In this article from the Carleton College Voice, an encounter between Father Earl Neil and Oakland Police would prove to be a turning point in the relations between the Black church and the Black Panthers.

As tensions rose between the Black Panther Party and Oakland Police Department (OPD) a standoff on April 3, 1968, would prove to be a defining moment for the support of Father Neil towards the Panthers. OPD had received reports of a gunman seeking shelter inside St.Augustines which Father Neil simply said: “We don’t allow guns in our meetings”.  The accusation from OPD was intentioned to break up a Panther meeting in an effort to discourage/ stop what they were doing. As Father Neil stood his ground and defended the Pathers, OPD would eventually leave. Father Neils’s actions would act as a bridge in connecting the Black Panthers with the community at large. St. Augustine’s congregation was hesitant about the Black Panther’s involvement with the church but Father Neil understood to break down those barriers between the congregation and the Panthers they had to see each other as humans. As both groups interested they understood they were fighting the same fight for the betterment of the community.