At least 100 or more people braved heavy rain and winds Sunday to attend the dedication of a bronze bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton.
In commemoration of the Black Panther Party’s 55th Anniversary, the sculpture created by local artist Dana King is the first permanent public art piece honoring the Black Panther Party in Oakland.
“It is a rare gift to be able to work closely with someone who knew the subject of my work,” King said. “It was Fredrika’s openness that helped guide my hands and my heart in creating the work that I did.”
The unveiling took place during a block party celebration hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, which featured live entertainment by local Grammy-award winner Fantastic Negrito and others, and appearances by city officials including District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Newton’s widow, Fredrika Newton, older brother Melvin Newton and Fred Hampton Jr. were also among the speakers.
Fredrika Newton, co-founder of the foundation, was emotional and grateful during the ceremony.
“With this sculpture of Huey, we are writing a new chapter for the party where we are finally claiming public spaces to declare that the Black Panther Party were vanguards and protectors of the communities they served and that their contributions made a difference,” Newton said.
“That Huey will continue to look over the city he loved feels incredibly powerful right now. He’s home.”
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fredrika Newton, left, and sculptor Dana King react during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and Newton’s former husband Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. To the right is Oakland District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Oakland District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf are seen during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: People hold banners as they attend the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Sculptor Dana King during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fredrika Newton, left, and sculptor Dana King pause before unveiling a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and Newton’s former husband, Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. To the right is Oakland District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Melvin Newton, older brother of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton, speaks during the dedication of a bust in memory of his brother on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Angela Tucker, left, of Oakland, and others listen during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fredrika Newton speaks during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and her former husband Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fredrika Newton unveils a bust sculpted by artist Dana King in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and her former husband Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: A woman dances during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: A woman holds a banner during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fred Hampton Junior, Fredrika Newton and sculptor Dana King, from left, react during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and Newton’s former husband Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. To the right is Oakland District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Oakland District 3 city Councilmember Carol Fife, center, and others listen to speakers during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: A woman dances during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: Fredrika Newton, right, and sculptor Dana King embrace during the dedication of a bust in memory of Black Panther Party co-founder and her former husband Dr. Huey P. Newton on Mandela Parkway at 9th Street in West Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The event was hosted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Black Panthers. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
