{"id":88033,"date":"2026-01-16T00:34:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/88033\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T00:34:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:34:56","slug":"philadelphia-chapter-of-black-panther-party-provides-support-amid-tension-between-public-and-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/88033\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia chapter of Black Panther Party provides support amid tension between public and ICE"},"content":{"rendered":"

As tensions between the public and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement mount following an ICE agent\u2019s shooting and killing of an unarmed U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense<\/a> has shown up in a supportive capacity in Philadelphia \u2014 and they didn\u2019t come to play.<\/p>\n

Last week, members claiming to belong to the Black Panther Party<\/a> for Self-Defense\u2019s Philadelphia chapter attended an anti-ICE demonstration at Philadelphia City Hall.<\/p>\n

In footage circulating online, the members, dressed in black bomber jackets emblazoned with the white-and-black panther logo, berets, and carrying military-style weapons (which they are legally permitted to carry), said they were there to keep the people safe. In fact, Paul Birdsong, who identified himself as the chairman for the Philadelphia chapter, thinks things would have ended differently if they were onsite on Jan. 7, the day ICE agent Jonathan Ross opened fire on Renee Good, killing her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wouldn\u2019t have happened if we were there,\u201d he told The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a>. \u201cNot a single person would have gotten touched.\u201d<\/p>\n

While chatting with Philly AM TV, he doubled down, saying, \u201cWon\u2019t no ICE agent ever run up on me. I guarantee you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cUnarmed woman was killed by ICE. If you think you about to come and brutalize the people while we\u2019re standing here, f\u2014 around and find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Birdsong did not immediately respond to theGrio\u2019s request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A reemergence of the original Black Panther Party \u2014 founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton in Oakland, California, which strove for Black liberation, led armed patrols to monitor and stop police brutality, and established community programs like free breakfast for children, health clinics, and schools \u2014Birdsong said the modern version functions much the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the same Panther Party from back in the day, but we\u2019re a little more aggressive now. You dig,\u201d he told PhillyFAMETV<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They are calling for ICE to be abolished and for President Donald Trump and his administration to be held accountable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who serve in the public they should be fearful of the public,\u201d he continued. \u201cThey should be fearful that the public is going to be dissatisfied with their job that they\u2019re doing, not feeling like they\u2019re tyrants, not feeling like they\u2019re bullies because they got guns and body armor and walkie-talkies that makes them immune to whatever the people would do.\u201d<\/p>\n

While discussing the Black Panthers\u2019 tradition of arming themselves, he noted, \u201cIf you are going to legally arm yourself, arm yourself with something bigger than what they got.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Birdsong advised those living in communities with high immigrant populations to do what they could to protect them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community around them needs to take special care of them,\u201d he urged, adding that could involve escorting them to and from places.<\/p>\n

In the days since the group showed up at the demonstration and received viral attention, Birdsong released a video on his Instagram<\/a>, dispelling misinformation and sharing more about what the original Black Panther Party stood for, including the fact that they are not a racist group.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Black Panther Party is not a black nationalist organization,\u201d he stressed. \u201cThe New Black Panther Party might be, I\u2019m not sure the revolutionary Black Panther Party might be. Any of these variations of Black Panther parties might be. But the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, the one that Huey Newton started with Bobby Seale, is an internationalist organization that stands as allies with oppressed people, no matter what their ethnic background is, no matter what their cultural background is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the video wrapped he added, \u201cAll power to the people, no power to the pigs.\u201d <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t