The State - News from Aug. 29, 1988

Former Black Panther leader Huey Newton has left San Quentin Prison, saying that he could do more outside of prison walls to help free former Panther Elmer (Geronimo) Pratt. Newton had stayed in prison four days beyond his scheduled parole, and had said he wouldn’t leave until Pratt also was released. Pratt, who has been in prison 18 years for a Santa Monica killing, suggested he drop the demand, Newton said. Prison officials said Newton would have violated parole if he stayed in San Quentin. Newton, 45, is scheduled to go on trial in Oakland on Sept. 12 on a charge of embezzling money from the Educational Opportunities Corp. He had been imprisoned over a parole violation.