Along with fellow activist Huey P. Newton, Seale founded the Black Panther Party, and that was just the beginning of his activism, which focussed on service to and freedom for the Black community. He was initially charged as the "eighth" member of the Chicago Seven and underwent horrifying treatment in the courtroom, despite evidence showing he had not been involved in planning the protests. In the decades since, he has continued his activism work, appearing in several documentaries and travelling around the country to give talks on his experiences.