Luke LaManna

A few recruits had even been roughed up. And on top of that, the headquarters phone lines were being tapped. Deborah knew the cops saw the Panthers as a threat to society. Many Panthers wondered if a larger government agency was behind it all, like the FBI. A lot of the college chapter thought there could already be an undercover cop or FBI informant among their ranks. They had to be careful.

After the class wrapped up, Deborah headed upstairs to Fred's office. She knocked, and the chapter's head of security, Bill O'Neill, let her in. Debra had mixed feelings about Bill. He was a loudmouth who drove a fancy car and had a big ego. But he'd been with the chapter since its early days and took his job seriously.

After the class wrapped up, Deborah headed upstairs to Fred's office. She knocked, and the chapter's head of security, Bill O'Neill, let her in. Debra had mixed feelings about Bill. He was a loudmouth who drove a fancy car and had a big ego. But he'd been with the chapter since its early days and took his job seriously.

So much so that last year he tried to build a full-scale electric chair inside Panther headquarters. Bill said it would scare off any undercover FBI informants trying to mess with the Panthers. Debra doubted whether the chair actually worked, but Bill said that didn't matter. It was just there for intimidation. In short, Bill was a handful.

So much so that last year he tried to build a full-scale electric chair inside Panther headquarters. Bill said it would scare off any undercover FBI informants trying to mess with the Panthers. Debra doubted whether the chair actually worked, but Bill said that didn't matter. It was just there for intimidation. In short, Bill was a handful.

He was always trying to convince Fred to stir up some kind of trouble. But Fred was good at keeping him in check. And in the end, Bill was fiercely loyal to Fred. So Fred used Bill as a personal bodyguard, too. Deborah stepped into the office and asked everybody but Fred to leave. Everyone filed out of the room until it was just her, Fred and Bill.

He was always trying to convince Fred to stir up some kind of trouble. But Fred was good at keeping him in check. And in the end, Bill was fiercely loyal to Fred. So Fred used Bill as a personal bodyguard, too. Deborah stepped into the office and asked everybody but Fred to leave. Everyone filed out of the room until it was just her, Fred and Bill.

Deborah smiled and assured Bill that Fred wasn't in any danger. Bill looked to Fred, who nodded that it was OK to go. Deborah took a deep breath and told Fred the news. She was pregnant. She knew they'd only been dating a few months, but they were going to be a family. Fred looked stunned. Then he raced over to kiss her. Deborah burst into tears. She was both excited and terrified.

Deborah smiled and assured Bill that Fred wasn't in any danger. Bill looked to Fred, who nodded that it was OK to go. Deborah took a deep breath and told Fred the news. She was pregnant. She knew they'd only been dating a few months, but they were going to be a family. Fred looked stunned. Then he raced over to kiss her. Deborah burst into tears. She was both excited and terrified.

Becoming a mother was daunting enough. But she and Fred led risky lives. It was dangerous to be a panther, and even more so to be Fred's partner. It would be a full-time job keeping the new baby safe, but she decided that it was worth the risk. A month later, on May 27th, 1969, Debra sat in the back of a downtown courtroom, racked with nerves.

Becoming a mother was daunting enough. But she and Fred led risky lives. It was dangerous to be a panther, and even more so to be Fred's partner. It would be a full-time job keeping the new baby safe, but she decided that it was worth the risk. A month later, on May 27th, 1969, Debra sat in the back of a downtown courtroom, racked with nerves.

About a year earlier, Fred had been arrested and charged with robbery. The police claimed that he stole $71 worth of ice cream bars from an ice cream truck, and handed them out to the neighborhood kids. They said the ice cream vendor identified Fred's picture in a photo lineup. Fred denied the charges but was arrested anyway, and today they were awaiting his sentence.

About a year earlier, Fred had been arrested and charged with robbery. The police claimed that he stole $71 worth of ice cream bars from an ice cream truck, and handed them out to the neighborhood kids. They said the ice cream vendor identified Fred's picture in a photo lineup. Fred denied the charges but was arrested anyway, and today they were awaiting his sentence.

This was just the Chicago PD's pathetic attempt to take Fred off the streets and put him behind bars. He was the glue that held the Black Panthers together. They probably figured that if Fred went away, his chapter would fall apart. The judge entered the courtroom and Deborah's heart started pounding. She glanced at Bill O'Neill, who seemed just as upset as she was.

This was just the Chicago PD's pathetic attempt to take Fred off the streets and put him behind bars. He was the glue that held the Black Panthers together. They probably figured that if Fred went away, his chapter would fall apart. The judge entered the courtroom and Deborah's heart started pounding. She glanced at Bill O'Neill, who seemed just as upset as she was.

He couldn't protect Fred from what was about to come. The other Panthers in the room looked equally nervous. The judge read over Fred's crime and the evidence against him. Then he delivered the sentence. Fred would serve two to five years in prison. The Panthers around the courtroom jumped to their feet, yelling as the police led Fred away in handcuffs. Deborah was horrified.

He couldn't protect Fred from what was about to come. The other Panthers in the room looked equally nervous. The judge read over Fred's crime and the evidence against him. Then he delivered the sentence. Fred would serve two to five years in prison. The Panthers around the courtroom jumped to their feet, yelling as the police led Fred away in handcuffs. Deborah was horrified.

Their baby would be born in seven months and Fred would be gone. Aside from her and the baby, Deborah worried that without Fred, the Chicago PD's plan would come true and their chapter really would fall apart. There was only one thing to do. She had to appeal the conviction. Two months later, on July 31st, Deborah turned the corner on West Monroe Street, walking toward Panther Headquarters.

Their baby would be born in seven months and Fred would be gone. Aside from her and the baby, Deborah worried that without Fred, the Chicago PD's plan would come true and their chapter really would fall apart. There was only one thing to do. She had to appeal the conviction. Two months later, on July 31st, Deborah turned the corner on West Monroe Street, walking toward Panther Headquarters.

It had been a rough few months without Fred. He was capable of juggling a hundred things at once and rallying a room to action. Without him, it was hard to keep everything going. Meetings were unfocused, the chapter lacked direction, and new recruits were already beginning to fall away.