Dallas Huey P. Newton Gun Club Plans Open Carry-Type Rally
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - They've lost faith in police. Now a new group is planning to grab their guns and patrol the streets of south Dallas.
The group behind the event calls itself the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, a reference to one of the founders of the Black Panther Party.
On Wednesday, the group will be walking down the sidewalk along Martin Luther King Boulevard, for two-and-a half miles, in what organizers call an "armed self-defense patrol" of the area.
A spokesperson, responding to the group's e-mail account, told CBS 11 News that between 15 and 30 people are expected to participate in the first event scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Charles Goodson, who identified himself as the organization's leader, said the event would be similar to an Open Carry rally.
A news release sent out Tuesday said the gathering would be a little different than what has been seen before. Club members said "black and brown residents of the city of Dallas" would participate in the patrol.
Goodson said he is curious to see if they are treated the same as other Open Carry organizations, which have attracted predominantly white protestors.
The Huey P. Newton Gun Club website references recent police shootings, saying the incidents have eradicated public trust.
On the site the group sets out a list of so called demands that call for an "immediate end to police brutality" and says they assert "the right of the people, particularly those of color, to bear arms and protect themselves."
The group also criticizes the media for its portrayal of alleged victims of police brutality. Members declined any on-camera interviews, citing security concerns.
Sources tell CBS 11, the Dallas Police Department is planning to meet with the group to listen to their concerns.
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