Black Panthers Armed at Capitol: May 2, 1967

Historic photograph from May 2, 1967, when Black Panther Party members, led by Bobby Seale, marched into the California State Capitol in Sacramento carrying loaded rifles and shotguns. This bold action was a protest against the Mulford Act, legislation designed to disarm the Panthers by making it illegal to carry loaded firearms in public. The Panthers, dressed in their iconic black berets and leather jackets with bandoliers of ammunition, exercised their constitutional right to bear arms while challenging racist gun control laws targeting Black communities. This dramatic demonstration shocked the nation and brought international attention to the Black Panther Party. The image captures a pivotal moment when the Panthers asserted their right to armed self-defense on the steps of state power itself, available in three sizes with your choice of black or silver aluminum frame.