AT A GLANCE
- Members identifying as the Philadelphia chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense appeared at an anti-ICE protest at City Hall.
- The group says it is providing community protection amid heightened tensions following the killing of an unarmed U.S. citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
- Chapter chairman Paul Birdsong says the group is focused on protecting vulnerable communities and holding federal officials accountable.
Black Panther Party Philadelphia Chapter Shows Up as ICE Tensions Escalate
As tensions between the public and federal immigration authorities continue to rise, members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense made a visible and controversial appearance in Philadelphia, positioning themselves as protectors at a recent anti-ICE demonstration.
The group surfaced outside Philadelphia City Hall, where protesters gathered amid national outrage following the fatal shooting of an unarmed U.S. citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. Dressed in black bomber jackets with the party’s panther logo, berets, and openly carrying firearms they are legally permitted to possess, members said their presence was meant to deter violence and protect demonstrators.
Footage circulating online shows the group standing in formation while explaining their role to onlookers. Paul Birdsong, who identified himself as chairman of the Philadelphia chapter, said the outcome in Minneapolis could have been different if similar community protection had been in place.
“That wouldn’t have happened if we were there,” Birdsong told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Not a single person would have gotten touched.”
During a separate appearance on local television, Birdsong doubled down on that message, warning federal agents against using force at protests. He later told PhillyFAMETV that the group is prepared to stand between law enforcement and the public if necessary.
The reemergence of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense has drawn comparisons to the original organization founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California. The original Panthers were known for armed patrols monitoring police behavior as well as community programs like free breakfast initiatives, health clinics, and political education.
Birdsong says the modern iteration follows that same framework—though with a sharper edge.
“We’re the same Panther Party from back in the day, but we’re a little more aggressive now,” he said in an interview. The group is calling for the abolition of ICE and accountability from Donald Trump and his administration.
Birdsong also urged residents in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations to take active steps to protect their neighbors, including escorting them when possible. In a video posted to his Instagram following the protest, he addressed widespread misinformation about the Panthers’ ideology.
“The Black Panther Party is not a Black nationalist organization,” he said, emphasizing that the group identifies as internationalist and aligns itself with oppressed people across racial and cultural lines. He distinguished the organization from other groups that use the Panther name but promote different ideologies.
Before the video wrapped he added, “All power to the people, no power to the pigs.”
