Geronimo Pratt
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Geronimo Pratt (born 13 September 1947), also known as Geronimo ji-Jaga, was a high ranking member of the Black Panther Party. He was targeted by the FBI program COINTELPRO, which aimed to "neutralize Pratt as an effective BPP functionary".[1] Pratt was tried and convicted of the kidnap and murder of Caroline Olsen in 1972, and spent 27 years in prison, eight of which were in solitary confinement. Pratt was freed in 1997 when his conviction was overturned. He currently works as a human rights activist. Pratt is also notable as the godfather of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
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[edit] Early years
Pratt was raised in Louisiana, where he claims to have witnessed lynchings and intimidation by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. He served two combat tours in the Vietnam War and came to Los Angeles, using the GI Bill to go to UCLA. When Pratt joined the Black Panthers his years in the army were useful, and he rose to be Minister of Defense.
[edit] Prison
In 1968, Caroline Olsen, a 27 year old elementary school teacher, was murdered by gunshot during a robbery on a Santa Monica tennis court. Olsen's husband, Kenneth, who was also shot but survived, identified another man as the killer at first. Julio Butler, a Black Panther and police informant, fingered Geronimo Pratt as the killer. In 1970 Pratt was arrested and charged with murder and kidnapping.
Pratt always maintained his innocence. During his incarceration he studied law and steadfastly built a defense. Pratt was represented by Stuart Hanlon and Johnnie Cochran in his original trial, and Cochran contributed much to the appeals that later led to his conviction being overturned and the case dismissed on June 10, 1997. Pratt's previous trial was ruled unfair, and Pratt later won a settlement for $4.5 million.
[edit] Later years
Pratt continues to work on behalf of men and women who are believed to be wrongfully incarcerated, in addition to his work with the Kuji Foundation Inc. He has participated in rallies in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, whom he had met when both were active as Black Panthers.
[edit] References
- Olson, Jack. (2001). Last Man Standing : The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo Pratt. ISBN 0-385-49368-1
- ^ LA 157-3436, the partially redacted COINTELPRO file on Geronimo Pratt
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Pratt, Geronimo |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ji-Jaga, Geronimo (chosen name) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | political activist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 13 September 1947 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | unknown |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | none |
