Helped to protect African-Americans from police brutality, advocated self-defense, and the leader was Huey Newton.
The organization you are referring to is the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, commonly known as the Black Panthers. Founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, the Black Panthers sought to protect African-American communities from police brutality and harassment by monitoring police actions and responding to incidents of police violence. They also advocated for the rights of African-Americans and other marginalized groups through community programs and activism.
Under the leadership of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panthers became known for their militant and confrontational approach to racial injustice, as well as their commitment to self-defense and empowerment within the black community. Despite facing intense government surveillance and harassment, the Black Panthers played a significant role in shaping the civil rights movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.