There's a chance to explore some of Oakland's radical political sites with a walking tour that visits locations of the Black Panther Party.
Dr. Saturu Ned, an original member of the Black Panther Party, now works as a tour guide and explains to visitors the importance of locations like 28th Street and Magnolia Street — where party member Bobby Hutton was killed during a police confrontation in 1968, two days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
“Myself and millions of other 17-year-olds – all of a sudden it woke us up,” Ned said. “And of course the rest became history.
Though the subject of the legacy tour may be controversial to some, the activism of the Black Panthers should be a source of pride, said Visit Oakland's spokesman Jean Paul Zapata.
“It’s showcasing kind of the history of Oakland,” Zapata said. “Not just Black Panthers, but black-owned restaurants and businesses, and what that means for today’s Oakland.”
Visit Oakland is promoting the walking tours during February, which is black history month.
The Black Panthers disbanded in 1982, but their legacy and presence remain in Oakland.
