Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Fred Hampton, the former activist and chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party.
“It is my privilege to honor our history with a proclamation that August 30th will be known as Chairman Fred Hampton Day in the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Johnson in a statement.
It is my privilege to honor our history with a proclamation that August 30th will be known as Chairman Fred Hampton Day in the City of Chicago. Chairman Fred’s commitment to racial and economic equality was the driving force that fueled his every action. pic.twitter.com/os4FooQO5E
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) August 30, 2023
“Chairman Fred’s commitment to racial and economic equality was the driving force that fueled his every action.”
Wednesday, August 30, marked the 75th anniversary of Hampton’s birth.
He was a rising leader within the Black Panther Party. He orchestrated rallies, instituted a Free Breakfast program and facilitated a peace agreement among rival gangs. Moreover, he formed the original Rainbow Coalition, a diverse, multi-cultural alliance of significant street gangs to halt internal conflicts and foster social change.
As an emerging figurehead within the BPP, Hampton became the center of an FBI inquiry. On December 4, 1969, Hampton, alongside his fellow Black Panther comrade Mark Clark, was murdered in bed at his Westside Chicago apartment during a pre-dawn raid by Chicago police officers. He was just 21-years-old.
Johnson joined Akua Njeri, Hampton’s fiancé, and his son, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., to celebrate Hampton’s life and legacy.
Johnson added, “His unwavering fight for social justice shaped his life, and he will be forever remembered as a skillful leader, tenacious organizer, and passionate activist.”
