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Geronimo Pratt (born Elmer Pratt, September 13, 1947 – June 2, 2011), also known as Geronimo ji-Jaga and Geronimo ji-Jaga Pratt, was a high-ranking member of the Black Panther Party. The Federal Bureau of Investigation targeted him in a COINTELPRO operation, which aimed to "neutralize Pratt as an effective BPP functionary."〔(LA 157-3436 ), the partially redacted COINTELPRO file on Geronimo Pratt〕 Pratt was tried and convicted of the kidnap and murder of Caroline Olsen in 1972, and spent 27 years in prison, eight of which were in solitary confinement. Pratt was freed in 1997 when his conviction was vacated. He was working as a human rights activist up until the time of his death. Pratt was also the godfather of the late rapper Tupac Shakur. He died of a heart attack in his adopted country, Tanzania, on June 3, 2011. ==Early years== Elmer Pratt was born in Morgan City, Louisiana, where his father was in the scrap metal business. Pratt was a star quarterback at Sumpter Williams High School who later served two combat tours as a soldier in the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of sergeant and earning two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.〔Douglas Martin, ("Elmer G. Pratt, Jailed Panther Leader, Dies at 63" ) ''The New York Times (June 3, 2011).'' Retrieved June 4, 2011''.〕〔Robert J. Lopez, (Geronimo Ji Jaga dies at 63; former Black Panther whose murder conviction was overturned ) ''LA Times (June 3, 2011).'' Retrieved June 5, 2011.〕 He later moved to Los Angeles. After he served his two tours, Pratt studied political science at UCLA,〔 using a grant provided by the GI Bill. Pratt was recruited into the Panthers by Bunchy Carter and John Huggins.〔Edward J. Boyer, ("Past Haunts Ex-Panther in New Life : Julius Butler's testimony helped convict Geronimo Pratt of murder. Now, the First A.M.E. Church official's prominence upsets some who say Butler was an FBI informant—a claim he denies." ) ''The Los Angeles Times'' (May 24, 1994). Retrieved June 4, 2011.〕 When Pratt joined the Black Panthers, his years in the army proved useful. He rose to be Minister of Defense of the local organization, after two of its officers were killed. In 1971, Geronimo Ji Jaga's wife Saundra was killed while 8 months pregnant and left in a ditch. The murder was blamed on a Party schism between supporters of Huey Newton and those of Eldridge Cleaver, with Geronimo Ji Jaga and his wife belonging to the Cleaver faction. Geronimo later understood this to be an F.B.I. lie. Saundra's murder was unrelated to the Black Panther Party.〔"Slaying May Herald Panther Showdown". ''The Los Angeles Times'' (November 13, 1971).〕〔Hugh Pearson, ''The Shadow of the Panther'', p. 444.〕 By January 1970, the Los Angeles FBI office had sought permission from headquarters for a counterintelligence effort "designed to challenge the legitimacy of the authority exercised" by Pratt in the local Panthers. Another FBI memo dated five months later noted that the Bureau was constantly considering counterintelligence measures designed to neutralize Pratt "as an effective (Panther) functionary."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Geronimo Pratt」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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