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This pamphlet—prominently titled “We Must Develop a UNITED FRONT AGAINST FASCISM”—dates to 1969 and announces a revolutionary conference in Oakland, California, scheduled for July 18–21. Organized by the Black Panther Party (BPP) and the Intercommunal Liberation Schools (ILS), the gathering aimed to unite a wide spectrum of groups—students, workers, people of color, and “the lumpen”—in collective opposition to what the BPP characterized as the rising tide of fascism in America. With references to police brutality, community control of law enforcement, and the power of finance capital, this pamphlet captures the expansive vision and rhetoric of the late-1960s Black liberation struggle and its allies.
Historical Context
By the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party had evolved from a grassroots organization focused on police patrols in Oakland’s Black neighborhoods to a nationally recognized revolutionary group advocating community programs, self-defense, and broader systemic change. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, domestic repression (including FBI surveillance and arrests of key Black Panther leaders), and the assassinations of multiple civil rights figures, movements throughout the United States coalesced around critiques of capitalism, imperialism, and racist law enforcement.
This pamphlet’s dire language—linking “finance capital” to fascism—mirrors that moment of heightened radicalism, as activists drew parallels between authoritarian regimes abroad and repressive policing, legal injustices, and economic exploitation at home. The reference to a “United Front Against Fascism” is a nod to historical left-wing movements, from the Spanish Civil War to international communist and socialist alliances of the 1930s that organized against fascist regimes in Europe.
Core Strategies and Objectives
- Large-Scale Mobilization
The pamphlet explicitly addresses “People! Organizations! Groups! Yippies! Political Parties! Workers! Students!” underscoring an inclusive approach. The BPP sought to assemble not just Black communities but also white workers, Chicano activists, Asian Americans, anti-war protestors—anyone willing to challenge what they viewed as America’s “fascist” tendencies. - Concrete Policy Demands
A prominent section calls for “Petition Statement for Community Control of Police,” urging an amendment that transfers power over police departments to community-elected councils. This exemplifies the Black Panther Party’s push for tangible, localized mechanisms to protect marginalized groups. - Conference and Coalition-Building
The leaflet advertises a multi-day conference, urging participants to arrive early for housing and logistical coordination. By instructing supporters to register with a nominal fee, the BPP signaled its intent to organize a serious, structured event—one that could forge alliances, develop a joint platform, and provide training for ongoing political struggle. - Highlighting Political Prisoners
Various references—such as “Huey P. Newton incarcerated without bail” or the “Chicago Conspiracy 8”—anchor the pamphlet in the immediate legal crises besetting many activists. The movement’s push to free political prisoners and demand fair legal processes became a unifying rallying cry.
Language, Imagery, and Symbolism
- Hyperbolic Rhetoric
Words like “fascist pig,” “genocidal war,” and “finance capital” reflect the era’s radical vocabulary. This incendiary style aimed to galvanize readers into action, ensuring they viewed racism, police violence, and war as interconnected forces demanding urgent resistance. - Mass Appeal Across Identities
The opening line—“PEOPLE! ORGANIZATIONS! GROUPS! YIPPIES! POLITICAL PARTIES! … YOU THE LUMPEN!”—conveys a unifying invitation. The BPP cast a wide net, explicitly including poor and working-class people of all backgrounds in a “people’s struggle.” - Strong Typographical Elements
Large block letters—“UNITED FRONT AGAINST FASCISM”—mirror the Black Panthers’ bold style of protest posters and newspapers. Visually, this draws the eye immediately to the central slogan, framing the entire pamphlet around that rallying cry. - Historical Contextualization
The back page excerpt from a 1935 Comintern speech on forming united fronts against fascism underlines the BPP’s attempt to link current U.S. struggles to a broader historical tradition of anti-fascist movements worldwide. This intellectual anchoring lent weight to their argument that localized oppression was part of a larger global phenomenon.
Efficacy and Lasting Influence
Though the actual conference in Oakland drew thousands of participants and included panels on issues ranging from policing to education, the specific demands—like establishing separate community-run police departments—did not gain sweeping national traction. Nevertheless, the BPP’s emphasis on community control, anti-capitalist critique, and coalitions across racial and class lines profoundly shaped future social justice work.
Contemporary movements still echo many of these themes. Calls for civilian oversight of police, critiques of for-profit incarceration, and alliances bridging racial and economic divides remain central to today’s activism. In that sense, the “United Front” spirit articulated in 1969 serves as both a historical milestone and a continuing point of reference.
Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.
