Black Panthers vs Fox News Reporter At Polling Place In Philadelphia (VIDEO)

Fox News' Rick Leventhal reported live from the polling place where Black Panthers were allegedly intimidating voters Tuesday afternoon.

A University of Pennsylvania student reported that a Black Panther wielding a "night stick" intimidated voters at a polling place in Philadelphia (video below). The Black Panther allegedly claimed he was "tired of white supremacy." An Obama volunteer on the scene disputed this account, saying there was no intimidation of voters occurring at the polling place.

When Leventhal went to investigate, he got into a confrontation with a Black Panther — a certified poll watcher — who denied the story and told Leventhal in no uncertain terms that he was not welcome at the polling place. Leventhal disputed his claims, citing election law which allows him to be within 10 feet of the entrance.

Leventhal could not confirm that the Black Panthers were on the scene intimidating voters, saying, "There's been no disturbances that I'm aware of, except what we've encountered here. But again, I want to make very clear, we don't know that any voters were denied entrance to this polling facility. We don't know that anyone was intimidated to the point that they decided not to vote here, but that was what some people were concerned might be happening with two Black Panthers, one of them holding a nightstick, out front."

Watch:

Watch the original student video below:

Read more about Election 2008 coverage here.

Comments

[pleasethinkcritically]

Umm...what? They are not helping. I don't understand. Anyway...a few hours left! If you haven't voted please do so immediately to offset these bozos!!

[Keating5member]

Its not over yet! Wait untill the elections are over and you'll hear crime stories coming from the "other" side!

[jimthefireman]

In this case the camera phone IS a weapon, and a potent one. There is no problem with certified election observers being present and I applaud the Panthers for being there. The decision to carry a night stick was a foolish and naive one. Once again the power of the ordinary citizen to do things which previously only media could do is demonstrated. It certainly needs to be a lesson learned.
For decades it was the neocons who wielded the intimidatory power. No reasonable person with a sense of history would feel in any danger from this pair, but also no reasonable person would believe that he could not be intimidating to some who would come to vote.

[obammesiah]

welcome to change!

[bobdob]

This is the filthiest last day of a campaign I've ever seen. Thanks for posting this tripe.

[steamboat]

Unfortunately for your opinion, the video doesn't lie. Sorry, but IT HAPPENED. There is video and sound to prove the allegations are true.

[littlebrowngirl]

I have not seen a black panther in over 30 years! These guys look like they are from the film Soul Man.

Give me a break.

[secondbanana]

That low-life black panther is a menace to society, not a "poll watcher". The other poll watcher/black panther, the one who was carrying a night stick, was there to intimidate people. We don't need these types of individuals to watch over voters!

[Ish11]

You see how many times he says black panther? But I would say it is a little too late. Fox will go back to its foxhole after the elections.

[BellGirl08]

More of the same. I hope whoever this little weasel with the cell phone is gets in trouble. All these idiots trying to incite hate, fear, racism should go to jail. I'll bet you anything I own that this twerp is a paid for GOP troll.

AND I hope they make Ashley Todd and the McCain camp employees who pushed their HUGE lie pay for all the police personnel who had to work on looking for the fictitious perpetrator. The McCain campaign staff who pushed the lie are just as guilty and should have gone to jail just like Ashley did!!

[gnosius]

I am convinced the Black Panthers guys were well intentioned but night sticks in front of the polling station do no make a good impression and may also be illegal. The concerns expressed by the guy with the camera were legit. That being said, this is not exactly something that may change or influence the outcome of the elections. Vote! Vote Obama and enjoy the evening! I know that not only Chicago but most of the America will be in the streets tonight to celebrate. Do it in a way that brings us together as a nation. Be happy for America for no one will lose tonight!

[genia]

Anybody check to see if they were really black men and not some white republicans in makeup?
Pizzes me off.......they are trying to scare whites to believe that if Obama were elected Blacks would become power hungry, take over and ...and............rape your women...LOL
...pizzes me off...the republicans are pure scum...

[TakingBackTheUSA]

Reports so far have said that one of these guys actually lived in that building (a retirement home?) and that one was also a registered poll worker. The other guy was just a friend of his and had no right nor reason to be there.

[metalveteran]

What are the Black Panthers doing there anyway?
They are not security, and are not law enforcement, or National Guards.
Is this what we are going to be seeing more of?

[TallGrrl]

Oh please.
2 black guys? One SUPPOSEDLY carrying a "night stick"?
Give me a break, silly White people.
Here's what it was:
2 Black guys standing there, scaring the beeJebus out of White voters...by being 2 Black guys...standing there.
Sheesh.

[DaisyDooks]

Ok, white folks are "intimidated" by two black guys in Black Panther-type outfits with one individual carrying a stick? I didn't see anyone harassed or bullied. I sure wished white paranoia could have stopped those planes from flying into the twin towers.

This reminds me of a joke a comedian told about how it takes eight armed white guys to take down one unarmed muscular black guy because they felt "intimidated" or "threatened". It's all bullschitt!

[BeasleysMom]

Don't you just love watching the right wing hysteria? They are so ridiculous acting like the end of the world is at hand.

[sstt]

of course I meant Joe the PantHer...