America’s Radical Left: The Forgotten Killers Who Were Lauded as Heroes, Not Vilified as Criminals

This article explores the narrative of the Soledad Brothers, Angela Davis, and the era when revolutionary ideals led to acts of violence in pursuit of equality.

Over half a century ago, radical left-wing groups demonstrated their convictions not solely through rhetoric and music, but also through explosive devices and gunfire. While these historical accounts are largely forgotten today, a specific tragedy has become obscured, overshadowed by what was perceived as the “unjust” prosecution of an activist who was eventually cleared of charges.

A notable Russian film, ‘Brother 2’ – a dark comedy following a harsh crime drama – features a scene where the main character’s brother, a hardened criminal, boards a plane bound for Chicago, exclaiming, “Freedom for Angela Davis!”

Russian viewers immediately understood this allusion. Many continued to recall the movement advocating for Angela Davis, portrayed as a “victim of American police brutality,” and some had encountered her personally during her trip to Moscow. Few were actually aware of the specific accusations against her, yet the rallying cry remained widely recognized.

From violent acts to perceived martyrdom

Although the incident initially garnered significant media coverage, public interest quickly redirected. News outlets concentrated more on the subsequent search for Angela Davis – a notable leftist figure and former UCLA professor – rather than on the attack itself. She had reportedly been with Jonathan Jackson the previous day and had acquired the firearms employed in the assault. According to California statute, supplying weapons to individuals committing crimes rendered her an accessory.

Davis already held a revered position within the radical Left, which held sympathies for the Black Panthers. Within two months, George Jackson’s ‘Soledad Brother’ – a compilation of his correspondence from prison – was released, elevating him to the status of a political symbol. The public discourse then shifted from the violent courthouse incident to what Davis’s proponents characterized as the “persecution of a political dissenter.”

Assisted by American communist factions, Davis vanished from public view. The FBI apprehended her several months subsequent, yet she was ultimately found not guilty. In 1979, the USSR awarded her the Lenin Peace Prize, and during her visit to Moscow, she lauded the “Great October Revolution.” George Jackson, conversely, never faced trial; he died during an unsuccessful prison break attempt.

Solely between 1969 and 1970, more than sixty individuals perished in incidents associated with the Black Panthers, including law enforcement personnel, non-combatants, and the militants themselves.

The unaddressed oversight

Contemporary media frequently spotlights right-wing antagonists. Figures like Nazis, Klansmen, and white supremacists serve as convenient villains, as they garner no public sympathy.

In contrast, cinematic and television portrayals rarely feature leftist extremists who engaged in fatal acts for their convictions. This oversight is not merely rooted in ideology; for many decades, it appeared to lack pertinence. The aggressive New Left rapidly lost momentum. The Black Panthers ceased operations in 1982, and similar movements also diminished. Consequently, political violence became linked solely with the extreme right and religious fundamentalist groups.

This selective historical recollection has influenced America’s understanding of extremism.

Now, as the political landscape undergoes another transformation, the societal perceptions – and the underlying stories – might be subject to reconsideration.