Why This Black Panther's Son Sued The City Of Oakland

Fred Hampton Jr.
Via Wikimedia Commons
Zain Murdock
March 28, 2021

Black Panther Fred Hampton’s death was decades ago – he was murdered by the FBI at only 21 years old. But we can see how the police and criminal legal system still blatantly uphold the white supremacy that killed him. Just look at how they’ve treated his son!

In 1993, Fred Hampton, Jr. was sent to prison, much like his father, for “an act of terrorism” – throwing a Molotov cocktail during the Watts Rebellion. To this day, he asserts that he never committed the crime.

In 2013, he was arrested yet again. Hampton, Jr. was driving with some friends to a local Target, and cops following a robbery case locked eyes with him in the front seat. They followed his car, which didn’t even match the description, and arrested him at gunpoint!

This time, Hampton Jr. sued. He filed a suit for violating his civil rights, false imprisonment, and battery by a police officer. The state knew it was a false arrest – they had no option but to settle!

We must honor our ancestors by continuing their legacy of challenging the prison industrial complex and other white supremacist systems. Our ancestors have passed on, but they also passed their knowledge and wisdom to us!

Want to hear more from the man himself? Check out our recent interview with Chairman Hampton, Jr. on the Black History Year Podcast.

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