"In view of the present status of the BPP in the Omaha Division, it is not felt that intelligent recommendations can be made at this time regarding counterintelligence measures aimed at crippling the BPP. This matter will continue to be closely followed by Omaha."
By now, the Omaha FBI office was ordered to make status updates every two weeks to headquarters and continued filing reports without proposing any new COINTELPRO actions. The Omaha SAC reported to Hoover on January 8, 1969 that the Panthers had not been meeting regularly at the party headquarters located at 3120 North 24th Street. Further, "None of the known members of the BPP in Omaha Office are considered to have a propensity for violence."
Finally, after months of no COINTELPRO proposals, Hoover sent a brusque note to the Omaha office. "Omaha advises in its letter of 1-13-69 that no recommendations concerning captioned program will be submitted until such time as more information is received concerning the activities of the Black Panther Party in Omaha and Des Moines. Omaha is being instructed to continue submitting the biweekly letter under captioned program."
The regular reports from the Omaha FBI to Hoover continued. On March 10, 1969, the Omaha SAC was able to report "a former lieutenant in the Omaha chapter of the BPP considered this chapter to be almost out of existence."
In the April 21, 1969 report to Hoover the Omaha SAC noted that "there have been recent indications that this group is attempting to reorganize." A warning was also given that in Iowa "the Des Moines mayor and some other civic officials look upon this organization as merely another underprivileged minority group worthy of community assistance."
The May 19, 1969 memo to Hoover contained some alarming news, the Panthers were organizing in the high schools. "This matter will continue to receive close attention."
"The BPP in Omaha, as noted in referenced letter, recently sponsored the organization of Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) at Technical High School, Omaha….At a BPP rally held 5/18/69 in an Omaha public park BPP and BANTU officials called on the Negro community to observe 5/19/69 as a holiday. [Omaha was birthplace of Malcolm X] Approximately 60 percent of the Negro student body at Tech High School complied with this request and were absent from school on that date."
On June 2, 1969, the Omaha SAC added BANTU to the list of COINTELPRO targets. "This matter will continue to receive close attention and suggestions for counterintelligence activity against the Black Panther Party, BANTU and the leadership of these organizations at a future date."
July and August 1969 memos addressed the lack of meetings, small membership and eviction from party headquarters for non-payment of rent. The Omaha SAC noted it looked like the local party chapter was being reorganized and linked with Des Moines and Kansas City chapters.
The September 22, 1969 memo to Hoover gave details on the reorganization of the Black Panthers. "In late August, 1969, an organization known as United Front Against Fascism (UFAF) was formed in Omaha and this organization has been described as a replacement for the BPP. The activities of this group are being closely followed."
No activity was reported to Hoover in the fall of 1969. In December, there was a development. "The United Front Against Fascism (UFAF), the successor to the BPP in Omaha, Nebraska, is composed of approximately 8 to 12 members and its only activity to date has been the sale of "The Black Panther," the BPP newspaper, and the publication of a UFAF newsletter."
Hoover had enough of the inaction from the Omaha FBI office. On December 10, 1969, Hoover sent orders for Omaha to do something against the Panthers.
"While the activities appear to be limited in the Omaha area, it does not necessarily follow that effective counterintelligence measures cannot be taken. As long as there are BPP activities, you should be giving consideration to that type of counterintelligence measure which would best disrupt existing activities. It would appear some type of counterintelligence aimed at the disruption of the publication and distribution of their literature is in order. It is also assumed that of the eight to twelve members, one or two must certainly be in a position of leadership. You should give consideration to counterintelligence measures directed against these leaders in an effort to weaken or destroy their positions Bureau has noted that you have not submitted any concrete counterintelligence proposals in recent months. Evaluate your approach to this program and insure that it is given the imaginative attention necessary to produce effective results. Handle promptly and submit your proposals for approval."
The Omaha FBI office stepped up efforts against Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa. The campaign against the two Panther leaders came to a head in August 1970 when they were charged with the murder on an Omaha police officer. Hoover ordered a lab report withheld on a tape recording of a 911 call that lured officer Larry Minard to his August 17, 1970 death. Both men were convicted of murder without the jury knowing they were targets of the FBI clandestine operation. Nor did the jury know about the withheld evidence ordered by Hoover.
Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa were sentenced to life imprisonment and are confined at the maximum-security Nebraska State Penitentiary where they continue to proclaim their innocence. Poindexter has a new trial request pending before the Nebraska Supreme Court over the withheld evidence. No date for a decision has been announced.
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