Alex Rackley

Alex Rackley (born c. 1941, died May 21, 1969) was a member of the New Haven, Connecticut chapter of the Black Panther Party. He is primarily known for his murder, which was ordered by other members of the Black Panther Party who suspected him of being a police informant.

Rackley was kidnapped from New York City and brought to New Haven, where he was tortured over several days to extract a confession. He was then shot and killed in Killingly, Connecticut. His murder led to a highly publicized trial involving several prominent Black Panther members, including Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins.

The trial, known as the New Haven Black Panther trials, brought increased scrutiny to the Black Panther Party and its activities. Seale was initially charged with conspiracy to commit murder, but the charges were eventually dropped after the jury deadlocked and the judge declared a mistrial. Huggins was acquitted. The case remains a significant event in the history of the Black Panther Party and highlights internal conflicts and the challenges faced by the organization during the late 1960s.