The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. It began with patrols aimed at monitoring police conduct and expanded into community programs that included free groceries, breakfast for children, health clinics and education. Its ten-point platform called for freedom and addressed needs including jobs and housing.

Xavier Buck, executive director of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, said placing the commemorative name in downtown Oakland recognizes the close ties between the city and the party. The foundation and the group It’s About Time BPP organized anniversary events during the week, including a gala and workshops.

Billy X Jennings, the party’s historian, recalled joining in 1968, when he said Black culture was gaining prominence. Rori Abernethy, whose parents were Panthers, attended a Sunday gathering at Bobby Hutton Park in West Oakland, a former rally site. She described growing up around the organization as being part of an extended family.

The party disbanded in 1982, but former members and their families continue community work. Buck said the organization’s history offers lessons for residents seeking a say in Oakland’s future, while Jennings pointed to health care cuts and homelessness as reasons the party’s work remains relevant. The Newton Foundation, based in Oakland, also operates the Black Panther Party Museum.