On December 4, 1969, Fred Hampton, a rising activist in the Black Panther Party (BPP), was assassinated in a raid led by the Chicago Police Department. Hampton, 21 years old at the time, was regarded as a charismatic and compelling figure who had quickly climbed to the position of deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers. The Black Panther Party activist was known for his verbiage and his dedication to organizing communities to fight against poverty, racism and police brutality.
