---

 [ WORLD WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=332)

#  Fred Hampton: ‘Peace to You ... If You're Willing to Fight for It’

![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Dec-2019/098c.png)

**CITYWATCH TODAY**--It was 50 years ago that Chicago law enforcement [executed ](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-black-panthers-raid-fred-hampton-50-years-20191203-kbzgztrvtfh7tp7x4ggtvhncpm-story.html)Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panthers, firing up to 99 shots into his West Side apartment as he slept with his pregnant fiancée at about 4:30 am; also killed was fellow Panther Mark Clark. Police said they were issuing a warrant when they were fired on; investigators eventually found that only one shot came from inside the apartment, likely from Clark as he was dying, and no police were injured. *(Photo above: Bobby Rush and Fred Hampton at the Panthers' office. Photo by Sun Times. Front photo from Chicago Defenders Archive.)*

Written by Abby Zimet.

December 05 2019

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Dec-2019/098c.png)

**CITYWATCH TODAY**--It was 50 years ago that Chicago law enforcement [executed ](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-black-panthers-raid-fred-hampton-50-years-20191203-kbzgztrvtfh7tp7x4ggtvhncpm-story.html)Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panthers, firing up to 99 shots into his West Side apartment as he slept with his pregnant fiancée at about 4:30 am; also killed was fellow Panther Mark Clark. Police said they were issuing a warrant when they were fired on; investigators eventually found that only one shot came from inside the apartment, likely from Clark as he was dying, and no police were injured. *(Photo above: Bobby Rush and Fred Hampton at the Panthers' office. Photo by Sun Times. Front photo from Chicago Defenders Archive.)*

Later evidence showed Hampton had been given a sedative by an FBI informant, and that even amidst all the firepower he never woke up. He was reportedly still breathing when two cops approached his body. One asked if he was still alive; the other shot him two more times and declared, "He's good and dead now." He was 21 when he died.

Hampton was [killed ](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/12/4/20994612/fred-hampton-mark-clark-black-panther-party-billy-che-brooks-edward-hanrahan-monroe-bobby-rush)for the crime of being a “charismatic, full of empathy” visionary who could[ galvanize](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1gveC3GVs) broad swathes of people. In his single, militant year of leadership as Chairman Fred, 1968-1969, he began free hot breakfast programs for kids in school, opened medical clinics to start testing black families for sickle cell disease, set up transportation for families to visit loved ones in prison, formed the first Rainbow Coalition by organizing diverse races, groups and gangs to work together in the community, advocated against police brutality and mass incarceration, and tirelessly [spoke out ](https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2019/12/04/fred-hampton)about the contradictions around him. He [told ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1gveC3GVs)audiences they could only end their exploitation by reclaiming their own power, declaring they must fight racism with solidarity, fight capitalism with Socialism, and “fight fire with water." “Peace to you," he [said](https://open.spotify.com/album/0gmG7WSepVGfS6fv9jSzm7), "if you’re willing to fight for it.”

Hampton's eloquence[ led ](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-black-panthers-raid-fred-hampton-50-years-20191203-kbzgztrvtfh7tp7x4ggtvhncpm-story.html)inexorably to his murder, though it took almost 14 years for advocates and attorneys to connect the grim dots. After a thirteen-year lawsuit, including an eighteen-month trial, Jeffrey Haas and Flint Taylor of the [People’s Law Office](https://peopleslawoffice.com/about-civil-rights-lawyers/history/) won an $1.85 million settlement against Chicago law enforcement for the Hampton and Clark families and several raid survivors. Their work also exposed the chilling connections between the murders and the FBI's secret COINTELPRO project, a government contingency plan whereby the government would take down any emerging charismatic black leaders “who could unify and electrify the masses.” Under that plan, according to FBI documents, director J. Edgar Hoover [vowed ](https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2010039.afc2010039_crhp0057_Dixon_transcript/?sp=34&st=text)to “destroy, discredit, disrupt the activities of the Black Panther Party by any means necessary and prevent the rise of a Black Messiah.” And they were successful: Hampton and Clark were the 27th and 28th black activists killed that year.

Today, with police violence against people of color still widespread - Chicago paid more than $113 million to settle lawsuits against police in 2018 - Hampton's murder is viewed by many activists as a bitter but potent [refueling ](https://truthout.org/articles/50-years-ago-today-police-murdered-fred-hampton-his-activism-lives-on/)of the movement toward accountability. To honor this week's 50th anniversary, Jeffrey Haas has reissued his 2009 [book,](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2019/12/04/%20https%3A/www.zinnedproject.org/materials/assassination-of-fred-hampton) *The* [*Assassination* ](https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/assassination-of-fred-hampton--the-products-9781641603218.php)*of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther,* arguing the need to expose abuses by those in power "remains a fundamental struggle of our society."

In a new preface, he [cites ](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2019/12/04/%20https%3A/progressive.org/dispatches/fifty-years-after-the-police-murders-of-black-panthers-madeson-stockwell-191203/)the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald - shot 16 times in the back and side - and the indictment and conviction of the Chicago cop who killed him, thanks to a tenacious coalition of outraged citizens; the case also led to the firing of the police chief, defeat of the state's attorney and departure of the mayor. "Fred said, 'All power to the people,' because that's where it belongs," [says ](https://progressive.org/dispatches/fifty-years-after-the-police-murders-of-black-panthers-madeson-stockwell-191203/)Haas, citing Hampton's enduring [legacy. ](https://twitter.com/hashtag/fredhampton?lang=en)"Fred and the Panthers didn’t say they were going to make the revolution, they said, “We’re going to educate the people (to) make the change.”

*"You can kill a revolutionary, but you can't kill a revolution. The U.S. was founded on a revolution, and that revolution continues to this day. Groups like* [*\#BlackLivesMatter* ](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackLivesMatter?src=hashtag_click)*exist by the blood of Fred Hampton."* - former friend and fellow-Panther Rep. [Bobby Rush](https://twitter.com/RepBobbyRush/status/1202321336904892417)

*(CityWatch Guest Columnist Abby Zimet writes for the excellent Common Dreams … where this perspective was first posted.)*

*-cw*

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/)

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays

 Website

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fe/064i-febc3c1a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401)

### [All Talk, No Action: Nithya Raman’s Reckoning](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Nithya Raman lost the homelessness gavel, and the most damaging verdict didn’t come from Republicans…

---

##  [ WORLD WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2026/051q2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32951:venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish&catid=332)### [Venezuela Needs the World More Than Ever \[English & Spanish\]](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32951:venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2026/047f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32873:netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise&catid=332)### [Netanyahu’s Betrayal Of Israel’s Promise](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32873:netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/039k.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32727:turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale&catid=332)### [Turkey’s Egregious Human Rights Violations Are Beyond The Pale](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32727:turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Mar-2026/022f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32427:from-epic-fury-to-a-trap-of-trumps-own-making-finding-the-way-out&catid=332)### [From ‘Epic Fury’ To A Trap Of Trump’s Own Making: Finding The Way Out](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32427:from-epic-fury-to-a-trap-of-trumps-own-making-finding-the-way-out&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/055p.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32307:top-7-mongolia-travel-tips-for-2026&catid=332)### [Top 7 Mongolia Travel Tips for 2026](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32307:top-7-mongolia-travel-tips-for-2026&catid=332)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>