U.S. files voter-intimidation lawsuit

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit yesterday against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members over what authorities allege was Election Day voter intimidation outside a North Philadelphia polling place.

The suit, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, alleges that two men - identified by the Justice Department as Minister King Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson - intimidated voters on Nov. 4 by standing outside the polling place at 12th Street and Fairmount Avenue wearing party uniforms.

A video of the incident showing Shabazz brandishing a police-style baton was widely distributed on the Internet.

"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to protect the fundamental right to vote and the Department takes allegations of voter intimidation seriously," acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker said.

The lawsuit seeks a court order barring party members from being sent to, or displaying weapons at, polling locations.

The party did not respond to a request for comment last night.

In an interview Nov. 4, Jackson said he had been there to protect voters.

"I'm making sure that media agitation does not disturb voters," he said.

In a statement posted on its Web site after the incident, the party said it did not engage in voter intimidation. "To be clear, the New Black Panther Party does not now nor ever has engaged in any form of voter intimidation," the statement said.

After the election, party chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz told Fox News that the men were there to provide security because people wearing Nazi insignia had been intimidating voters earlier in the day.

According to the Justice Department, the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which claims active chapters nationwide, is distinct from the Black Panther Party that Bobby Seale founded in the 1960s.