1970 'Defend the Panthers' Map of New Haven, Connecticut, for May Day Protest

An exceptional 1970 newspaper and map detailing the May Day 1970 Black Panther protest in New Haven, Connecticut. It was published by 'View From the Bottom', 'Yale Strike News', and the 'Committee to Defend the Panthers'. In addition to the map, the newspaper proclaims the innocence of the imprisoned Panthers and provides information about the protest.

A Closer Look - The Map of New Haven

At the center of the newspaper is a map of New Haven, with New Haven Green and Yale's Old Campus near the center. A Yale bulldog and a black panther stand side by side along the left border, accompanied by an alligator or crocodile. A pig (a reference to the police) is superimposed over New Haven Green. Among labeled locations are Yale's colleges, the post office, circuit court, Yale-New Haven Hospital, bus and train stations, and many of New Haven's churches. Red crosses mark first aid stations set up for the protest, and red bells mark telephones.

The Rest of the Newspaper

The newspaper features articles proclaiming the innocence of the arrested Black Panthers, decrying the gentrifying 'redevelopment' of New Haven, and anti-police rhetoric. Additionally, the paper offers scheduling information regarding the protest and legal advice for anyone arrested during the protest.

May Day 1970

The events of May Day 1970 at Yale University began nearly a year earlier, when Alex Rackley, a 19-year-old Black Panther, was murdered by three other Black Panthers who believed him to be an informant. Investigations into the murder led to the arrest of 9 people, known collectively as the 'New Haven 9'. The three murderers were quickly tried and convicted. Ericka Huggins (local New Haven founder of the Black Panthers) and Bobby Seale (one of the founders of the National Black Panther Party) were also arrested. Huggins was heard on a recording of Rackley's interrogation, and Seale was in New Haven at the time of Rackley's murder, which the FBI claimed he ordered. After months in court, the charges against Huggins and Seale were dismissed.

Seale's arrest enraged the Black Panthers and insighted the May Day Protest. In the weeks before the protest, Black Panther speakers tried to enflame Yale students and openly called for protesters to burn university buildings and 'kill pigs'. Yale's president, Kingston Brewster, worked frantically behind the scenes to prevent bloodshed, helping black student leaders to organize the protest. In the end, May Day 1970 came and went without bloodshed. Only a handful of arrests were made and there were only minor injuries. Two bombs did detonate in the basement of Ingalls Rink, but did not result in injuries. For a detailed account of May Day 1970, Murder in the Model City: The Black Panthers, Yale, and the Redemption of a Killer by Paul Bass and Douglas W. Rae is an interesting read.

Publication History and Census

This newspaper was published in 1970 by 'View From The Bottom', 'Yale Strike News', and the 'Committee to Defend the Panthers'. We note cataloged examples at: Yale University, the State University of New York at Albany, Michigan State University, the Wisconsin Historical Society Library, and the University of Kansas. We note only two other confirmed instances when this newspaper has appeared on the market.