subject file no

FILE DESCRIPTION

Black Panther Party, Cleveland, OhioSUBJECT 1967-1973

FILE NO. 174-405 (Cleveland File)

FD-36 (Rev. 5-22-64)

n

F B I

Date: 8/18/71

Transmit the following in CODE (Type in plaintext or code)

Via TELETYPE URGENT

(Priority)

L

TO DIRECTOR

FROM CLEVELAND/(-^74-NEW) lj

BOMBING OF BLACK PANTHSU PARTY HEADQUARTERS, CLEVELAND,

OHIO, AUG. EIGHTEEN SEVEN^TONE, EID - EM,

AT APPROXIMATELY i m j R FIFTYNINE A . M . , THI S DATE, THE BLACK

PANTHER PARTY HEADQUARTERS, SEVENTYNINTH AND CENTRAL, WAS BOMBED

BY UNKNOWN SUBJECT/1 IU) / V T*o> R f

CLEVELAND, OHIO PD , HEADQUARTERS

1 > INTELLIGENCE JtJNIT, ADVISED INVESTIGATION INDICATES TWO STICKS OF

DYNAMITE WERE UTILIZED . NO SUSPECTS DEVELOPED. 81 Q CLEVELAND SOURCES NEGATIVE RE BOMBING.

USA AND SECRET SERVICE ADVISED.-

ATFD ADVISED., c (4 DM /A/75 n?iJ\/e

COVERAGE OF OUT-OF-STATE LEADS AND LAB SERVICES OFFERED.

NO REQUEST FOR SAME.

LHM FOLLOWS. Soarchscf,

END.

DFP/mls (2)

1 - 157-797

Approved: Sent Special Agent in Charge GPO : 1970 O - 402-735

m &&5 cv CODE

410 Pli URG=v.-;T 5 / 1 3 / 7 1 MMG

TO uIRECTQR

FROM C L E V L L L A - I J ( 1 7 4 - ^ Z W ) IP

3O:*1BI*!G OF BLACK PArTH|?R PARTY HEADQUARTERS, CLEVELAND,

O H I O , AUG. S I G H T E D S1\J^AYO "Z, i l D - E i l .

AT APPRCXIA/iETLY FOUR f IFTY:-:I *Z A . : - 1 , , THIS ?.AT7, THE 3LACK

PA^THiR PARTY HEADQUARTERS, SEVENTY HI -5 TH A r! 0 CSrITPAL, WAS BOBBED

BY UMKMCUH S U B J E C T . HO I N J U R I E S . OAMAGE NOT BELIEVED TO B ?

, CLEVZLAMD, OHIO P D , HiADGlUARTERS

IHTELLIGEMCE U."?IT, ADVISCD. INVESTIGATION INDICATES TtfO STICKS OF

NAMITS ^ER£ U T I L I Z E D , MO SUSPECTS DEVELOPED.

CLEVELAND SOURCES NEGATIVE RE BOBBING.

USA Af!D SECRET S E R V I C l ADVIS . iD .

ATFD ADVISED.

ADflKISTRATIVH: .

COVERAGE OF CUT- OF - S T A T S L£AD£ AiJD LAB SERVICES OFFERED.

MO REQUEST FOR SAi-I£ .

LHM FOLLOWS .

END.

LRG FEI -;/A

FD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below).

PANTHER OFFICE BOMBFD — A dynamite explosion destroyed the doorway and ripped'through the first floor of Black Panther headquarters at 23 T2 E. 79th St. early today. Two persons in the building escaped injury. William Davis, information section leader, examined the damage but said he could not give an estimate. Police said it was $300.

(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.)

A-15 THE CLEVELANDPRESS

(C Leveland, OhioDate: 8/18/71 Edition: FINAL Author:

Editor: THOMAS BOARDMAK Title:

Character: •

or

Classification:

Submitting Office: C l e v e l a n d

| | Being Investigated

SEARCHED JNDEXED „ .

SERIALIZED F'.LhO

FBI —CLEVELAN D

(Rev. 7-16-63}

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

"-;_•: By Richard M. Peery

> ; A n entrance to an upstairs suite at Black Panther headquarters, 2314 E. 79th Street, was destroyed by a bomb yesterday morning. . - •'

Two persons who were in the two-story brick building escaped injury.

Local Panther leader Tommie Carr called the bombing "an attempt to- stop the opening of our free health center that was to begin operations next Monday.

".;?,"WE DON'T KNOW WHO would want to do this except the'-police." he added. "They, were on the scene almost as soon as it happened." .

