Leaders of the New Black Panther Party said they would deploy armed guards at a variety of polling stations in Atlanta to monitor white supremacist violence as voters cast their ballots for the Georgia Senate runoff election.
“No one will touch, harm or threaten any person who walks into the voting booth to exercise their right to vote. This is a legal position we are taking. We are ready to provide legal representation in the event of any unfortunate events. We can offer security. That’s it. Khallida Ramla Baastet stated at Monday’s press conference, “And may the best person win.”
According to the group, armed patrols will take place at voting locations in Brunswick, Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, and Atlanta between 7 and 11 a.m., and again between 3 and 8 p.m. According to the group, the intention is not intimidation of voters while they cast their ballots.
The New Black Panther Party was established in Dallas, Texas in 1989 as an anti-capitalist black nationalist party that seeks to combat the oppression and injustice of black and brown communities. This group is not affiliated to the Black Panther Party, which is a similar aligned group and focuses more on socialism and black nationalism.
The New Black Panther Party was repeatedly rejected by the Black Panther Party and denounced as illegitimate.
Many organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center consider the New Black Panther Party a hate organization. They accuse its leaders of being racists and antisemitic.
