Black Liberation Army

Black Liberation Army
Leaders
Dates of operation1970–1981
Split fromBlack Panther Party
Active regionsUnited States
IdeologyMarxism–Leninism
Black nationalism
Political positionFar-left
Part ofBlack power movement
Battles and wars

The Black Liberation Army (BLA) was an underground Marxist–Leninist, black-nationalist militant organization that operated in the United States from 1970 to 1981. Composed of former Black Panthers (BPP) and Republic of New Afrika (RNA) members who served above ground before going underground, the organization's program was one of war against the United States government, and its stated goal was to "take up arms for the liberation and self-determination of black people in the United States." Groups calling themselves the BLA carried out bombings, killings of police officers and random Caucasians, robberies (which participants termed "expropriations"), and prison breaks.