Michael Tabor (activist)

Michael Aloysius Tabor (December 13, 1946 – October 17, 2010) was an American political activist and member of the Black Panther Party who was charged and tried as part of an alleged conspiracy to bomb public buildings in New York City and kill members of the New York Police Department.

Michael Tabor
Michael Aloysius Tabor
Born	Michael Aloysius Tabor (1946-12-13)December 13, 1946 Harlem, New York, US
Died	October 17, 2010(2010-10-17) (aged 63) Lusaka, Zambia
Other names	Cetewayo
Occupation	Activist
Years active	1970–72
Organization	Black Panther Party
Spouse(s)	Connie Matthews(?–1972) Priscilla Matanda(?–2010)
Children	4

Four months into the trial Tabor and another defendant fled to Algeria. Despite his ultimate acquittal on all charges, Tabor remained in exile in Africa until his death, never returning to the United States.

Biography

Tabor was born on December 13, 1946, in Harlem and joined the Black Panther Party while in his teens. He was raised Catholic and was educated by the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.^[1]

He later took the name "Cetewayo", in reference to the 19th century Zulu king.^[2] In 1969, he authored the pamphlet Capitalism Plus Dope Equals Genocide.^[3] In 1970, Tabor and 12 other members of the Black Panthers were charged for allegedly plotting to kill police officers and to plant bombs in New York City commercial and public buildings, including the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Support for the prosecution's case came from undercover officers who claimed that the defendants had developed plans for a series of bombings and had conducted classes to instruct those participating in the plot how to construct explosive devices.^[4]

Together with fellow defendant Richard Moore, Tabor failed to appear at their trial in February 1971, forfeited $150,000 in bail and were declared fugitives. Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton called Moore and Tabor "enemies of the people" for evading justice while on trial and putting the other defendants and the party at risk.^[5] Connie Matthews, Newton's former secretary and Tabor's wife, also left the country and was said to have taken valuable records with her.^[5] The two finally surfaced in Algeria the following month together with Eldridge Cleaver.^[6]

The New York Times published a lengthy letter from Moore on the day before the verdicts were read explaining that they had fled the U.S. because they feared that their lives were at risk.^[7] On May 13, 1971, after an eight-month-long trial, the jury in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan delivered an acquittal on all 156 counts.^[8] In a statement issued from Algiers, Tabor stated that the trial represented "an attempted railroad and that the defendants' rights were flagrantly violated" and said that he was "overjoyed that the brothers are free".^[4]

Algeria expelled Tabor and he and Matthews moved to Zambia in 1972, where Mike hosted a drive-time radio show on 105.1, "The Happy World of 5 FM" in Lusaka Zambia, and was known for his rhyming introduction in a deep baritone, "Rhyming the time at the sound of the chime" at which point he would ring a small bell that he always kept by his side. Mike told others in Lusaka that he had been a Communications Director for the Black Panthers, and that he came to Zambia in the 70s because it was the seat of the African National Congress or ANC. Tabor wrote about politics.

Despite repeated requests, Tabor refused to return to the United States. He died at age 63 in Lusaka, Zambia, on October 17, 2010, due to complications of multiple strokes. He was survived by his second wife, Priscilla Matanda, as well as by a daughter and three sons.^[4]

References

1. Williams, Shannen Dee (2022). Subversive habits : Black Catholic nuns in the long African American freedom struggle. Durham. ISBN 978-1-4780-2281-7. OCLC 1294510576.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
2. . www.abujacity.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.
3. "Capitalism Plus Dope Equals Genocide".
4. Hevesi, Dennis (October 24, 2010). "Michael Tabor, Black Panther Who Fled to Algeria, Dies at 63". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
5. Asbury, Edith Evans (February 10, 1971). "Newton Denounces 2 Missing Panthers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
6. . Time. March 22, 1971. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
7. Moore, Richard (May 12, 1971). "A Black Panther Speaks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
8. Asbury, Edith Evans (May 14, 1971). "Black Panther Party Members Freed After Being Cleared of Charges". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2023.