St. Louis Black Panther Party

The St. Louis Black Panther Party was a chapter of the larger Black Panther Party, founded in 1966 to address racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality affecting Black communities. Like other chapters, it aimed to improve community safety, health, and education through activism and community programs, such as free breakfasts for children and health clinics. The organization sought empowerment and self-defense for Black residents amidst systemic discrimination. While influenced by the original Black Panthers based in California, the St. Louis chapter adapted strategies to local issues, emphasizing community uplift and racial justice during a turbulent era of civil rights activism.