Cleveland Police Chief Lewis W. Coffey said the allegation was "ridiculous and not worthy of further comment. I don't think the good people of the community will pay any attention, to it." • •

Police and Panthers have been involved in violent confrontations in the past.

Coffey declined -to comment on the incident other than • to say it was being investigated.

THE BOMB HAD BEEN thrown or placed against a locked door leading from -the sidewalk to the second-floor stairway. The explosion shattered the door, blew a hole in the floor at the bottom of the stairs and broke upstairs windows.

No other^ damage 'occurred in the five-room suite, which contained, three examination tables, cabinets filled with.. mediciiWs and a medical sterilizer.

—-Willie R. Slater, 23, of 1839 E. 85th Street/said he was seated on a couch in the building when the blast occurred at 5 a.m. and was knocked to the floor.

" I ggi up and ran to. the front windows, but the smoke-was so,4hiek 1 couldn't see 2113'thing," he said.

"l£~ about three minutes. I hesrd the poli.ce sirens and fell to the floor in case there was shooting*. Two policemen came up the stairs and knocked on the door. One of them-had s gun in his hand when I opened it, but nothing more happened." .. •

SLATER .SAID HE WAS serving as a watchman in the building. •"•; , '

Also present was a.l6-year-oidyouth, who said he had stayed out late that night and did not want to walk home after curfew. '. ' • -Carr said the opening of the clinic will be delayed about two weeks while repairs are made.

Dr. Allan R. Liebgott, a resident internist at Metropolitan General Hospital, said he has volunteered to work in the Panther clinic as soon as it is ready. ,, ,„*

(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state,}

^B, • THP. PLAIN DEALER(C-eve Land, Ohio)

Date: • 8/19/7). Edition: ', FINAL Author: •

Editor: THOMA.S V A I L Titr I"

Character:

or

Classification:

Submitting Office:


SEARCHED / WPEXED SERIALIZED

FBI —CLEVELAND zrn

BOMB SITE—The doorway at left was shattered by a bomb at Black Panther headquarters yesterday. Upstairs . windows ' were blown out. In photo at right Alton Delmore, left, and Willie R. Slater , escaped injury in the bombing. '

Plafn Dealer Photos (George Heinz)

sAS s

til

re

m

SEARCHED SERJ

AUG311371 FBt—• CLEVELANO

I

:RS AND SIST3W... COME AMD SEE WHAT THWFASCrST DID TO

0 U-.R !F R E E ' H U L T H C S N T -̂ R

COM? AND i m V T I T S TRUTH ABOUT AUG.-18th, 1 9 7 1 , f r6 m t h e PEOPL

IN TH.7;: COMMUNITY ' ' :,' ' ' :

ATTEND TFTC RALLY THIS SATURDAY AT 3 :00 . P.M AND M4KS A STRIKE

FOR BLACK UNITY . • . ..

T H I L L B ^ A P- ^ 0 P L ^ ' ' S R A L L Y

T H I S S A T U Î'D A Y \ U Co 2 1 . st-,.1 9 A T 3 : 0 0 F , H

*N CENTRAL AVÂNJV LUCIA .OH 7c>th

ARDUOUS STRUGGLE. AND- S^LF RtLIANC1? FOR UNITY IN THi; BLACK COMMUNI

TY ' • • • . ' • • ' . • :

V^ 'R 7 ? GONNA B~ T J N I T ^ O e e . U N I T E D . . . U N I T E D . , . UNITED , . . U N I T E D

OHIO CHAPTER BL.ACK PMNTHER PARTY .BLACK PANTHER PARTY

1 3 3 4 DORR S T R ̂ CL^V^LAND BRANCH

Toledo , Chip *: 2 312 ^ 79 t h

( ( 419) ) 246-7822 ((432-3516)) 216

A L I. F O V U R ' T 0 T H

$

WHAT KIND OF DYIÂMIT^ DO^S TH^ TACT S'-UAO CARRY IN THÎR CAR TU

g «jjs? UNDERSTAND A; J LEARN FROM THE REPRESSIV-IACTIONS OF • • THE FASCIST

THE FASCIST HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRAINWASH BLACK PEOPLE..INTO

C.OMPLETE MENTAL SLAVERY FOR 400 YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO

PHYSICAL SLAVERY MINIMAL AND MAXIMUM DURING THIS ENTIRE PERIOD,

"JUT OUR SPIRIT HAS NOT-BEEN BROKEN"AND" HE HAVE-REJECTED THEIR

OPPRESSED MENTUITY IDEOLOGY. THE POLITICAL VEHICLE OATH'S BLACK:

