In 1978, Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt joined the Black Panthers, and rose up the ranks to lead the Los Angeles chapter.
But because he was a “powerful leader,” he was targeted - an FBI informant within the Panthers eventually took him down.
When a SWAT team raided Pratt’s home late one night, they had every intention of assassinating him. Their vile plan failed.
Instead, they arrested him for murder. At the trial, the informant lied, and the FBI denied having proof that Pratt was actually hundreds of miles away when the murder occured.
He was sentenced to life in prison.
While there, Johnnie Cochrane - the lawyer later famous for his defense of OJ Simpson - championed his cause for years.
After discovery of the informant's lies, the FBI’s lies, and the truth of Pratt’s innocence, Cochrane pushed for release. But the criminal justice system didn’t want to loosen its grip on this innocent Black man.
After 27 years in prison, Pratt was finally freed, and Cochrane helped him win a $4.5 million lawsuit. He eventually retired to a small village in Tanzania, where he lived until his death in 2014.
Despite the odds - the entire FBI was against them, and willing to lie and cheat to keep Pratt behind bars - Cochrane and Pratt eventually prevailed.
This kind of camaraderie and resilience are absolutely necessary if we as a people are ever going to achieve liberation!