http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...roof-vest.html

A member of the New Black Panther Party who has a large tattoo on his face that reads ‘Kill Whitey’ was arrested on charges of gun possession.

Maruse Heath, the head of the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panthers, was arrested in New York City after police claim they saw him leaving a Party meeting wearing a large bullet proof vest.

Heath, 41, who also goes by King Salim Shabazz, was found holding an unlicensed, loaded gun when he was stopped by police.

The cops stopped Heath at night because he was allegedly wearing a bullet proof vest, but Foster argued they couldn’t have seen what his client was wearing in the dark.

‘It’s very dark, 10:30 at night,' Foster said. 'They grabbed him by the shoulders and cuffed him and he was in custody.’

However, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Ryan argued that the size-52 ballistic vest Heath was wearing was easy to see in the dark.

‘A 52, sized as regular men’s clothing, is clearly obvious,’ the prosecutor said

If convicted Heath faces a minimum of three and a half years for gun possession. He is currently being held on $75,000 bail.

Ryan also brought into question Heath’s involvement in the New Black Panther Group. ‘It is my understanding that the New Black Panther Party is the functional equivalent of the KKK,’ he said.

‘It is no crime to belong to the Black Panther Party,’ Heath’s lawyer countered, according to the newspaper. ‘The group does, ‘charity work within the local community, outreach to the homeless, and works with at-risk youth who are at risk of becoming criminals.’’

Heath has also been videotaped spewing violent comments at a festival celebrating African Heritage, 'You want freedom you gonna have to kill some crackers. You gonna have to kill some of they babies. Let us get our act together. It's time to wake up, clean up, and stand up.'

This is not Heath’s first encounter with the law due to his involvement with the New Black Panther Party.

In 2008, Heath and a fellow Party member were arrested outside of a Philadelphia polling place for allegedly intimidating white voters.

Heath and Jerry Jackson were videotaped in front of the voting station wearing paramilitary uniforms and carrying night sticks.

When police arrested Heath he allegedly shouted, ‘That’s why you’re going to be ruled by a black man now,’ according to bizpacreview.com.

Though no voters complained about the incident, the Justice Department Civil Rights Division prosecutor who saw the video filled a lawsuit against Heath and the New Black Panthers.

The case was eventually dismissed amidst much controversy alleging that courts were biased and trying solely to protect minorities.