They Huey P. Newton Reader

tria/I 115
Jensen made another mistake by examining some of my speeches and
writings and reading into them exhortations to violence. On this tack
he quickly got out of his depth; he did not understand the way language
is used among Blacks and often took literally what was meant
symbolically. Every time he brought up something I had written or said
that he thought sounded dangerous. I patiently explained what it meant
in terms of organizing the Black community. In this way, I was able to
describe to the jury the goals the Parry had for Black people. I had hoped
to do this-to take the initiative from Jensen and develop certain political
points in the courtroom. It was surprising how often I succeeded.
Finally, Jensen got around to the morning of October 28. He came
meticulously prepared, armed with photographs and maps, to present
his version of what had happened. Leading me carefully through the
whole incident, he had me describe my every move and gesture. At one
point I was even asked to demonstrate with him how Frey had "smeared"
me. He also chose to bring up an encounter that Bobby Seale and I
had had with two policemen in 1966, because he believed the event
related to the shooting of Officer Frey. As Jensen described this incident,
I had gotten into a fight with a policeman and had tried to take
his gun away from him. If Jensen had been able to prove this, he could
have used it as a foreshadowing of what had happened in 1967 and as
evidence that I had done the same thing with Frey. I do not know where
he got his information, but I pointed out to the court that it was on
record that one of the policemen who was hassling us in 1966 had
admitted in court that he was drunk when he met Bobby and me. Jensen
said, "Mr. Newton, isn't it a fact that you entered a plea of guilty to battery
upon that police officer, the man in uniform?" I answered, "I
accepted the deal that the district attorney's department offered."
"I see. And you pled guilty to a battery on a policeman?"
"I think it was simple assault."
(Sarcastically) "Is that right? Mr. Newton, did you see anyone shoot
John Frey?"
"No."
"Did you see anyone shoot Officer Heanes?"
"No. I did not."
"You have no explanation at all of how John Frey was killed?"
"None whatsoever."
"I have no further questions."