BPP Elder Aaron Dixon announces Black Panthers will break formal ties with Paul Birdsong; Birdsong announces formation of "Blacklions"

You can see BPP elder Aaron Dixon's comments here: https://x.com/OGBlackRedGuard/status/2016183889564152308

"Chairman" Paul Birdsong's IG is here and the top 3 posts center on the formation of the Blacklion Party, all posted in the last day: https://www.instagram.com/chairmanpaulbirdsong/?hl=en

Mixed feelings on all of this. I see Dixon's call for Birdsong to stop posting on social media and to adhere to standards that were established in the 60s and 70s as potentially harmful, out of touch, maybe even fatally puritanical. On the other, an organization like BPP has a right to expect the highest standards of accountability of all its members. His message ends with solidarity and support for Birdsong, and the hopes that he'll continue to organize and do good work.

In spite of what many people have been lead to believe about the BPP, they were extremely disciplined, organized, and educated. This isn't terribly surprising. They knew then as well as now that optics will always be against them, and that PR management is to be handled carefully. Certainly in the current milieux of American fascism, Dixon could be feeling a heightened sense of awareness around this. Maybe even a pang of self-preservation.

The work of organizing will continue. Power to the people.