COMMUNITY, THE BLACK. PANTHER PARTY CANNOT BE DESTROYED BY THE

-FEEBLE ATTEMPTS OF THE-FASCIST TO SCAKE" THE PEOPLE•AWAY FROM TH

EIR PARTY, OR. TOO DESTROY A BUILDING AND LYNCH OR MURDER A FEW

MORE BLACK PEOPLE.( THEY HAVE ALREADY MURDERED MORE THAN 55 MILLION

. BLACK PEOPLE)OR TO DEFAME OR SLANDER THE PA^TY. THE PEOPLE HAVE

SEEN AND ARE WARE OF THEIR DEPRAVED ACTIONS. THE PEOPLE HAVE AND

WILL CONTINUE TO JUDGE BY PRACTICE. AND WE WILL REST ON THAT

JUDGMENT OF TÊ 'PEOPLE? FOR IN THE LAST' ANALYSIS, ALL HOPE RESTS

WITH THE PEOPLE. . '

THE FASCIST ATTEMPT TO SCARE THE PEOPLE AND BLOW UP THE

PEOPLE'S F-REE MEDICAL CENTER FAILED SO IT BECAME NECESSARY TO

SNATCH TRE BROTHER T-THO U\S BEEN A MOTIVATING FORCE IN THE COMM

UNITY.- BROTHER TOMMIE 'CW, DEFENSE CAPTAIN OF THE CLEVELAND

BRANCH OF THE BLACK PANTHER P^RTY AND INSTRUMENTAL'FORCE FOR THE*

PEOPLES FÊE CLOTHING PROGRAM, FRÊ FOOD PROGRAM A.ND ORGANIZER OF

THE FREE MEDICAL CENTER HAS "BEEN ORDERED TO TRIM, WITHOUT A COURT

ROOM NOR A JUDGE AVAIABI.E. BROTHER TOMMIE CARR WAS CHOSEN BY THE

''FASCIST AS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY PROGRESS AND HE MUST.

BE PUNISHED FOR IT. AT NO TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY HAS :

ANYONE BEEN ORDERED TO TRIAL BEFORE WITHOUT A COURTROOM OR JUDGE.

BROTHER TOMMIE CARR WAS TOLD TO REPORT TO BEGIN TRIAL FRIDAY AUG.

20th, 1971 ON A CHARGE OF INCITING TO RIOT WHEN ACTUALLY HE WAS

PREVENTING VIOLENCE FROM OCCURING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE ..'

PEOPLE WERE ASLEEP AND UNAWARE OF THE REPPRESSIVE MOVES ABOUT .TO-,

TAKE PLACE, BY ALERTING THE PEOPLE, WHO STAYED IN THEI.R HOMES •

TOMMIE DREW THE WRATH OF THE"VFA5CIST FROM THE PEO'PLE UPON HIMSELF

AS ANY TRUE SERVANT OF'THE .PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DONE, THE FASCIST "lN°

AN ATTEMPT TO BRAI1WASH THE PEOPLE'CLAIMED HE WAS INCITING 250

ANGRY MILITANTS WHEN THE PEOPLE CANNOT BE FOOLED BY THIS LIE BE

CAUSE THE PEOPLE KNCH THAT TOMMIE STOOD WIHT A FEW OTHER BROTHFRSCOME AND SEE ABOUT BROTHER TOKMIE, FOR INFORMATICS CALL 432-3516

• ' : WG the members of the Afro Set Nation denounce the

cruel act of .bombing and terrorizing of the national Committee

of Combat Faeism. .The persons or. person when they get caught

in cowardly, sneaking acts will be daalt with, vriLth no, less

sympathy than they are showing to our Black community and Black

Organizations. WG the members of the Afro Set will join in

with all groups or persons who are being attacked by this rot

ten race of society. The' rotten, filthy racist power structure

have committed these same acts of aggrssion towards the Afro

Set Nation and we will not turn our tails or back-up because

they are stupid minded little bojis who are playing with dyna

mite. Justice must be dealt to thoso criminals and it has to

come from the people. Our members of the Afro Set have been,

harrassed by the power structure of this cdifcy for too long»

The court systems that are supposed to be recognized as Justice-

have been throwing our brothers in jail on bunked up charges

and'arc putting bonds on them that are outrageous. We haY- 3

went^through all the legal lynches- of our Bros, and Sis*-' that '' ' & ' • • ' - . . • • • . '

we are going'to tolerate. We are going to-band together and

taring down Justice through any means necessary. We '/ill no •

A longer allow foreign whito boys or hired black mercenaries ±8

continue these acts. We will stop them through any means ne

cessary if their white boys arid negro boys are to be allowed

to pay their way. to terrorize our community then they will find

feut that we will pay their way back. All Black people in our

community should be on the lookout for these South African ra

cists and put'"then out of thD|.t- racist misery. Any information

concerning the bombings in tho conaunity contact .tho. Afro Set*

#

SEARCHED^ SERIALIZED.

