Black Panther Leader H. Rap Brown Dies in Prison at 82 Amid Ongoing Questions Over Fair Trial

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H. Rap Brown, a prominent figure in the Black Power movement and former leader of the Black Panther Party, has passed away at 82 while serving a life sentence in a North Carolina prison. Brown's widow, Karima Al-Amin, confirmed his death on Monday, revealing that he had been battling cancer. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Brown's life was marked by his advocacy for justice and equality in African American communities. He once famously stated that 'violence is as American as cherry pie,' emphasizing the need for self-defense against systemic oppression. As the chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and minister of justice for the Black Panther Party, Brown played a significant role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. However, his later years were marred by controversy after he was convicted of murdering a Georgia sheriff's deputy in 2000. Brown maintained his innocence, claiming that he was framed due to his past involvement with the Black Panther Party. His lawyers have pointed to newly uncovered evidence, including FBI surveillance files and inconsistencies in eyewitness accounts, to raise serious concerns about the fairness of his trial. Brown's family has long questioned the legitimacy of his conviction, and his lawyers continue to seek justice on his behalf. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take his case in 2020, leaving many unanswered questions about the events surrounding his conviction. Brown's legacy as a champion of social justice continues to be felt, and his passing serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in the United States.