Sure, the 60's were a time of racial unrest and political upheaval, but that doesn't prove that Carter was an activist (he wasn't)

Bill Epton (center), leading a protest demonstration in Harlem, summer, 1964

So What Happens When You Say,
"Off the Pigs"?

Black radicals who talked about killing cops or incited others to violence were charged with inciting.

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter says when he talked about killing cops, he was framed for murder and almost sent to the electric chair.

So, if Carter's claim is true, Carter was treated more harshly than genuine radicals, to say nothing of poor John Artis, an innocent man caught up in the plot to frame Carter. [Radicals who did more than talk, of course, were charged accordingly]

So was Carter a greater threat to "The Man" than the Black Panthers, the SNCC, and the Communists? No way. He wasn't even a radical. His dramatic story of being framed because he was "outspoken" is a myth that well-meaning but naive people have fallen for.

WILLIAM EPTON -- July 1964

What he said: "We will not be fully free until we smash this state completely and totally.... In that process, we're going to have to kill a lot of these cops, a lot of these judges, and we'll have to go up against their army."

Type of speech: Public speech during the Harlem riots.

Political affiliation: Progressive Labor Party (Communist)

Context: During a riot, in aid of speaker’s stated desire to overthrow the government and the capitalist system.

Consequences: Charged with inciting a riot and advocating criminal anarchy. Spent a year in prison.
 

RUBIN CARTER -- October 1964

What he said: "[H]e suggested, in jest, to Elwood Tuck, his closest friend, "Let's get guns and go up there [to Harlem] and get us some of those police. I know I can get four or five before they get me. How many can you get?"

Type of speech: Private conversation with a friend. His friend repeated it to a reporter, who published it in the Saturday Evening Post. (Click here for the excerpts).

Alleged Consequences: Two years later, was framed for triple murder along with an innocent bystander, John Artis. Prosecution asks for death penalty but jury recommends life sentence. Is sentenced to two consecutive and one concurrent life sentence.
 

Bill Epton was at the Harlem Riots and encouraged the crowd to kill policemen because he hoped to spark a proletarian revolution. Carter was nowhere near Harlem when he joked about shooting cops. A number of witnesses heard Epton's remarks. Carter's joke was second-hand, relayed to a reporter by a friend. But we're supposed to believe that Carter was dealt with more harshly than Epton.

In the examples below, well known radicals urged violent action. They were charged, but not convicted, of inciting violence.

H. RAP BROWN -- May 29, 1967

What he said: "There is no need to go to Vietnam and shoot somebody who a honky says is your enemy. We're going to shoot the cops who are shooting our black brothers in the back in this country. That's where we're going."

Type of speech: Public speech in Washington, D.C.

Political affiliation: SNCC/Black Panthers

Context: Speaker desired overthrow of existing social order.

Consequences: J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI warned that black radicals such as Brown were associating with communist organizations "dedicated to the overthrow of the capitalist system in the U.S.," and were using racial unrest to foment rebellion. Rap Brown was arrested in July under a new law which made it illegal to cross state lines to incite a riot. Released on bail, he was arrested again on federal weapons charges and went underground. Captured in 1972 during a robbery and police shootout, he went to prison for four years for attempted armed robbery.

Postscript: Rap Brown converted to Islam, taking the name Jamil al-Amin. In March, 2002, Jamil al-Amin was convicted of shooting two black sheriff's deputies (wounding one and killing the other) who were trying to serve him an arrest warrant.
 

Type of speech: Public speech at Vietnam Mobilization Day at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Is booed by predominately hippie crowd.

Political Affiliation: Black Panthers

Context: Speaker’s stated desire was to overthrow government and institute Panther 10 point platform.

Consequences: Two weeks later he was arrested for threatening the life of the president. Made bail, and appeared on the television show, "Face the Nation.”

Later arrested for carrying a loaded gun and sentenced to a prison term in connection with a 1968 shootout in Oakland. He was acquitted of the charges of threatening President Nixon's life when the government refused to give details of Cointelpro operation against Hilliard and the Panthers to the court.
 

ICE-T -- 1992

Released rap song, "Cop Killer." After widespread protests particularly by police organizations, voluntarily removed song from CD. Was dropped by record label.

Consequences: Now plays police detective on television.

TOM ALCIERE - 2000

What he said: "The Bill of Rights never got through a cop's head. The only thing that ever gets through a cop's head is a bullet." (and lots more in the same vein)

Type of Speech: Internet chat groups

Political Affiliation: Republican (The Republicans quickly disowned him)

Context: Alciere was a New Hampshire Republican legislator whose views about cop-killing became public.

Consequences: Was forced to resign.