A group calling itself the Black Panther Party has now become the basis for a family dispute over the use of the name. While Huey P. Newton’s niece has threatened to sue the organization now using the name, a man claiming to be Newton’s son is endorsing the new group.

Huey P. Newton’s niece says she will sue the group using her uncle’s party’s name

Myesha Newton, niece of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton, recently posted a video on social media aimed at a new group that has used the Black Panther Party name. Claiming to speak on behalf of herself and “a whole bunch of Newtons”, she called out the group currently using the title.

“This goes out to the Black Panther Party, the New United Black Panther Party, whoever’s out there protesting with these Somalians, I’m about to get a cease and desist order against you, and I’m about to sue you,” Newton said in the video. “You are not going to defame my uncle’s name like that,” Newton continued, pledging to “see you in court b***hes.”

Myeshia Newton, niece of Huey P. Newton, is taking legal action against groups misrepresenting the Black Panther Party. She aims to protect her uncle's legacy from defamation. #BlackPantherParty #HueyNewton pic.twitter.com/jIo03yvZQS
— The Angryman (@AngrymanChannel) January 20, 2026

Newton’s anger appears to be aimed at the Philadelphia-based group currently using the Black Panther Party name. The group claims to be the successor of the original group that Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, and then spread across the country. The Philadelphia group has emulated tactics of the original Panthers, including operating neighborhood food programs and openly carrying assault-style weapons while protesting, and claims fewer than 100 members. It is currently led by Paul Birdsong, who also claims to be the national chairman of the Black Panther Party.

Man claiming to be Huey P. Newton’s son backs the leader of the new Black Panther Party

Birdsong’s group recently participated in anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests in Philadelphia after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

“We’re the same Panther Party from back in the day but we’re a little more aggressive now, you dig, carry bigger guns,” Birdsong said in video footage at an anti-ICE protest. Birdsong recommended giving immigrants armed escorts to protect them from ICE, while also proclaiming, “No ICE agent ever run up on me! I guarantee you they won’t. I’ll put a hole in their chest the size of a window.”

After ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, the Black Panther Party showed up armed at an anti-ICE protest in Philly. This is what community defense looks like.

📹:Chairman Paul Birdsong via @Wevitalize_ (IG)#AllPowerToThePeople #JusticeForReneeGood pic.twitter.com/b0ncwJz3fj
— Lee Merritt (@LeeMerrittesq) January 16, 2026

As The Grio reported, While Birdsong’s group has drawn the ire of Myeshia Newton, another potential Newton family member has endorsed the group. Rico Dukes, who claims to be the biological son of Huey P. Newton — a claim others dispute — said in a social media post that he endorsed Birdsong and the group currently using the Panther name. “I personally cleared his chapter,” Dukes said in a video, also endorsing Birdsong’s claim that members of the original party support Birdsong. Dukes also acknowledged that Birdsong “could’ve used a different choice of words” at the ICE protest but supported the sentiment behind Birdsong’s statements.

“I understand what he said and what he meant and how he meant it,” Dukes said, claiming Birdsong said what others were scared to say.

I personally cleared his chapter son of Dr Huey P Newton pic.twitter.com/Vb6OW8i57U
— 2028 Presidential Candidate Rico Dukes (@rdukes2024) January 20, 2026

Dukes and Myesha Newton are now on opposite sides of an argument about the existence and tactics of the group that is using the Panther name and legacy to protest ICE. Despite their familiar ties or claims thereof to Huey P. Newton, it is unclear whether Dukes or Myesha Newton has any legal claim to the Black Panther Party name. For now, their dispute over the Panther name is playing out over social media instead of a court of law.

Huey P. Newton

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