November 2 1974

## Overview and Introduction

Many influential events occured during the year of 1974 but there were also the events that were a little smaller but not less important that the Black Panther Party wrote about in their newsletter. Some things that were major in the world that happened that year were:

* Muhammad Ali winning back his heavyweight championship title
* Richard Nixon resigning
* Smallpox epidemic in India
* West Germany wins the World Cup

## Bruce Washington

Bruce Washington, a church deacon as well as a black panther party member was tragically killed at the teen dance, protecting the children. After further investigation the shooting appeared to be involved with the police. As Elaine Brown, spokesperson for the Black Panther party, stated "The police, I understand, arrived at the building within seconds of the first shot...They were there almost simultaneous with the incident itself."The distrut in the police was high for the Black Panther Party as there had been multiple instances of shady tatics used by the police against them but what was really important was the sacrifice that Bruce Washington made that day, three teens were hurt but Washington was the only casuality, none of the teens were seriously injured due to Washington's decision. Washington was 26 years old, he was a father of two and had worked at the Community learning center working on educational, cultural, social, and constructive programs at the center as well as being active the teen club and a senior sitizens group.

## Mozambique Under New Leadership

Mozambique on friday September 20, 1974 the representatives of the Front for the liberation of Mozambique(FRELIMO) were installed as the leaders of the new govenment with a goal to lead the country to independence away from their 400 years long rule from foreign countries. FRELIMO is a government that wishes to represent the people of Mozambique, a government run by the people of Mozambique for the people of Mozambique.The Liberation front didn't gain control until June 25 of 1975 so during the inbetween stage there was tension with portuguese officials including one incident in whicharound 50 people were seriously injured or fatally wounded. Thought the movement had resistance the just cause of the movement pushed the nation forward and inspired the Black Panther Party with their determination.

## Healthcare For The Community

The people's free medical research health clinic in Berkeley, California offered medical treatment and preventive treatment for free to the surrounding communities. The clinic offered a variety of treatments for all sorts of people and all the different illness they could posibly get and if they couldn't treat they had connections to other hospitals for things like a referal to a specialist. They also offered different clinics for seniors and children, for children it was immunization and test for things like sicke cell anemia which is likely to occur in African Americans, while senior citizens had people come to their homes and administer flu shots and the director of the clinic in Berkely, Henry Smith, states that plans are on the way to give flu shots throughout the whole BayArea.

One of the most wonderful aspects besides the free treatment but also the volunteers who are actual doctors and registred nurses who go out of their way to treat and give back to their community.

## Racial Violence In Boston

Racial tension in southern boston was at a high due to six weeks of court ordered desegration in schools.and in this recent incident a black truck driver was pulled out of his van and was beat by 4 white men with a bat. This issue was bigger than this one man it was the lack of action that caused this. there was talk about weapon checks for schools that were integrating but the attorney for the boston school board demmed it unnecessary.

There was also the black civil rights leaders criticism on Nixon address on the violence in boston and the how it only caused more violence, the leaders even requested a meeting with the president to share their view with him. Even thought their was criticism there was still violent incidents occuring resulting in multiple students being arrested,suspended, and even expelled. Even the American Nazi party was involved in a incident trying to create a riot against the school busing order. In the end The national guard was implemented to prevent any future incidents.

## Puerto Rico Sterlization

In a attempt to control the population of Puerto Rico the implementation of sterlizing women became a common thing. Dr. Helen Rodriguez, a pediatrician who worked in Puerto Rico, protested the sterlization method and commented on its targeting of uneducated women as she said "If you compare educational levels, it's by and large the women with the least education who get sterilized,".

The main issue was the lack of choices involved in birth control due to abortion being illegal in Puerto Rico and the lack of education about contraceptives and instead the pushing of the idea of sterlization. The ones behind this sterlization policy is the Popular Party which has been run by a man named Luiz Munoz Marin who Dr. Rodriguez says "rather than setting about to solve some of the basic problems of Puerto Rico,,,it has simply fallen in line with the developing of population control as the main means of decompressing the situation on the island."

The issue was protested in new york by a massive group and will be covered in the next issue of The Black Panther.

## Links and Resources

Elaine Brown Website

Puerto Rico Sterlization

Desegregating Buses in Boston

Sicke Cell Anemia Website

Black Panther Party Clinics