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A Black man with an afro and facial hair wearing dark clothes, his mouth opened as if mid-speech, with his left arm extended at the elbow.
Black Panther Fred Hampton giving a speech. (Photo: UIC Library Digital Collections)

Assassination of Fred Hampton.

1969

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Black Panther Fred Hampton giving a speech. (Photo: UIC Library Digital Collections)

Fred Hampton, a critical leader of the Black Panther Party in Chicago, is assassinated during a police raid in his home by the Chicago police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of their Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). The FBI sees Hampton as a disruptor and "threat to society" because he challenges racist policing, white supremacy, and political oppression in the U.S. From a young age, Hampton was a dynamic leader who inspired many young African-Americans to begin organizing.