The new Tampa Bay organization invokes the 1960s’ Black Panther Party.
By Rhatia Murphy
Original Air Date: August 14, 2026
Host: Black berets, military-style uniforms and polished boots: A new Tampa Bay organization is deliberately invoking the image of the 1960s Black Panther Party. Calling itself the Panthers of Florida, the group says its members patrol neighborhoods, attend local-government meetings and offer community programs. WSLR News reporter Rhatia Murphy looks at the organization, its claims and what it hopes to build.
Rhatia Murphy: The Panthers of Florida say they are trying to build a community-based organization focused on service, education and neighborhood engagement.
The original Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland in 1966. It became known both for armed monitoring of police and for community programs including free breakfasts, health clinics and political education. The original national organization dissolved in the early 1980s, and several unrelated groups have since adopted variations of its name and imagery.
In an interview with WSLR, Chairman Robert Sherman says the group’s mission begins with giving people hope and encouraging communities to become more involved in solving problems together.
Robert Sherman: The people need hope. The people need defending. The people need a voice. The people need a vanguard.
RM: When asked what that mission looks like in practice, Sherman and community organizer Justin Archer described an organization they hope will focus on mentorship, financial literacy, youth programs, neighborhood outreach and building stronger relationships within Black communities.
The Panthers of Florida have appeared at public meetings and community events. However, WSLR was unable to independently confirm before airtime how many people have participated in the organization’s programs or how many residents it has served.
Archer said the goal is to work directly with residents instead of waiting until problems become crises.
Sherman and Archer addressed how the organization intends to operate.
Archer emphasized that they plan to work within the law while building community partnerships and expanding their presence across Florida.
Florida’s legal landscape changed in 2025, when a state appeals court struck down the state’s longstanding open-carry ban. Openly carrying a firearm is now generally legal, although guns remain prohibited in certain locations and property owners can impose their own restrictions.
Justin Archer (left) and Robert Sherman (right)
Justin Archer: We are not moving in a way that you can use the law against us. We are moving with the law, and if you try to use the law against us, we will fight it because we know that we are on the correct side of Constitutional law.
RM: Archer also bears the title “Minister of Defense.” Asked about military training and bearing firearms in public, he said the group is well aware of Florida law.
JA: We take advantage of the Second Amendment as it was written to be taken advantage of. Before we get into that, though, we definitely have done our due diligence to see what state laws—what local laws—are in place that may become conflicted with that.
RM: Questions also centered on how the Panthers of Florida plan to turn those ideas into action. For now, they are focusing on the Tampa Bay area, including Manatee County. Sherman acknowledged that building a statewide organization will take time, but the group is committed to continuing that work.
RS: We don’t fail. My daddy taught me that nothing beats a failure but a try, and you can’t say that you failed if you keep trying.
Robert Sherman (left) and Justin Archer (right)
RM: Toward the end of the conversation, the discussion turned to how the organization could be perceived by people outside of the movement. Sherman stressed that the Panthers of Florida see themselves as a community organization focused on service rather than division.
Archer returned to what he described as the organization’s central purpose.
JA: We want to improve all communities, but we see that the Black community is the one that is in the most need at the current time. But this is for everybody. We are for the people.
RM: The Panthers of Florida remain in the early stages of development. Their leaders say they plan to continue recruiting members, expanding community programs and refining the organization’s structure as those efforts grow.
Whether those goals translate into measurable community impact is something that will become clearer over time. For now, the organization says its focus is on building relationships, earning trust and encouraging civic engagement throughout Florida.
For WSLR News, I’m Rhatia Murphy.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.