The Afrikan Student Union will present a series of events today in commemoration of Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins, two Black Panthers killed in Campbell Hall 39 years ago.
Carter and Huggins were students at UCLA during the pilot year of the High Potential Program, which sought to enroll promising black students who did not meet traditional requirements such as GPA. Both men were shot Jan. 17, 1969, during a meeting about the formation of what was then the black studies department.
ASU Chair Christina Walter said the union decided in August to restart the tradition of commemorating the lives of the Carter and Huggins. Walter said that the event will “help promote campus awareness … of the legacy that does exist on this campus.”
Among the activities planned for today are a march to Campbell Hall from Bruin Plaza and speeches by former Black Panther Party leader Elaine Brown and Huggin’s widow, Ericka Huggins.
In the afternoon, Brown and Huggins, along with several professors and community and student leaders, will lead workshops focused on higher education and awareness about community conditions that may exist as barriers to progress.
The event will conclude with a night program featuring guest speakers.
Compiled by Audrey Kuo, Bruin senior staff. For coverage of the event, please visit dailybruin.com on Friday.