April 6, 1968: 56 years ago, April 6 1968, Oakland police murdered 17-year-old Black [...]

56 years ago, April 6 1968, Oakland police murdered 17-year-old Black Panther Party member Lil’ Bobby Hutton, the party’s first recruit and treasurer, just weeks before his 18th birthday

On April 6, cops filled the streets of West Oakland following a day of riots over the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. https://t.co/GQAYyRzBz0

They came upon three carloads of Black Panthers, including Hutton and leaders Eldridge Cleaver and David Hilliard, who were keeping an eye on cops after the riot. Police attack their cars and a shootout quickly erupted. The Panthers took cover at a house at 1218 28th St

After a barrage of gunfire, teargas, and firebombs, Hutton exited the house unarmed, when he was shot to death by the police. Eldridge Cleaver, who followed and stripped naked to show that he was unarmed, was arrested

2,000 people attended Hutton’s funeral in Berkeley the following week, and the Panthers renamed West Oakland’s De Fremery Park “Lil Bobby Hutton Park”, where he is still honored with regular Bobby Hutton Day commemorations on April 6