Geronimo Pratt

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Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt (born September 13, 1947), also known as Geronimo ji-Jaga, is a former 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 vacated. 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 Morgan City, Louisiana, where he 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 proved useful. He rose to be Minister of Defense.

[edit] Murder charges

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, initially identified another man as the killer. 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.

[edit] Prison

Pratt always maintained his innocence. During his incarceration he studied law and steadfastly built a defense. Pratt was represented by attorneys Stuart Hanlon and Johnnie Cochran in his original trial. Together with William Paparian, Hanlon contributed much to the appeals that later led to Pratt's conviction being vacated.

[edit] Murder conviction vacated

Pratt's conviction was vacated on June 10, 1997, on the grounds that the prosecution had not disclosed that a key witness against Pratt, Julio Butler, was an informant for both the FBI and the LAPD. [2]

[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

  1. ^ LA 157-3436, the partially redacted COINTELPRO file on Geronimo Pratt
  2. ^ In re Pratt, 82 Cal

[edit] Bibliography

[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
Languages