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Title on Reel (transcribed from original)
30 April 70, Black Panther Visit to VCU, Ogden, et al
Date Created
1970-04-30
Reel Format
16mm
Reel Description
This reel contains footage of individuals gathered in Monroe Park for what was advertised as a Black Panther Party press conference on April 30, 1970. There is footage filmed in the park, and footage of individuals outside of Rhoads Hall on Franklin Street. Individuals in the park stand in the shade and it is difficult to distinguish details.
Timestamp Description
00:00:20 Footage begins. Footage of individuals and trees in Monroe Park. Individuals are not distinguishable due to shadows from the trees above them.
00:00:30 Footage of approximately six individuals standing in Monroe Park. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is partially visible in the background. One individual in the center wears a broad brimmed flat top hat, this is likely Blue Edwards. An individual on the right carries a large film camera. Another individual appears to carry a microphone and some kind of audio recording device.
00:00:33 Panning footage of a crowd gathered in Monroe Park, many individuals are difficult to see due to shadow. On the left, someone holding a large film camera is visible.
00:00:41 A group of four individuals stands in a small circle speaking with one another in Monroe Park.
00:00:44 Panning footage of four individuals, two sitting in the grass and two standing, with the Monroe Park fountain behind them. The standing individual on the left holds up their middle finger to the camera.
00:00:56 Multiple clips of a small crowd of individuals standing in Monroe Park. Individuals are not distinguishable due to shadows from the trees above them.
00:01:36 Footage of three individuals waiting to cross and then crossing Franklin Street away from Rhoads Hall towards Monroe Park, cars drive by between them and the camera.
00:01:46 Panning footage filmed from across the street of individuals standing outside of Rhoads Hall.
00:01:58 Multiple clips of a small crowd of individuals standing in Monroe Park. Individuals are not distinguishable due to shadows from the trees above them. Franklin Street is visible in the background.
00:03:06 Multiple clips of a small crowd of individuals standing in Monroe Park. Individuals are not distinguishable due to shadows from the trees above them. Johnson Hall on Laurel Street is visible in the background.
00:03:21 Footage goes black.
00:03:23 Footage of trees and Johnson Hall.
00:03:33 Footage turned 90 degrees counterclockwise of individuals in Monroe Park.
00:03:54 Footage ends.
Event Description
On April 30, 1970, approximately fifty individuals gathered in Monroe Park for what had been advertised as a "public press conference" from members of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP). However, the representatives were not able to attend, which was announced Blue Edwards and Daniel Hembree around 11:30AM, to a crowd that included a television camera crew. Edwards and Hembree led a group of about twenty people to Rhoads Hall across the street to wait for a 1PM scheduled discussion session. Edwards and Hembree intended to start a chapter of the United Committee to Combat Fascism in Richmond to "rally support for Panthers involved in trials in New York and New Haven". The 1PM discussion, attended by approximately 175 individuals, began with a film screening, after which Edwards and Hembree discussed coalition building between working class Black and white people. During the discussion, a Black student questioned the presence of white individuals at the session, and about 100 individuals left afterwards. A group of twenty-five gathered in Monroe Park again to continue the discussion (Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 1, 1970).
Runtime
00:04:11
Corporate Name Subject
Black Panther Party; Virginia Commonwealth University
Topical Subject
Black power; Black power--United States; Black militant organizations; Students--Political activity; Student movements; Students--Political activity; Police; Police patrol--Surveillance operations; Electronic surveillance; Video surveillance
City/Location
Richmond (Va.)
Genre
color films (visual works)
Local Genre
moving image
Type
Moving Image
Digital Format
video/mp4
Language
eng
Rights Statement URL
Rights
This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgement of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.
Collection
Richmond Police Department Surveillance Collection
Source
Black Panther Party Meeting at Monroe Park Film Reel #01, 1970 April 30
File Name
VCU_M571_124.mp4