>For one thing the Panthers worked within the context of the local
>political establishment. By doing so, they exposed the fault lines
>of that establishment and over turned it with mass support---and
>that worked for awhile.
Working within the local political establishment was why they didn't get arrested for carrying those guns. It was legal, until after they started doing it.
http://www.examiner.com/la-in-los-angeles/ban-on-open-carry-of-guns-deja-vu-all-over-again
[...]
The Black Panthers quickly grew in number. They formed what they called their "Police Patrols." They would listen in on police radio broadcasts and rush to crime scenes. They would shout to persons being arrested of their rights to remain silent and to have an attorney; careful to stay far enough from the arresting officers as to avoid being arrested themselves. They also openly carried loaded guns, which was legal at the time.
On April 1st, 1967 an unarmed black man by the name of Denzell Dowell was shot and killed by police. Reportedly a total of ten pistol and shotgun blasts killed him. The Black Panthers responded with a protest rally on April 1st. Fifteen members of the Black Panthers appeared at the protest openly carrying loaded guns. Not only did this make the national news it caught the attention of Assemblyman Don Mulford (R Oakland) who authored the infamous bill.
On May 2nd, 1967 the Mulford Bill [making it a crime to carry a loaded gun] was to be heard in committee at the State Capitol. Twenty six members of the Black Panthers walked into the Capitol openly carrying loaded guns (which was legal) and were arrested. Even Ronald Reagan acknowledged at the time that there actions were lawful.
[...]