The verdict in the trial of two former members of the New Black Panther Party were announced Tuesday night: One of the Black Panthers, who was convicted of breaking the law with a fight outside a Philadelphia polling station in 2008, was found not guilty.
Samuel C. Ahmad, a 52-year-old civil rights activist, who is a local Democratic Party leader and adjunct professor at Drexel University, was found not guilty of counts of conspiracy, riot, and other counts by a jury that took the trial place in Camden. Ahmad was convicted by a jury in July for blocking someone from voting and will likely be released in November. Ahmad and members of the Black Panther Party affiliated organization called the Rainbow Coalition were caught on tape hauling an elderly woman aside during the 2008 presidential election.
Ryan Mac found out how a number of Democrats felt about the verdict right after it was read. Some are proclaiming to have fulfilled their promise of supporting minorities, while others are upset with the verdict.