AUG3X1971 FBI —CLEVELAND

157»349&

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

In Reply, Please Refer to Cleveland, Ohio CONFIDENTIAL

File No. 1 7 4

August 31, 1971

BLACK PANTHER. PARTYCLEVELAND, OHIO

On August IS, 1971, flHBHlHHHBHHHS^ Headquarters Intelligence Unit, Cleveland, Ohio Police Department,.advised that at approximately 4:59 AM that date a bomb detonatedat the Black Panther Party headquarters, 2314 East 79th Street,Cleveland, Ohio.

BLACK PANTHER PARTYalso known asBlack Panther Party for Self Defense

The Black Panther Party (BPP) is a blackextremist organization started in Oakland,California, in December, 1966, It advocates theuse of guns and guerrilla, tactics to bring aboutthe overthrow of the United States Government.

No injuries were sustained and damage to thebuilding was slight. Investigation indicated the bomb wasmade of two sticks of dynamite which had been placed in theentrance way to the building. Damage was confined, to thedoorway, the door, the ceiling" and basement. No suspectswere developed.

On August 18, ^ ^ t ^ H H I A source wiioreliable information in the past, advfsed that'from Toledo, Ohio, had advisedthe Illinois Chapter of the BPP7 Cliicag'o, that at approximately5:00 AM that day pajrt of the Cleveland PB3 branch office hadbeen blown up, ^ ( K B stated that some unexploded sticks of

10 - BureauJ2--v Secret Service, CV

CON(1

Excluded fpefu automaticdowngrading and(15) declass i f aicatijon Classifife&jjas disclosure of swesiawbe:fee^pa?e3i±

to defenste¥interests of U.S.

wtmctm, mt<i?4*

B&&0R MUTT

Smlrtel to Of, §/t5/?l,

t®T the Bureau are ten (10) copies of#a£tian#«S and 4mtm4 m nb#v«» Copies of UlU are

be tag d©»ifmat#<i to f,S,tt««tv»t Serviee, Cleveland,

Sources utilized enclosed IMU are as follows:

This IBM Is classified conf:of above listed sources would be prejudicial to the defenseinterests of the United States.

iSL

fill i n

• •>•• / « * . . . • " *

3005 Federal Office BuildingCleveland, Ohio 44199

31.

Mr. W,K. Deckard, Special Agent in Charge1 ¥.S. Secret Service

413 Federal BuildingCleveland, Ohio 44114

RE: BLACK PANTHER PARTY>. OHIO

, „ Dear Mr. Becfcard:

^ Enclosed are two copies of memorandum concerningcaptioned matter.

Very truly yours,

Charles 0. OusickSpecial Agent in Charge

Enclosures - 2Registered Mall.

* addressee (Inc. 2) (RM)Cleveland (174-405) (P)

nrp/jsj • . • O u l m l D h N T

Upon

enclosures, this transmittai letter becomes unclassified

i

rTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL HUREAU OF INVKSTTGAT) ON

Clevelandf Ohio COi'TOENTIAL

September 85 1971 /

BOMBIKG OF BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERSCLEVELAND > OHIO8-18-71

EXPLOSIVES AND INCENDIARY DEVICES

On August 18, 1971, I H B B H H H H H B H F Head quarters In te l l igence Unit* Cleveland, Ohio Police Department, advised th?.t a t approximately 4:59 J-M that date a botnb detonated a t ths-. Black, Panther Party headquarters * 2314 East 79th Street Clevelands Ohio.

BLACK PANTHER PA^IY

l .1 d v K Jr dillX'i'i-z-C :. C:., L-Y 1U;. .^vr-J-i L/cii. t:l i.^ti

The Black Panther Pp.rty (BPP) is- a blacke>rt:reiuist organization started in Oakland,Californias in December, 1966, It advocates theuse of guns and guerrilla tactics to bring aboutthe overthrow of the United States Government.

