Biography
Kent Ford co-founded the Portland, Oregon chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1969. In June 1969 he intervened during a police arrest, was beaten, and was jailed for roughly two weeks at Rocky Butte Jail on a charge of inciting a riot, with bail set at $80,000 and paid by supporters. His rioting trial in early 1970 lasted nine days and ended in acquittal; he later won a settlement and successfully sued the Portland police in federal court over his treatment. He remains a living activist and Panther historian in Portland.
