On
this day, 2 May 1967, a group of Black Panthers armed with rifles and
shotguns marched into the California State Capitol protesting against a
gun control bill which was targeting them. To fight police violence and
harassment against African-Americans, the Panthers used radios to listen
to police calls, then members would attend scenes of arrest with law
books and openly carrying shotguns – which was legal – and advise
arrestees of their constitutional rights. To stop this self defence
against the police, authorities brought in the Mulford Bill – dubbed the
“Panther Bill” by the media – to ban the open carrying of loaded
firearms in public. The National Rifle Association supported Republican
governor Ronald Reagan in signing the legislation. More info about the
racist application of US gun control laws here: http://bit.ly/2ZRaB4E http://bit.ly/2UXDVCK
"Drunk at the matinee" is a collection of candid poetry about stupid shit that we all experience from day to day.
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