No injuries vxere sustained and damage to thebuilding vras slight. Investigation indicated the bomb wasmade of V,\?o sticks of dynamite \rhich had been placed in theentrance way to the building. Dauiage iras confined to thsdoorway, the. door* the ceiling and basement. Ho suspectswere developed.

On /vujmst 13, 1971stfHHHl a source who has firrnishedreliable infoxidation in the past, advis&d thsfro:n Toledo, Ohio, had advisedj**"^"B—

7 - Bureau 3 - Cleveland (174-405) (P) 2 - Secret Service, Cleveland (1 - 157-797)GOHHDENTSA DTP/jsj:rep (12) . \G?M \ Classified as disclosure of sources would be fccluiXdK ril prejudicial to defense in te res t s of U.S. ?&^\y

CONPiKSNTIAL

RE: BLACK PANTHER PARTYCLEVELAND, OH10

dynamite had been found in the headquarters office and thatat the time of the explcs^^n. two comra.des were in the officebut had not been hurt, m/Ktw further advised that the policecame to the office and that when the police started to climbthe stairs,, a Negro detective stopped them and they went intothe basement and obtained the unexploded dynamite. They thenle^"t* 4 I H V a<^ed that the dynamite had been placed outsideof the downstairs door and he felt this was done because noone could have gcftjjett̂ v̂to the building without the comradesletting them in. ^BHHHrfurther advised tha,t the blast hadwrecked the flight of stairs, the ceiling, the door and hadshattered all the windows in the building. He said there hadbeen no further problems with the police since the explosion.

stated that the BPP, Cleveland, had beenrenting the entire building, which was made up of two storefronts and an upstairs apartment and that the upstairs isused for living1 quarters, but it was going to be made into ahealth center, that was to have been opened on August 23, 1971

On August 19, 1971, the following article appearedin the Cleveland, Ohio "Plain Dealer", a daily newspaper ofgeneral circulation in the Cleveland area:

2 *»

OPCA'-20 (12-3-96) XXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxx

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONFOIPA

DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET

Page(s) withheld entirely at this location in the file. One or more of the following statements, where indicated, explain this deletion.

• Deletions were made pursuant to the exemptions indicated below with no segregable material available for release to you.

Section 552 Section 552a

• (b)(l) • (b)(7)(A) •

• (b)(2) • (b)(7)(B) •

• (b)(3) • (b)(7)(C) •

D (b)(7)(D) •

• (b)(7)(E) •

• (b)(7)(F) •

• (b)(4) • (b)(8) •

O (b)(5) • (b)(9) •

•

D Information pertained only to a third party with no reference to the subject of your request or the subject of your request is listed in the title only.

• Documents originated with another Government agency(ies). These documents were referred to that agency(ies) for review and direct response to you.

Pages contain information furnished by another Government agency(ies). You will be advised by the FBI as to the releasability of this information following our consultation with the other agency (ies).

Page(s) withheld inasmuch as a final release determination has not been made. You will be advised as to the

disposition at a later date.

Pages were not considered for release as they are duplicative of / O r C ;

Page(s) withheld for the following reason(s):

Er The following number is to bis to be used for reference regarding these pages:

- 7 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx X Deleted Page(s) X X No Duplication Fee X X for this page X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

xxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXX FBI/DOJ

INTIAL

RE: BLACK PANTHER PARTYCLEVELAND, OHIO

On August 20, 1971, ̂ • • • ^ • • 1 "the Cleveland.Ohio "Plain Dealer" newspaper, advised that on that datehe had attended a press conference called by the Afro Set.

At the ress conference were several televisionstations and from the "Cleveland Press". Th_e_ iPC

t the- news conference was!Also at the news conference was one

^ announced that the Afro Set and the BPP,Cleveland, were banding together in an effort to counteractFBI harassement. They were also joining forces because theywish to engage in a long-range community program.

explained at the conference that two recentincidents proved that the FBI was harassin^the^AfroSetandthe BPP. The most recent was the arrest^BBHHHHHHH Von August^j^L 1971, for carrying a weapon. It was mentionedthat 4 M B B V nac* just obtained this weapon from someone whowas using it to attack a woman in a parking lot and also itwas felt that the FBI should not be arresting people justbecause they are carrying a concealed weapon.

The second incident mentioned was the bombing of theBlack Panther headquarters in Cleveland on August 19, 1971,in that it was felt the FBI was involved with the local policein being responsible for this bombing.

said that in order to counteract the FBIharassment, they were going to go to Columbus and talk tothe legislators. Also, they would contact local blackpoliticians and exhaust all other legal remedies. No violencewas mentioned.

