Why US killed Black Panther Fred Hampton

Why the US gov't murdered Fred Hampton

(Vox, 6/2/21) Here's what we aren't taught about the Black Panther Party. On December 4th, 1969, the Black Panther Party’s Illinois Chairman Fred Hampton was assassinated by police.

But his story is about much more than the raid that took his life. The movement Hampton helped create was unique, and revolutionary.

In the late 1960s, Fred Hampton helped lead a coalition of activists who were working across racial lines against a corrupt city government that threatened their communities.

At the core of their work were social programs, including free breakfasts, health clinics, and legal aid. Hampton named the group the Rainbow Coalition. And because of their impact, it wasn’t long before they got the attention of the police and the FBI.

What followed was an assassination (an illegal conspiracy by corrupt authorities) and a coverup.

• Watch “The Murder of Fred Hampton” chicagofilmarchives.org...
• “American Revolution 2”: chicagofilmarchives.org...
• Read “From The Bullet To The Ballot: The Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and Racial Coalition Politics in Chicago”: uncpress.org/book...
• Read “Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party” ucpress.edu/book...
• Check out savethehamptonhouse.org
• Watch “The First Rainbow Coalition”: pbs.org...

Have an idea for a story that Vox should investigate for Missing Chapter? Send it in via this form: bit.ly/2RhjxMy