Fred Hampton, Jr.

Fred Hampton, Jr. (born 1970) is the son of Fred Hampton, Sr., a Black Panther who was killed by the Chicago Police in 1969. Hampton, Jr. was still "" when his father was killed. He followed his father's legacy, becoming prominent in black nationalist politics. In 1990, he became the president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement. In 1993, he was convicted of aggravated arson. The case involved the firebombing of a Korean grocery store in the aftermath of the 1992 nationwide protests after the acquittal of the Los Angeles police officers who beat Rodney King. Hampton was sentenced to eighteen years in prison, and was paroled on 14 September 2001.

He is currently chairman of the P.O.C.C. (Prisoners of Conscience Committee).

On December 4, 1969, Fred Sr. slept beside his pregnant girlfriend, Akua Njeri. Allegedly drugged with secobarbitol before bedtime, Fred Hampton was murdered during the early morning hours in the now infamous Chicago Panther House Raid while Fred Hampton, Jr. was still in his mother's womb.Fact|date=January 2008

In 1990, at the age of 20, Fred Jr. was already extremely active in the same political circles that proved to be deadly for his father. At this time he became the President of the local National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement(NPDUM), joining their fight for the rights of African people in the US.

In March 1992, the government made two separate attempts to indict Fred Hampton, Jr on charges of Murder and Armed Robbery. He was found not guilty of both, much to the dismay of the prosecuting attorney who remarked, "...Fred Hampton Jr., we'll get you yet." In May of that same year, Fred was indicted again. He was accused of firebombing a Korean Merchant's store. Some hint at corruption in the trial{ [fact: for example, the NPDUM's page says the jury was rigged to exclude those with positive recollections of the BPP and Fred Hampton, Sr., but included those who feared blacks and had been robbed. The judge refused to allow the name "Fred Hampton" to be used in court.Fact|date=January 2008 When Fred Jr.'s mother takes the stand to testify as to where Fred Jr. was at the time of the alleged incident, the main focus of questioning is her political affiliation with militant and radical groups like the BPP and the NPDUM.Fact|date=January 2008

On May 19, 1993, Fred Hampton, Jr. was sentenced to eighteen years in prison on a count of aggravated arson.

The Fall Out Boy song "You're Crashing, But You're No Wave" is based on his trial

Fred Hampton, Jr inherited his father's talent for politics as well as his his effectiveness in organizing. It has been suggested by the media and several government officials that race riots in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1996, were prompted by the NPDUM. Fact|date=January 2008

External links

*http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonjr.html
* [http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonjr.html Providence College student site]
* [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/0253248&mode=thread&tid=31 "From COINTELPRO to the Shadow Government: As Fred Hampton Jr. Is Released From 9 Years Of Prison, a Look Back at the Assassination of Fred Hampton"] . 36:48 real audio. Tape: Fred Hampton, Deborah Johnson. Guests: Fred Hampton Jr., Mutulu Olugabala, Rosa Clemente. Interviewer: Amy Goodman. Democracy Now!. Tuesday, March 5th, 2002. Retrieved May 12, 2005.