The Black Liberation Army (BLA) was a militant group formed in the early 1970s in the United States. It emerged from the civil rights movement and aimed to combat systemic racism and oppression faced by African Americans. The BLA sought to establish a revolutionary socialist society and was known for its armed resistance against law enforcement and the government. The BLA was associated with the broader Black Power movement and had connections to the Black Panther Party. Its members engaged in various criminal activities, including bank robberies and shootouts with police, which led to numerous arrests and confrontations. The group was active primarily during the 1970s and 1980s.