The documentary LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER does a great job telling the incredible and bold history and how the Black Panther Party got started and chose its name. It is highly worth watching.

blackpowerchronicles.org/sncc-launche...

Clark College chose it's mascot based on it's newspaper which formed in 1945. So it's likely the students in 1945 did this based on the 761st, but I haven't found a direct link.

To add, for those scrolling past: it wasn't meant to be an intentional nod. The Black Panther party was named after Clark College's Mascot (now Clark Atlanta University, a HBCU). Suggested by SNCC field secretary Ruth Howard. The community wanted something strong and fierce to represent themselves

You're right. People need to read up more on fascism. Benito Mussolini said "'Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power." The goal was getting automatic control over political and economic spheres.