Date Original
1968 December 13
Description
This collection contains a FBI wanted poster for Leroy Cleaver issued on December 10, 1968, for unlawful interstate flight to avoid confinement after conviction for assault with the intent to kill.
Biographical/Historical Note
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver was born in Wabbaseka, Jefferson County, Arkansas, and grew up in California. As a youth, he was frequently arrested for petty theft and selling marijuana. In 1958, he was convicted of assault with intent to kill and incarcerated at San Quentin and then Folsom prison for eight years. Cleaver began his writing career while incarcerated. He was paroled in 1966, at which point he became a staff writer for the Ramparts magazine, a political and literary magazine associated with the ‘New Left’ movement, and then later joined the Black Panther Party as the minister of information. In 1968, Cleaver ran as the United States presidential candidate of the Peace and Freedom Party. Later that year, he fled to Cuba then Algeria, after he became involved in a shooting incident in California. Cleaver returned to the United States in 1975. He said that he had experienced a "religious conversion" and gave up many of his earlier political beliefs which he described in his book "Soul on Fire." Cleaver then was arrested for parole violation, but released on probation in 1980. In 1986, Cleaver sought the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in California but was not successful.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.OV.039
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver wanted poster, SMC.OV.039
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver wanted poster, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
