Santa Fe in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Black Panther Party Stoplight
April 4, 2022
1. Black Panther Party Stoplight Marker (Side 1, blue version)
Directly across Market Street a yellow version of the marker (with nearly identical text) was installed a number of years prior to this version.
This stoplight was
installed as a result of
a community initiative
spearheaded by the
Black Panther Party
Side 2
After several students from Santa Fe Elementary School nearby were killed at this busy intersection, the demand for a traffic signal by the Anti-Poverty Center and the Black Panther Party began in June of 1967.
When the Oakland City Council notified the community that a traffic signal would take a year and a half to erect, a small cadre of armed Black Panthers stopped motorists and personally escorted students across the busy intersection. Installation of the traffic signal began on August 1, 1967, less than two months later.
No further automobile related deaths or injuries occurred at this location during that period.
Erected by Black Panther Party.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1967.
Location. 37° 50.351′ N, 122° 16.427′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Santa Fe. Marker is on Market Street near 55th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lorin Theater (approx. 0.6 miles away); Here, Over Time (approx. 0.7 miles away); Original Residents: The Ohlone / Vicente Peralta's Chosen Place (approx. 0.7 miles away); Oakland Ball Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); South Berkeley Bank (approx. 0.7 miles away); Historic "Lorin District" (approx. 0.7 miles away); Key Route Terminal (approx. 0.7 miles away); In Memoriam (NSGW WWI Memorial) (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
April 4, 2022
2. Black Panther Party Stoplight Marker (Side 2, blue version)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
3. Black Panther Stoplight Marker, Side 1 (older version)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 7, 2014
4. Black Panther Stoplight Marker, Side 2 (older version)
July 15, 2019
5. Black Panther Party Stoplight Marker, Side 2 (older version)
The text on this side of the marker is no longer legible.
April 4, 2022
6. Black Panther Party Stoplight Marker - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,476 times since then and 112 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 13, 2022. 3, 4. submitted on March 18, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5. submitted on July 16, 2019. 6. submitted on April 13, 2022. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
