[IMC-Editorial] Assassination Attempts On Fred Hampton Jr.

Tue Jan 7 20:46:02 PST 2003

WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMON MAN, REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNITY, AND OUR OPPOSITION

Greetings,

I am writing because I am extremely concerned about the well-being of one of today's brightest, most dedicated political activists and freedom fighters in the United States-- Fred Hampton, Jr. Two attempts have been made on his life within the past few months. In addition, Chicago police have recently shot at Hampton's security more than once, endangering the lives of children in the process. These events must be exposed to the general public along with an understanding of why the FEDs and local police have targeted this man. It is also important that you understand that this is not some off the wall conspiracy theory. There is more than sufficient evidence that backs up everything we say in defense of this great man who is truly a soldier for freedom and equality.

FRED HAMPTON SR.

To understand the story of Fred Hampton Jr., it is important that you understand the story of his father, Fred Hampton Sr. The elder Hampton joined the Black Panther Party at the age of 19. When he was just 20 years old, he became the leader of the Chicago Chapter. Hampton was a fantastic public speaker and played an important role in the party's free breakfast program. His organizing skills were remarkable and it was obvious that Hampton was becoming powerful-- too powerful in the eyes of the United States Government. Thus, in the early morning hours of December 4, 1969, Chicago police raided Hampton's apartment, killing him and his comrade Mark Clark. This murder was carried out under the banner of the FBI's COINTELPRO, or counter-intelligence programs. These programs targeted activists that the bureau believed were dangerous. Examples included the Socialist Worker's Party, Martin Luther King, Jr., the American Indian Movement, Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, and of course, the Black Panther Party. A massive cover-up of the Hampton-Clark assassinations by the FBI, Chicago Police Department, and state attorney Harnahan didn't work the way they intended. The Hampton apartment was opened to the public by the Panthers to expose the brutality of the police. FBI documents later released under the Freedom of Information act include a floor plan of the apartment and a memo recommending that a cash bonus be paid to an infiltrator named William O'Neal because his work was of "tremendous value" in the raid. The FBI's Hampton file contained more than 4,000 pages. 

FRED HAMPTON JR. & THE UHURU MOVEMENT

The Black Panther Party was ultimately destroyed due to the repression inflicted upon them by the federal government. However, an organization called the African People's Socialist Party would soon take on many of the roles of the BPP. THE APSP founded the National Democratic People's Uhuru Movement in Chicago in 1991. Fred Hampton Jr. emerged as the leader of the Chicago branch, struggling for the rights and self-determination of his people. 

HARRASSMENT OF HAMPTON & THE FRAME-UP

As early as the late '80s, Hampton was being harassed by the Chicago Police Department. False charges were given to Hampton on a number of occasions, but the so-called authorities remained unsuccessful. In May of 1992, Richard M. Daley, the Chicago Police Department, and FBI would plot the frame-up of the young Hampton that ultimately put him in prison. On May 11th 1992, he was kidnapped by cops while walking down the street and charged with "aggravated arson". It is important to understand that at the time of his arrest, the police had no arrest warrant. Since he was engaged in no illegal act at the time of his arrest, this was a violation of his constitutional rights. The state produced no eye witnesses and no physical evidence. In fact, even the state's own fingerprint expert testified that Hampton's fingerprints weren't found on the bottles used for molotov cocktails. The store wasn't closed for more than ten minutes, no one was injured, and only minor property damage was done. Still, a huge investigation was launched by local, state, and federal agencies. Ultimately, Fred Hampton Jr. was sentenced to a ridiculous sentence of 18 years. While incarcerated, he was moved from prison to prison and his cell was inspected as many as eight times per day. 

