by Jason Hopkins
Members of the Black Panther Party marched through the city of Atlanta, strapped with assault rifles and brandishing Stacey Abrams campaign signs.
In a video posted on the group’s Facebook page on Saturday, members of the Black Panther Party are seen marching through the West End neighborhood of Atlanta in support of Stacey Abrams gubernatorial campaign. As they marched, the Black Panthers carried assault rifles and continually shouted slogans such as “black power” and “power to the people.”
Black Panther Party members pose for Stacey Abrams campaign sign. Credit: Black Panther Party Facebook page.
Abrams, a former Democratic state representative, is running in a tight election against Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia’s current Secretary of State. The Real Clear Politics average of recent polls shows Kemp up by 1.1 percentage points, well within the margin of error.
The video shows the panthers marching for nearly 30 minutes through the city of Atlanta until they enter a local radio station.
Black Panther Party members pose for Stacey Abrams campaign sign. Credit: Black Panther Party Facebook page.
When reached for comment by The Daily Caller News Foundation, the Abrams campaign forwarded a statement from spokeswoman Abigail Collazo. Her statement did not specifically address the Panthers’ march, but instead attacked Kemp.
“Brian Kemp is the only candidate in this race who has posed for pictures with supporters wearing racist, hate-filled t-shirts and refused to denounce them, while Abrams continues to condemn any racist, anti-Semitic, or otherwise discriminatory words and actions,” Collazo said.
“Unlike Kemp, Abrams is a leader committed to running an inclusive campaign focused on bringing all Georgians together to find bold solutions on critical issues like health care, education, and the economy,” she continued.
Black Panther Party members pose for Stacey Abrams campaign sign. Credit: Black Panther Party Facebook page.
At one point during the march, someone driving a vehicle stopped momentarily to speak to the Panthers.
One of the members can be heard saying afterward: “You need to march in your neighborhood. When we was sic in West Virginia, 99 percent crackers, stone cold crackers.”
Kemp’s campaign called on Abrams to immediately denounce the Black Panthers.
“It’s no surprise that militant Black Panthers are armed and patrolling the streets of Georgia for Stacey Abrams. The Black Panthers are a radical hate group with a racist and anti-semitic agenda. They are dangerous and encourage violence against our men and women in uniform,” Kemp spokesman Ryan Mahoney said in a statement to TheDCNF.
“Stacey Abrams should immediately denounce the Black Panthers and their hateful record of racism,” he continued. “She should stand against and condemn their attempts to intimidate hardworking Georgia voters just days before the election.”
The close race has brought star power from both sides of the aisle. Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Kemp on Thursday — the same day Oprah Winfrey knocked on doors on behalf of Abrams.
The Panthers did not respond to a request for comment by TheDCNF.
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Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Jason on Twitter.
Photo “Black Panthers at Georgia Polling Place” by facebook.com/BrianKempGA.
Someone may want to tell them that those the type of guns she will be removing from those who live in Georgia if she’s elected. But I suppose if you’re part of the Black Panther Party you would keep your gun whether or not you were supposed to.
ONE MIGHT REFLECT ON THE THOUGHT THAT IF SHE TRIES TO REMOVE THOSE GUNS, THE NUMBER OF “GOOD OL BOYS IN GEORGIA THAT OWN THEM AS OPPOSED TO THE NUMBER OF BLACK PANTHERS WITH OR WITH OUT GUNS AND THE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE IN GEORGIA WHO HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT SHOULD THE STATE TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE CONSTITUTION THEY WOULD NOT TAKE PART IN SUCH ACTIONS. SHE’D BE BETTER SERVED WITH ATTENDING TO OTHER MORE PERTINENT MATTERS OF STATE.
can’t believe these clown’s walk around armed and police do nothing, if I was walking around armed I know they would challenge and arrest me?
Does bro know his scopes on backwards?
First off get it right. No such thing as an assault rifle they are just rifles
What Georgian in their right mind would vote for anything to do with Abrams whose supporters include the Black Panthers. The Liberal Left are very vicious people and any white person that would vote for her are filled with this idiotic white guilt which they count on.
Another brainwashed by the Demonrats. That’s their only power base, lies and propaganda. They along with the NAACP have convinced blacks that they are still being discriminated against. They don’t realise that life is tough for all of us. Whites, Hispanics, and Asians alike fight the same battles they do everyday. The Dems have black Americans wanting to punt on First and Goal.
Why are they allowed to carry rifles on a campaign March do they think they are above the law or is this allowed in Atlanta are people actually scared of this group idiots
Their firearms are capable of selective fire?
Only… those aren’t assault rifles….