther Party (BPP), becoming a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending the community from the Oakland Police. Aoki was also a leader in the third world Liberation Front (twLF), an organization that led strikes, resulting in the establishment of Berkeley’s Ethnic Studies department.
At the age of four, Aoki was confined with his family in a concentration camp in Utah, during the Japanese Internment of World War Two. After the war, Aoki’s family moved to Oakland and still in his youth, Aoki enlisted in the military, however, he later was discharged for dissent against the Vietnam War. Growing up in West Oakland, Aoki was a close friend of Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seal, and helped found the BPP.
Although the BPP had several Asian-American members, Aoki was the only Asian-American to achieve a formal leadership position. His connections to the community along with his revolutionary politics made him a Branch Captain, and later a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending their community from the Oakland Police. He also provided political education, leading discussion and classes for BPP members concentrating on Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist theory.
In 1968, while a Field Marshal with the BPP, Aoki became a member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a student organization that held a leading position in the twLF fight for Ethnic Studies. From Through twLF, Aoki merged his background in community organizing with student movements.
For many, Aoki represented internationalism and solidarity. In a statement about solidarity between oppressed communities, Aoki said "I've seen where unity amongst the races yielded positives results. I don't see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, equality here except by being inclusionist"
Although the BPP had several Asian-American members, Aoki was the only Asian-American to achieve a formal leadership position. His connections to the community along with his revolutionary politics made him a Branch Captain, and later a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending their community from the Oakland Police. He also provided political education, leading discussion and classes for BPP members concentrating on Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist theory.
In 1968, while a Field Marshal with the BPP, Aoki became a member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a student organization that held a leading position in the twLF fight for Ethnic Studies. From Through twLF, Aoki merged his background in community organizing with student movements.
For many, Aoki represented internationalism and solidarity. In a statement about solidarity between oppressed communities, Aoki said "I've seen where unity amongst the races yielded positives results. I don't see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, equality here except by being inclusionist"
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He passed away on the 15th. Please get your facts straight and shame on you Indybay for posting wrong date and waiting 5 days to post this as a front page story.
Photo by Eastside Arts Alliance Collective
Photo by Eastside Arts Alliance Collective
indybay is an independent media resource where anyone can post any news story of relevance to folks.... they (i am not affiliated with it) do not necessarily post things themselves...
soooo, its more like shame on you AND ME, AND any other person who cared about Richard Aoki for not having posted something (with correct date and earlier) ourselves...
likely scenario is that someone that may or may not have any affiliation with indybay thought it important enough to post, even if it took a few days and got the date wrong, and the fact it is up should be applauded itself... how about a little humility next time?
soooo, its more like shame on you AND ME, AND any other person who cared about Richard Aoki for not having posted something (with correct date and earlier) ourselves...
likely scenario is that someone that may or may not have any affiliation with indybay thought it important enough to post, even if it took a few days and got the date wrong, and the fact it is up should be applauded itself... how about a little humility next time?
the first story said that he passed away on the 15th with contact info about his memorial. The second one without contact info listed the day after and that is why indybay posted.
Why?
Why?
out of appreciation to Richard Aoki. if you think that you can do a better job, please notify the admin of Indybay
sfbay-web [at] lists.indymedia.org
with your writings, i'm sure they would be happy to make an article out of your posts.
sfbay-web [at] lists.indymedia.org
with your writings, i'm sure they would be happy to make an article out of your posts.
A great article. Those close to Richard knew he passed away on the 15th and didn't write anything out of respect. Just because you "Wrote an Indybay" article doesn't mean you get the authority to change the date on when he passed.
The powers that be continue to pit ethnic groups and poor people against each other, fomenting chaos and enmity. In the last election, no where was it more evident than the "blue collar whites" against ebbybody who supported Obama. The same shills who raped the middle class, used blue collar whites and blacks as toilet paper, pretended to be supporters of NASCAR fans (read blue collar, white males) and wanted to send women back to the baby breeding grounds and kitchens, also manipulated regulatory agencies, bought off others, poisoned our air, water and soils with pollutants, sold tainted food, e.coli-laden beef and vegetables, and poison peanut products, bribed government agents with everything from high paying private sector jobs to god knows what, stole investors blind, looted the banks, brokerage houses, pension funds, 401ks and anthing else loose regulations and poorly staffed regulatory agencies allowed them to do, are the same people who profit from the bounty of racism.
As long as the various ethnic, religious, and socia-economic strata are at each other's throats, the theives will prosper. As long as we remain ignorant of American history in all its ethnic incarnations, we will remain vulnerable to provocateurs and manipulators.
As long as the various ethnic, religious, and socia-economic strata are at each other's throats, the theives will prosper. As long as we remain ignorant of American history in all its ethnic incarnations, we will remain vulnerable to provocateurs and manipulators.
For more information:
http://www.lulu.com/davis4000_2000
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT FOR RICHARD AOKI AND HIS LEGACY, THE INHERENT PROBLEM WHICH I FORESEE IS WHETHER SOME COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF "SELECTED" PERSONALITIES ARE GOING TO TAKE THE STAGE AND PAINT THIS BEAUTIFUL WARRIOR AS SOME SCHOLAR IN NAME ONLY. LIKE VIRTUALLY MOST OF OUR HEROES AND SHEROES THAT HAVE PASSED, OR BEEN IMPRISONED, I CAN ALREADY FEEL THE DRUMS BEATING IN THE WIND THAT HIS LEGACY MAY BE STRIPPED OF ALL REVOLUTIONARY CONTENT BY THE STAGE FREAKS.
I REMEMBER ONCE HAVING SEEN A MOVIE ON JALIL MUNTAQUIM WITH TOTAL CONTENT, AND HIS ENTIRE INTERVIEW INTACT. MUCH LATER AFTER VISITING WITH HIM AT AN UPSTATE NEW YORK GULAG, I REVIEWED AN "EDITED" VERSION OF THE MOVIE WITH ADDED CONTENT. SOMEONE THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD BE TOLD THE STORY FROM A LIBERAL'S POINT OF VIEW INSTEAD, AS THOUGH JALIL WAS SOLELY GUIDED BY WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD SAID BEFORE HE TOO BECAME ANTI-IMPERIALIST. IT WAS EDITED TO MAKE IT SEEM THAT JALIL SOMEHOW 'FELL' INTO THE BLACK LIBERATION ARMY. NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.......
IT REMINDED ME OF MALCOLM'S COMMENTS ABOUT HOW BLACK CLOWNS AND WHITE CLOWNS HAD TURNED THE MILITANT PEOPLE'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON INTO A CIRCUS. WHY NOT LET WARRIORS BE ON THE HONOR GUARD AND ON THE STAGE TO SPEAK OF THEIR COMRADE IN ARMS AND LEAVE THE FACE MAKING FOR PERSONALITY SHOWS. Beware the non-profit industrial complex who get rewarded plaques, medals and grants for making revolutionary things and people seem less and less relevant!!!!!!!
peace i only reposted what was sent to me no i was not close to richard but i did have the opprotunity to converse and break bread with him and believe it was an honor if there was any misformation in the article i apologize and again i only reposted it!!!
The Black Panthers were thugs.
I hate them.
I hate them.
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