Life with the Black Panthers

Huey Newton in jail, with his attorney. He was jailed in 1968 for killing a policeman, but the charge was dropped a few years later. Photograph: Howard Bingham

'Free Huey' protesters outside the county courthouse. When Huey's trial began on 15 July 1968, 5,000 demonstrators and 450 Black Panthers gathered to show support in front of the Almeda County Courthouse. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Kathleen Cleaver and husband Black Panther 'Minister of Information' Eldridge Cleaver. The couple fled the US in 1968, aftter he violated a parole order, returning in 1974. Roday Kathleen is a law lecturer in Atlanta. Eldridge died in 1998. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Kathleen Cleaver and Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale (right) at a 'Free Huey' rally in Oakland, California, in the summer of 1968. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Female Black Panthers singing in unison in front of the Alameda County Courthouse. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Howard L Bingham and writer Gilbert Moore, who were sent to cover Newton's story for Life magazine. Photograph: Howard Bingham

A group of Black Panthers relax in a park in Oakland, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham

A row of Black Panthers pretend to shoot at a motorcycle cop outside the Alameda County Courthouse in Oakland, the scene of Newton's trial. Newton was shot dead by a drug dealer in 1989. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Black Panthers outside St Augustine's Episcopal Church in Oakland, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Black Panthers in formation in Oakland, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Bobby Seale leading Black Panther drills in Oakland, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Eldridge Cleaver signing copies of his book, Soul on Ice. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Police arresting Black Panther member Joe Hicks in Los Angeles. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Police beating a young man in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham

Kathleen Neal Cleaver in San Francisco, California. Photograph: Howard Bingham photos