According toWKKKEKm there wju^jio^one there fromthe BPP, but after the conference, he, 4 H I H R called the

-Panther headquarters in Cleveland and talked'confirmed the coalition.

.scould

Black Revolutio io, orthe Afro Set. and city

employee active in community relations work. hasbeen publicly identified as the theBPP in Cleveland.

CON frmw•ENTIAL—i—

« 6

CONFIDENTIAL

RE: BLACK PANTHER PARTY CLEVELAND, OHIO

On August 2 1 , 1971, the fo l lowing a r t i c l e appeared in the Black Panther , the o f f i c i a l newspaper of t he BPP;

7 - CONRIIDEWTXAL

HD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63)

(Mount Clipping in Space Below)

£ Of* ETC? p W

r The newly completed People's Free,, Medical Clinic of the Cleveland, Ohio Branch of the Black. Panther Party was, dynamited by unknown • fascists," enemies of the Cleveland Black community at 5:30 a0m0, Wednesday morning, August 18th, The People's Free Medical Clinic was almost completely destroyed by the blast0 Two sticks of dynamite were found at the scene after the blast. Fortunately, although lone brother was in the building at ' jthe time of the explosion, he was not i: njured* . j

Already, the Cleveland Black Gom«-] munity has banded together against this racist attack against one of the People's Survival Programs. A fund has been started by the Cleveland Black Community for the purpose of re building the People's Free Medical Clinic*

More information and pictures will ^appear in next week's issue of our,

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE

(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.)

IT" THE BLACK PANTHEE(San Francisco„ CaLif

Date: 3/2L/7L Edition: WEEKLY Author:

Editor: ELDRIDGE CLEAVEF Title:

Character?

or

Ciassiftcalion:

Submitting Office:


_^


aOn August 23 5, 1@?1 rjjflHHHv conf ident ia l source who has furnished reliable information in the past5 advised that wood was being obtained to rebuild the steps at the BPP headquarters following the bombing on August 18, 1971* Source advised that as an additional precaution against future incidents, lights were being placed outside the building to keep the area l i t all night. Source stated the feeling at BPP headquarters is that the local police bombed the building. Source advised tliat 44HHHBflBflVFanc^ 4flHHHHHHFw^c TCre

inside the Panther headquarters at the time of the explosion, reportedly told BPP^JHmmHHHP* "that they saw several detective cars in from^o^^the building just prior to the explosion and thus believe the police are involved.

On August 26, 1971, 4 B H H H H I V a -iocaladvised that as a result of t h ^ t h e BPP Headquartersin Cleveland on August IS, 1971, that the BPP, the Afro Set,the Black Nationalists; and the House of Islam had formed acoalition to help rebuild the Medical Center that had beendestroyed by the bomb blast.

She indicated that it was the general belief in thecommunity that the police were responsible for the bombing ofthe Panther Headquarters.

Small donations have been received from the community,and the Afro Set presented a check for $50 to the BPP on August21, 1971, to help rebuild the center. Neighbors have offeredtheir services to help rebuild the center and a local glasscompany has offered to repair broken windows in the building.

On August 28, 1971, the following article appearedin the "Call and Post" newspaper, a weekly publication ofpredominantly Negro circulation in the Cleveland area:

- 9 CON JNTIAL /

(Mount Clipping in Spocc Below)

f f £ T ; *4 :.;

P C I r.rjr,?frw

p. :>i

UiwU v_y i:.u ?a r.:i-. iiliiV

The Afro Set. under the that ths police ware on the days. direction of Prime Minister scene too fast not to have He singled out tho bombing Harllel X Jones, has united known cofnothinci about i t of Panther Hoadquartors last forces with ins Black Panther The Prioihers had pianfied Wednesday morning and tho Party to fight a common foe, to opan a free medics! clinic arrest of an Afio Set member, the police and FBI. for poor psople this fa!!, tut Donald Wiliiarr..?. 2:3, of Park

After ths Panthar headquar- most of their heavy equipment Lane N.E. Williams was arrested by FBi agents for ters, 2314 E. 79th St.. wo5 was shaken by the blnst.

-.mysteriously bombed last Oirior iV,ajicjd minister of the being an armed ex-convict, a week, Panther information of- Afro Set, said the two groups federal offari?^. ficer Eiiil Davis and doten to are new protesting two in- Majisd chaicipd last Friday captain'Tommy Carr charged cidents over tho last three that the FBI h'sd "something

to do with tho bombing." of the Panther headquarters and that trie FBI v.a51 waging ?. harassment ci-:n-:;?Jgn against Afro Set r^omb^rs- Tfio Panthers hod aCCUi-iO" iliO Cle-vek-nd Police of bombino their buildincj.