HAMPTON'S RELEASE & CONTINUED HARRASSMENT

Remarkably, a victory occurred on September 14, 2001, when Hampton was released from prison. After gaining his freedom from the concentration camps that held him for nearly a decade, he began to once again organize the masses. He continued to speak at events around the nation and work to strengthen the Uhuru Movement. However, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, political repression in the United States increased due to legislation such as the PATRIOT Act. Attorney General John Ashcroft has waged another war on dissent and is responsible for much of the political repression that has occurred over the past year and a half. Hampton has now been attacked twice in a span of just over three months. On September 26th 2002, five shots hit the back of a vehicle that he was riding in with his mother and another comrade. He immediately came out and spoke about the incident to inform the people that he was once again being hunted. As he put it, "How do I recognize the activities of the continuing counter-insurgency? Why don't I have to wait for some Oliver Stone type movie to come out for me to say that something is a conspiracy or a coincidence? Because I went to the same schools that Brother Malcolm went to. He learned Amerikkkan history through its ghettos and prisons." Hampton did not let up, as he continued to do interviews and speak across the country. On December 23rd 2002, he was on his way to another speaking engagement when he was once again shot at. The place of the shooting was not in Chicago this time, but rather in southern Illinois. He received slight abrasions on the right side of his face and suffered a slight loss of hearing. 

ATTACKS ON HAMPTON'S SECURITY

Not only has Hampton been attacked twice in recent months, but his security also came under attack on December 28th, five days after the second assassination attempt. The man who is head of Hampton's security and the Prisoners of Conscience Committee is named Akbar. At around 12:20 AM, he was outside of his house when police officers began firing at him. After making it inside, he and his wife witnessed the cops picking up shell casings. He then proceeded to go to the back of his house to get his children. Uniformed police officers then began firing through the back door of his house. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on Akbar. In 2000, he was arrested on a parole violation-- only problem is he wasn't on parole. He sat in jail for four months before finally being released. The state has called this a "mix-up." On October 31, 2002, he was stopped by cops who claimed his license was suspended. Once again, there was no truth behind this claim. On November 29, Akbar was kidnapped by the police and interrogated for two days. Threats made included "you could end up dead" and questions were asked about his relation to Fred Hampton Jr. and his role in the Black Power Movement. In addition, there was an incident in which Akbar was on his hands and knees for an hour and a half while police supposedly looked for a gun in his car. And it doesn't stop there. On December 24, he was given two court dates for the exact same time. Obviously, if the court dates stand, he will be charged with missing one of them, as it is impossible to be two places at once. 

SUPPORTING FRED HAMPTON JR. 

As an activist, I whole heartedly support Fred Hampton Jr., Akbar, the Prisoners of Conscience Committee, and the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement. We cannot afford to sit still and be silent while the state continues its war against these couragous comrades. We in the revolutionary community must continue to fight for oppressed people and support our soldiers at all times. We must let John Ashcroft, the FBI, the Chicago Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies know that we are well aware of the war they are fighting against Hampton and his comrades. In other words, it comes down to a war on us. If any of our soldiers in the struggle are harmed by the state, you better believe that true justice will be attained by any means necessary. If the state and courts aren't going to stand up for truth, justice, and equality, then who will? We will! You've got your eyes on him, but we've got our eyes on you. The bottom line is: we will never surrender, we will never give in.

In Resistance,

Marcel Cartier

January 6, 2002

poeticalprophet1984 at yahoo.com

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/ogal

RELATED LINKS

Information on Fred Hampton Sr. 

http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonsr.html   

http://www.africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0213HamptonFred.asp?pic=none

Information on the FBI's COINTELPRO 

http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/cointel.htm

http://www.dickshovel.com/coin.html

Older Articles on Fred Hampton Jr. 

http://www.providence.edu/afro/students/panther/hamptonjr.html

http://www.afn.org/~iguana/archives/1997_11/19971102.html

http://www.inpdum.com/free_fred_hampton_jr.!1.htm

Interviews With Fred Hampton Jr.

http://awol.objector.org/articles/fredinterview.html

http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles/articleN1352.asp

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