Angela Davis
In the late ’60s, Angela Davis’s love for Blackness, equal rights for women and teaching truth in her courses of literature, philosophy and political theory at UCLA was enough to have Ronald Reagan, Governor at the time, request that she be fired. The demand was unjust as Davis was removed due to her social activism and connection to the Black Panther Party. Davis position at UCLA was reinstated after she challenged her removal in court. Shortly after her position was reinstated, Davis was intensely spied on by UCLA administration leading up to a decision by the board to not renew her contract due to her political dealings.
Davis was accused of providing a gun that killed four people during an alleged kidnapping of three prisoners, which Davis was also accused of orchestrating. Davis was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List. She was arrested in NYC and sent to California without the option of bail until a massive, “Free Angela Davis” movement spawned. She was given the option of bail and soul singer Aretha Franklin paid Davis’s bail. Her trial received massive attention. During the trial, Davis openly explained that her involvement in her quest to aid struggling minorities and women made her a target. Angela Davis was acquitted on all charges. National Alliance against Racism and Political Repression became the name of her defense team as a cry to further fight racism and political silencing.