Pohcc Chlof Ccffey riorVcd the Panther's aiisgations but the FBI had no comment to make to the press.

"The Afio Set is black," Majicd said, ''and we look out at a Panther and he is black, we have different ways of corning to a soiu'ion, but we can work together.."

Bill Davis of tho Biack Panther Party told newsmen that (ho getting together of trie two rjroups on this issue was an

'Informal affair and nothing hew. "We've been emphasizing unity for five months. Past fighting between the groups," Davis said, "was mostly a myth."

Indicate page, name of lewspaper, city and s ta te . )

( G ].eve Land , O h i o )

Data: 8/28/7 L Edition: AuLhor: Editor: WILLIAM 0 . WALK Title:

Character:

or

Classification: Submitting Office: C LeVG 1.C.I

[* ] Doing InvestiqaJ

•10


On August 31, 1971, 4 B H H H H B H K a local BPP

member, advised that he was present at ths BPP Headquartersthe day it was bombed. He was not hurt by the blast. Immediatelyfollowing the bombing, officers of the Cleveland, Ohio PoliceDepartment were on the scene. He learned later that policeunits were in the immediate vicinity of the BPP Headquartersjust prior to the bomb blast. It is his belief that membersof the Cleveland, Ohio Police Department are responsible forthe bombing. He'advised the bombing curtailed the openingof a medical center that the BPP had planned to open, butthat the center would be functional in the near future, inorder that the Panthers could help the- people of theircommunity.

On August 31, 1971, ̂ BUHHHHflHHP' Supra,advised that his Department ha^oev^Bped no suspects regardingthe bombing of the BPP Headquarters on August 18, 1971.

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is looned fo your agency; ii.ond its contents are not to be

outside your agency.

11* - CONs£H)ENTIAL

F B I

Dale: 9~8~7l

(Type in plaintext or code)

(Priority)

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (105-165706-Sub 11 )

FROM: SAG. CLEVEl,i^D ( 1 7 4 - 4 0 5 ) (P)

RE: BOMBING OF BLACK PANTHER UEADQUMITERS CLEV13I*AI\D, OHIO 8-.18-71

Re Buairtel to CV, 8-25-71,

Enclosed for the Btar̂ &vi are seven (7) copies of IMhi captioned and elated as abc-ve. Copies of UuM are

also b^iiig designated i;o USS, Seciet Servic^j Cl̂ 'isi&iAdj, Ohio*

Soitrces utilized in enclosed IBM are as follows?

This LHM i s c l a s s i f i e d confic}g|^.ial as disc losure of above l i s t e d sources would be p re jud ic i a l t o the defense. i n t e r e s t s of the United S ta t e s ,

LEAD

TpxjcT

UI1I contact appropriate, sources in effort todetermine perpetrator of bombing,

(5V Bureau (Enc. 7) (EM)y/» Cl aval arid

(1 - 137-797)

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Approved: ... \>-\X M Per / Special Ac; en I. in Charge

OPTIONAL FO/IM NO. 10MAY U€2 EDITION GSA FPMFt (ll CFJ*) 101-1'.« O UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum TO SAC, CLEVELAND' 10/6/71

FROM

SUBJECT:

On September 21, 1971» source advised that hewas unable to attend the Black Panther Party (BPP) annualpicnic, on August 12, lj

Sourcehe did'not hear of any individuals from

National Headquarters attending the picnic, andaccordingt o ^ H HHHHHr -̂00 individuals attended, thus consideringthe picnic a success*

1 - 174«405_i - ibi-yyr1 <•• 157-16951 - 3.57-13121 157-13371 -- 157-25321 157-26331 157-28351 157-29051 •• 157-3025 •1 157-30371 157-30261 157-30721 157-31991 157-34721 157-34961 157-34481 157-37561 157-41721 •» 157-41771 157-41761 - 157-4245 I SEARCHED _. ! 1 - 157-4246 SERIALIZED_/

JJC/cld j _ ̂ j^j.-cu^a.AW

~ y .•(24)

B?y US. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

Source also advised that he did not attend theCommunity meeting on August 16} 1971, since things havebeen going quite slow at headquarters *

Source advised that the financial situation forthe Party in Cleveland has not changed and that the papersales are still the main source of income* Also a fewsmall donations are received from individuals in theCommunity* As an example, source related that on August

