PHOTO: Darryl King Rick Farmer II of The Black Panther Party has passed away

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Darryl King Rick Farmer II of The Black Panther Party has passed away.

Darryl Farmer II, AKA King Rick, stands tall and straight, well over six feet, still an intimidating presence even though he leans on a cane. It is a muggy day when he grants me an interview to talk to him, at the Original Milwaukee Black Panther headquarters on the outskirts of the Harambee neighborhood in Milwaukee. He is always surrounded by Panthers, as there have been a few attempts on his life and they are dedicated to his safety. READ MORE HERE

The Black Panther Party is a notorious group with a robust history that includes a chapter here in Milwaukee. It first started operating in the 1960s but disbanded in the 1980s. The group reformed here in Milwaukee about seven years ago and continues to fight racism and uplift the community.

When the group reformed in Milwaukee, Darryl “King Rick” Farmer II became the leader, and since then he has worked to make the group a positive and protective force for Black people in Milwaukee.

“For the last seven years we’ve been involved in a lot of things, we patrol our community, we shut down businesses that are a detriment…and in the last two years, along with the Brown Berets, we’ve probably fed about 30,000 people,” says Farmer.

As for why the Original Black Panthers decided to reform, Farmer says it was largely in response to how Black people were being treated in Milwaukee.

Farmer explains that he, and people like him, could no longer endure the current state of Milwaukee. He adds that some people may feel okay with the segregation and racism he sees in Milwaukee but he isn’t.

“Milwaukee is the most racist and hyper segregated city in America and nobody seems to care, they are comfortable with the dynamics of Milwaukee,” says Farmer. “That’s why there is so much crime, drama, violence in Milwaukee because the powers that be don’t truly care.”