Podcast

Capitol Weekly podcast: George Skelton

Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton (Photo: L.A. Times)

Fifty years ago this week, Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale led an armed delegation of Oakland Panthers into the California state Capitol in a bid to derail a proposed gun control bill. There was little security then, and people in the Capitol were taken by surprise. Gov. Ronald Reagan was in Capitol Park with some school kids and he was quickly hustled away. There were hearings going on and the usual glut of tourists in the corridors. The event made international news: Photos of the Panthers in their black leather jackets and berets brandishing shotguns and other long guns were published around the world. Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton, then a young news reporter, was in the Capitol when the Panthers entered on May 2, 1967. In this episode of the Capitol Weekly podcast, Skelton shares his memories of that historic day with John Howard and Tim Foster.

Click here to listen….

Ed’s Note: CORRECTS 1st graf to include Bobby Seale and delete reference to Huey Newton.

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