I^^^^^^^^^^IIH and gave him a $15d o na.tionrortneBP? for no specific reasono Sourceadvised that he had never seen this individual before andhad no idea who he "was*

Source commented that at present^31 'inther memb ers

To the best of his knowledge they are

individual~^^" August 18, 1971, I

considered a BlackSource related that the Panthers break down

their organization as follows hard core members, BlackPanthers in trainings &n& then those whom they considerCommunity workers. The source clarified a point andstated that the Panthers consider anyone in the neighborhoodas a Community worker and are not members of the group andtherefore are not held in confidence*

Source continued that one ^ B H H H H Y alongwith 4 M H B B V a^e no longer Panthers, however$4flH^

these 1ndividua1s^BBBHBfcat the Black Draft Counseling \Q\Eucli Service ^ K B B B B B H B B F a t l Q 5 h Street andd E l i dd

Cleveland, Ohio* Source also stated ^ffin ClevelandP but is expected to return to Toledo, Ohio,this week*

2

On August 24j, 1971, source advised thathe did not know of any planned trips by Cleveland Panthers,to Jamestown, New York, nor did he know or any plannedactivities for this dateo Source also advised that hewas unable to attend the meeting on Wednesday and Thursdayat Peoples Churchtat headquarters on both nights,

Source again stated that he did not know of anyindividuals from National Headquarters who had beenvisiting in the area and who could shed any light on

rand his girl friendte visit to Cleveland, Ohio*

S Qurce_furthe r advisedthajjj^hedloes not knowone ̂ HHI^HHHHHHRrr ^is^llHJiJIIIHflB^ ̂ om Baldwin biCWallace College and they are not known to have any connection with the BPP'in Cleveland, Ohio.

On September 27, 1971, source advised that abreakfast. program was to start on August 28, 1971, at St.Adalbert Catholic Church which is located behind the Fairfax Recreation Center in the vicinity of East 83rd betweenCentral and Quincy.

In regards to^HHHHHlHflP' source advisedthat at the time the Black Panther Headquarters wasbombed on August 18, 1971, a loose coalition was supposedto be formed between The Black Panther Party, TheSet, and the House of Israel,4flBHThis was effected in an attempt to open a free medicalclinic operated by the Panthers at an earlier date than bicanticipated. However, to date nothing has materializedand the coalition appears to be a nominal agreement*Source has never seen ̂ IBHHBHHBHV'around. AntherHeadquarters and does not know of any working agreements

between him and the Panthers, Source knows that!not a Panther member*

was unknown to him and not knownto be involved_ln Panther activities. Source advised \n\ Cthat; d | | V i s definitely known to him and is nota Black Fa.nther Party member and has not been seen aroundBPF Headquarters for some time.

4

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY 1962 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.8

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum T O :SAC CLEVELAND (174-405) P DATE: 40/13/71

FROM :.

S U B J E G T : B O M B I N G O F B I A C K HEADQUARTERS CLEVELAND, OHIO 8/18/71 EID

AT CLEVELAND:On this date ^ B H H H B B W H e a d q u a r t e r s

Intelligence Unit, Cleveland PoliceDeparTment/ advised hisdepartment had developed no suspects with regard to captioned matter.

1 Cleveland sources have furnished no new information recaptioned matter.

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

i

bX

uJV^'G 197.1 FBf — CLEVELAND

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 MAY 1862 EDITION i GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.8


Memorandum TO SAC, CLEVELAND (174-405 ) (P) DATE: l / > # / 7 2

\nc FROM

SUBJECT: BOMBING OF BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERS CLEVELAND, OHIO8/18/71 EID

On January 28, 1972, ̂ H W H H H j M H H M H T Headquarters Intelligence Unit, Cleveland Police Department,

f advised that to his knowledge no suspects have been developedby his department regarding captioned bombing.

DFP/jsb v

1 - 157-797

SEARCHED S

67C JAM 811972 ' FBI —CLEVELAN D


5

OPTIONAL. FORM NO. 10 MAY 1W2 EDITION GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6 N s » ̂


Memorandum TO SAC, CLEVELAND (174-405) (C) DATE: 3 /15/7 2

FROM : SA i hiC

SUBJECT: BOMBING OF BLACK PANTHER HEADQUARTERSCLEVELAND, OHIO8/18/71EID

On this date,Intelligence Unit, Cleveland, Ohio, Police Department, \ncadvised that his department has developed no suspectsand is no longer pursuing investigation of captioned matter.

In view of the above it is recommended that thiscase be closed.

DFP/cld

\rA
