Pete O'Neal
Pete O'Neal (b. Felix "Pete" O'Neal, Jr., 1940) was the chairman of the Kansas City chapter of the Black Panther Party. On October 30, 1969, he was arrested for the transporting of a gun across state lines (under a law implemented only two weeks prior to his arrest). He fled to Algeria, a year later and then to Tanzania, where he still lives in exile. Together with his wife, Charlotte, he is the co-founder of the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC) in the village of Imbaseni, near the northern city of Arusha, Tanzania. The UAACC is a center focusing on healing the community by providing a diverse array of free art, music, film and other classes to members of the community. The UAACC also serves as a hostel for people travelling through the area—offering several "huts" with bunk beds. The center has been frequented by several celebrities, American politicians, study abroad programs, students, documentary film makers, and artists. Pete and Charlotte provide numerous jobs to locals of the community and the center is entirely run by local Tanzanians.
O'Neal's family still resides in the Kansas City area. He has not seen his 96-year-old mother nor his children from his first marriage since his exile 46 years ago. He is a third cousin to US Representative Emmanuel Cleaver. Since 1991, Cleaver and others have unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a pardon for O'Neal, and have taken the issue with some urgency to outgoing President Barack Obama.[1][2]
His life and exile in Tanzania is the subject of the documentary 'A Panther in Africa', by Aaron Matthews.[3]
References
- ↑ McKinley Jr, James C. (23 November 1997). "A Black Panther's Mellow Exile: Farming in Africa". The New York Times.
- ↑ New pardon push for Kansas City Black Panther founder Pete O'Neal living in exile in Africa, KSHB, Andy Alcock, April 5, 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ↑ POV - A Panther in Africa
External links
- UAACC official site
- Video featuring the UAACC with appearance by Pete O'Neal
- Christopher Goffard (5 February 2012). "Retired rebel" (PDF). Gulf Times.
- "Ex-Black Panther's self-exile in Tanzania". The EastAfrican. 13 February 2012.
- Daniel Dickinson (3 November 2003). "Panther pursues his goals in Africa". BBC.
- James C. McKinley Jr (23 November 1997). "A Black Panther's Mellow Exile: Farming in Africa". The New York Times.