'Old' Black Panthers denounce 'new' group

PHILADELPHIA, D.C., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The heirs of the original U.S. Black Panther Party say a new group going by the name are "exploiting" the group's name and history.

In an undated statement posted on its Web site Monday, the Huey P. Newton Foundation says that two militants claiming to belong to the New Black Panther Party who appeared at a Philadelphia polling place in November -- one of whom holding a billy club -- have no connection to the 1960s revolutionary group.

"As guardian of the true history of the Black Panther Party, the Foundation, which includes former leading members of the party, denounces this group's exploitation of the party's name and history," the statement said. "Failing to find its own legitimacy in the black community, this band would graft the party's name upon itself, which we condemn."

The Philadelphia Daily News reported that a federal lawsuit against three New Black Panther party members was dropped in May.

The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an inquiry into why the lawsuit was dismissed, but Reps. Lamar Smith R-Texas, and Frank Wolf, R-Va., have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder questioning the sincerity of the effort, The Washington Times reported.