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Indybay Feature

Lil' Bobby Hutton Day, West Oakland, 4/11/09: audio

by dave id
On Saturday, April 11th, at the West Oakland Public Library, family, friends, and former Black Panthers celebrated Lil' Bobby Hutton Day in honor of the 17-year-old Black Panther murdered by Oakland police in 1968. Family and Friends of Lil' Bobby Hutton are currently working on fund-raising and finalizing the design for a statue they intend to erect in Lil' Bobby Hutton Park (aka DeFremery Park) across the street from the West Oakland library.

Emory Douglas, former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party, speaks here about Bobby Hutton being a typical youngster in liking to have fun and party but also Bobby's ability to focus and be a serious contributor to the Black Panther Party. Emory Douglas goes on to tell of some of his recent worldwide travels to commemorate the Black Panther Party and his artwork, including trips to Australia, England, Ireland, and Germany.
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(audio 19:19)

Apologies for missing the audio of the first four speakers: Joyce Hutton, Bobby's niece, who was MC and introduced the event, noted that the recent police murder of a young Oscar Grant reminded her of her uncle; Melvin Dickson, of The Commemorator Newspaper, who spoke of the recent loss in March of Black Panther Richard Aoki, one of the original members in Oakland; Damon, of Black Panther Blvd, who wants to rename 7th Street and noted that his seemingly disinterested children running around would one day look back on the day proud that they had been there to honor Bobby Hutton; and Billy X, who spoke of Bobby Hutton's example to the youth of today and the importance of involving young people deeply within social justice movements.

Food Not Bombs provided food for the event.

Event announcement: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/28/18584317.php

Photos of all speakers can be found at:
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(audio 2:44)
§Ronald Freeman
by dave id
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(audio 9:38)

Ronald Freeman speaks of being "pahtnas" with Bobby Hutton and the sacrifices and commitments of the Black Panthers.

Joyce Hutton wonders about all of the murders that currently happen at night in Oakland, thinking back to the constant police murders in Oakland that lead to the formation of the Black Panther Party. "I don't think there's that much Black on Black crime. We ain't that mad at each other."
§Paulette Hogan
by dave id
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(audio 7:04)

Paulette Hogan reads a piece and then sings "The Greatest Love of All" a cappella. Paulette Hogan has started a campaign to run for Mayor of Oakland.
§Tyleen, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 3:20)
§Curly Estremera, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 5:34)
§Charles Dubois, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 6:55)
§Steve McCrutchen, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 4:27)
§Mark, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 3:19)
§Shane, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 2:05)
§Tusan, poetry contest
by dave id
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(audio 4:59)
§Joyce Hutton and children
by dave id
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(audio 1:59)
§Poetry Contest Tiebreaker: Tusan Vs Curly
by dave id
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(audio 5:15)

No spoiler. You have to listen to contest audio to hear who won.
§Jerry Abrams
by dave id
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(audio 6:37)

Speaks of her culture shock at running into racism in California after moving out of the Confederacy. California is one of the most "covert" racist states in which she has been.
§Macheo Suviane
by dave id
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(audio 3:44)

Speaks of his debt to the Black Panther Party and his experiences in Africa.
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(audio 2:52)

Marleen won the Bobby Hutton Day raffle. She speaks of having wanted to move to Oakland long before she ever did and working with Melvin Dickson on the Commemorator Newspaper.
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