‘KILL WHITEY’ BLACK PANTHER LEADER ARRESTED FOR CARRYING UNLICENSED LOADED WEAPON ON STREETS OF NEW YORK WHILE WEARING BULLET PROOF VEST

In addition to his 'Kill Whitey' tattoo, Heath has multiple tattoo on his face referencing black power groups and associated phrases

Maruse Heath, the head of the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panther Party, was arrested in New York City for illegal gun possession
Heath, who has a tattoo in block letters on his face reading ‘Kill Whitey’ was found carrying an unlicensed gun while wearing a bullet proof vest, when he was stopped by cops in Harlem
Heath was also arrested in 2008 for intimating voters by standing outside a polling place dressed in paramilitary garb

By Laurie Kamens

A member of the New Black Panther Party who has a large tattoo on his face that reads ‘Kill Whitey’ was arrested on charges of gun possession.

Maruse Heath, the head of the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panthers, was arrested in New York City after police claim they saw him leaving a Party meeting wearing a large bullet proof vest.

Heath, 41, who also goes by King Salim Shabazz, was found holding an unlicensed, loaded gun when he was stopped by police.

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Maruse Heath, a leader in the New Black Panther Party (seen here wearing paramilitary garb and posing with a gun) was arrested in New York after police found he was in possession of a unlicensed, loaded hand gun

Heath, 41, is the leader of the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panthers and was planning an anniversary 15 Million Man March with the group before he was arrested in Harlem

Maruse Heath, seen here giving the middle finger to the camera, is a leader in the New Black Panther Party who was arrested in New York City for possession of an unlicensed, loaded handgun

At his arraignment Heath’s lawyer claimed that his client was ‘jumped’ by the police in Harlem after leaving a meeting to plan the group’s 15^th Anniversary Million Man March commemoration in September, according to The New York Post.

‘I don’t believe there’s any justification for the stop,’ Heath’s lawyer Brad Foster said.

The cops stopped Heath at night because he was allegedly wearing a bullet proof vest, but Foster argued they couldn’t have seen what his client was wearing in the dark.

In addition to his ‘Kill Whitey’ tattoo, Heath has multiple tattoo on his face referencing black power groups and associated phrases

In these pictures Heath shows off his black pride tattoos including one on his lower right cheek that reads ‘Freeborn,’ presumably referring to African Americans former enslavement

Heath’s entire face is covered in ‘black power’ tattoos including one not pictured here which reads ‘Kill Whitey’ described by Urban Dictionary as a phrase yelled to intimidate white prisoners in prison

‘It’s very dark, 10:30 at night,’ Foster said. ‘They grabbed him by the shoulders and cuffed him and he was in custody.’

However, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Ryan argued that the size-52 ballistic vest Heath was wearing was easy to see in the dark.

‘A 52, sized as regular men’s clothing, is clearly obvious,’ the prosecutor said.

During Heath’s (seen here wearing a Black Panthers beret and holding a riffle) arraignment, the prosecutor referred to the New Black Panther Party as ‘the functional equivalent of the KKK‘

If convicted Heath faces a minimum of three and a half years for gun possession. He is currently being held on $75,000 bail.

Ryan also brought into question Heath’s involvement in the New Black Panther Group. ‘It is my understanding that the New Black Panther Party is the functional equivalent of the KKK,’ he said.

‘It is no crime to belong to the Black Panther Party,’ Heath’s lawyer countered, according to the newspaper. ‘The group does, ‘charity work within the local community, outreach to the homeless, and works with at-risk youth who are at risk of becoming criminals.’’

A militant member of the New Black Panther Party, Heath is the head of the organizations Philadelphia chapter. He was arrested in New York after leaving a group meeting wearing a bullet proof vest

At his arraignment Heath’s (pictured left) lawyer told the court that the New Black Panther party is not a violent group, but instead is a vehicle for community service

In addition to his involvement in the group, Heath’s ‘Kill Whitey’ tattoo also suggests something violent in his character.

According to Urban Dictionary, Heath’s aggressive and distinctive tattoo is ‘What is loudly shouted by white prisoners in mock style of black inmates’ or ‘What Anarchist[s] say when opposing the man.’

Both definitions demonstrate that the epithet is meant as an intimation tactic towards Caucasians.

Heath’s lawyer argued that his client (pictured here) was wrongly stopped by police who couldn’t have seen that he was wearing a bullet proof vest in the dark

Heath has also been videotaped spewing violent comments at a festival celebrating African Heritage, ‘You want freedom you gonna have to kill some crackers. You gonna have to kill some of they babies. Let us get our act together. It’s time to wake up, clean up, and stand up.’

This is not Heath’s first encounter with the law due to his involvement with the New Black Panther Party.

In 2008 Heath #seen here looking at the camera) was arrested on charges of voter intimation after he was filmed outside a polling place in Philadelphia in paramilitary garb carrying a nightstick (seen in his left hand)

In 2008, Heath and a fellow Party member were arrested outside of a Philadelphia polling place for allegedly intimidating white voters.

Heath and Jerry Jackson were videotaped in front of the voting station wearing paramilitary uniforms and carrying night sticks.

In 2008 Heath #seen here looking at the camera) was arrested on charges of voter intimation after he was filmed outside a polling place in Philadelphia in paramilitary garb carrying a nightstick (seen in his left hand)

When police arrested Heath he allegedly shouted, ‘That’s why you’re going to be ruled by a black man now,’ according to bizpacreview.com.

Though no voters complained about the incident, the Justice Department Civil Rights Division prosecutor who saw the video filled a lawsuit against Heath and the New Black Panthers.

The case was eventually dismissed amidst much controversy alleging that courts were biased and trying solely to protect minorities.