City Government

Black Panther Party Co-Founder Bobby Seale Endorses Desley Brooks

Published

9 years ago

February 16, 2018

Desley Brooks’ campaign for reelection to the District 6 seat on the Oakland City Council was endorsed this week by prominent activist Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.

“I endorse sister Desley Brooks for reelection to Oakland City Council,” said Seale in a press statement.

“Desley has been a vital voice in the fight for people’s economic, ecological and social justice empowerment,” said Seale.

“She is truly innovative in both thought and action.”

Seale is an organizer with over 50 years of experience. He co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense with Huey P. Newton in 1966 in Oakland.

The organization aimed to combat police brutality and create self-determined communities for Oakland’s Black residents.

The organization also famously provided programs filling basic needs for people neglected by government efforts and cut off locally funded efforts.

Seale said Desley Brooks is the only candidate working towards these same goals today.

“Her legislation on jobs, housing, environmental injustices and community development have ensured that the people of Oakland have a chance to grow with the city, not be pushed out of it,” said Seale.

Brooks works for equity in all areas of Oakland governance, according to her backers.

She authored the nation’s first Cannabis Equity Program, designed to open access to the rapidly expanding industry to Oakland residents who have borne the brunt of the racialized war on drugs.

Brooks introduced legislation that created the Department of Race and Equity, which ensures that all city departments look at whether their plans and programs produce equitable outcomes for city workers, contractors and residents.

She also supported the family members of police shooting victims and community calls for accountability of the Oakland Police Department, pushing for meaningful reform from her position as the chair of Oakland’s Public Safety Committee.

“I’m honored to have the support of such an iconic leader.” said Councilmember Brooks. “The foundation laid by Bobby Seale and others continuously inspires me to place the most vulnerable people in our communities at the center of our progress.”