The Soledad Brothers and Angela Davis: A Forgotten Chapter in America’s History of Left-Wing Violence
Fifty-five years ago, radical leftists in the United States proved that they could express their beliefs not just through slogans and songs, but also through violence. One notable example of this is the story of the Soledad Brothers and Angela Davis, which has largely been forgotten in recent years.
In the late 1960s, the US saw a surge in left-wing violence, with groups like the Weather Underground using bombs and bullets to fight against what they saw as social injustice. The Weathermen, a collective of disillusioned students, staged the Days of Rage in Chicago in October 1969, bombing a memorial to police officers killed in the Haymarket riot and smashing storefronts and cars.
Around the same time, George Jackson, a Black Panther member, was facing capital charges for the murder of a guard at Soledad Prison. His case became a cause célèbre, with activists arguing that he was being punished not for murder, but for his race. Jackson’s younger brother, Jonathan, would later take drastic action to try to secure his release.
On August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson entered the Marin County courthouse, where a case involving several San Quentin inmates was underway. He was armed with a rifle, pistol, and sawed-off shotgun, which he had obtained with the help of Angela Davis, a prominent leftist and dismissed UCLA professor. Jonathan took hostages, including Judge Harold Haley, and demanded his brother’s release. The incident ended in tragedy, with Jonathan and two of the freed inmates being killed in a shootout with police.
The story made headlines, but public attention soon shifted to the manhunt for Angela Davis, who had gone underground. Davis was eventually caught and acquitted, but not before she had become a darling of the radical Left. George Jackson’s book, “Soledad Brother,” a collection of his prison letters, had also made him a political icon.
The violent actions of the Black Panthers and other left-wing groups resulted in the deaths of over 60 people between 1969 and 1970. However, in recent years, the focus has shifted away from these incidents, and the roles of extremists have been largely associated with the far right and religious fundamentalists. As the political climate continues to shift, it is essential to remember and reevaluate the history of left-wing violence in America.
The significance of this forgotten chapter in American history lies in its ability to shape the narrative around extremism. By remembering and learning from the past, we can better understand the complexities of political violence and its various forms. As the US continues to grapple with issues of social justice and inequality, it is crucial to consider the full spectrum of extremist ideologies, including those on the left.