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The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther
by
Jeffrey Haas
It’s around 7:00 A.M. on December 4, 1969, and attorney Jeff Haas is in a police lockup in Chicago, interviewing Fred Hampton’s fiancée. She is describing how the police pulled her from the room as Fred lay unconscious on their bed. She heard one officer say, �He’s still alive.” She then heard two shots. A second officer said, �He’s good and dead now.” She looks at Jeff an...more
Hardcover, 424 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by Chicago Review Press
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The fact that you know who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were but likely have little idea who Fred Hampton was is damn near a disgrace.
This is far and away the most thorough and powerful autobiographical account of life during the fight for African-American Civil Rights since The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The author, Jeffery Haas, was one of the lead prosecutors in the case against the government after Hampton's assassination in 1969, a moment that in many ways ended the black nati...more
This is far and away the most thorough and powerful autobiographical account of life during the fight for African-American Civil Rights since The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The author, Jeffery Haas, was one of the lead prosecutors in the case against the government after Hampton's assassination in 1969, a moment that in many ways ended the black nati...more
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Among some circles, Fred Hampton is a luminary without peers. Though new generations may only catch his reference in a song, his legacy in Chicago and to the Black liberation movement is without question. The charismatic Black Panther Party chapter leader demonstrated a natural gift for reaching people, and marshaled young people into political action for the first time. His brutal murder — in which Chicago police, after wounding him as he slept, delivered two rounds to the head, killing him — h...more
This book is a very valuable first-hand account of some of the legal aftermath of Fred Hampton's assassination. The author was a lawyer for the Black Panthers, and explains in detail the appalling miscarriages of justice that occurred every step of the way in the lawsuit brought by the survivors of the police raid during which Fred Hampton was killed. For example, he describes how, after he (the author) frustratedly stated in court that all they want is a fair trial but it looks like they're not...more
Fred Haas, grandson of Leo Frank's attorney, was an attorney for the Black Panther Party (BPP) in Illinois. Fred Hampton, the Chair of the IL BPP, was killed in his bed by Chicago Police, who claimed that they were fired at by the people inside the apartment. Evidence showed gunshots coming into the apartment, not going out. Fred Haas represented the survivors of the police raid and the parents of the two panthers who were killed, first charging the police department, then in a lengthy civil law...more
3 1/2 stars. The writing was surprisingly good seeing as how it was written by a full time lawyer who never wrote a book before. There were a few tangents that made the book feel a bit longer than it was, but overall it was good. I guess when you are involved in an event for 40+ years you have a pretty good grasp of the subject matter.
Be forewarned: This book is not really a biography about Fred Hampton. It is more of a autobiography, true crime, conspiracy theory book about the Fred Hampton mur...more
Be forewarned: This book is not really a biography about Fred Hampton. It is more of a autobiography, true crime, conspiracy theory book about the Fred Hampton mur...more
One of the most important stories of the 1960's was the program developed by the FBI to target and "neutralize" charismatic Black leaders. This is not a story that has gotten sufficient attention, and is never mentioned in the seemingly endless nostalgia stories of the Sixties.
Fred Hampton fit the FBI profile, was targeted and after an unsuccessful attempt at getting a Black gang leader to kill Hampton, the FBI assisted the Chicago police department in assassinating Hampton on December 4, 1969.
A...more
Fred Hampton fit the FBI profile, was targeted and after an unsuccessful attempt at getting a Black gang leader to kill Hampton, the FBI assisted the Chicago police department in assassinating Hampton on December 4, 1969.
A...more
At times the author's style can be a bit off-putting, he tends to sensationalize things, particularly dialogue, in a style that conflicts with the presentation of impartial evidence and facts. The evidence is strong enough to stand on its own without his qualifications, but otherwise the book provides great insight into Fred Hampton's murder. The peak of my annoyance with his style came with the pun "testilied" but overall the truth of the story is compelling enough to keep the pages turning. An...more
Dec 04, 2009
Jose
marked it as to-read
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/4...
"Today [12/4/09:] marks the fortieth anniversary of the death of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. On December 4th, 1969, Chicago police raided Fred Hampton’s apartment and shot and killed him in his bed. He was just twenty-one years old. Black Panther leader Mark Clark was also killed in the raid. While authorities claimed the Panthers had opened fire on the police who were there to serve a search warrant for weapons, evidence later emerged that told a v...more
"Today [12/4/09:] marks the fortieth anniversary of the death of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. On December 4th, 1969, Chicago police raided Fred Hampton’s apartment and shot and killed him in his bed. He was just twenty-one years old. Black Panther leader Mark Clark was also killed in the raid. While authorities claimed the Panthers had opened fire on the police who were there to serve a search warrant for weapons, evidence later emerged that told a v...more
I love reading about how corrupt our government has been and always be. Being a young humanitarian and activist and from chicago myself I felt I could connect to Fred Hampton. This story gave me chills and tears, it's always awful seeing young adults fighting for good causes, getting imprisoned and or murdered by the tyrannical governments.
This book was absolutely touching and inspiring. It portrays who the real pigs are and why they wanted to silence a young and up-and-coming revolutionary leader.
I didn't read the blurb, so I wasn't prepared for so much of the author's personal life nor for such a detailed account of the trial. But, I really got into it. Definitely worth reading about this dark part of Chicago history.
"Free The Carbondale Six!
And Our Defense Minister from Peoria!"
And Our Defense Minister from Peoria!"
As good a read as a Grisham novel, but based on a real event.
This book has a back cover blurb from Bill Ayers -- alert Glenn Beck!
Fred Hampton, Deputy Chairman Chicago, Illinois B.P.P. Chapter from 1968 thru 1969. Murdered, along with Mark Clark in a pre dawn fascist police attack by State's Attorney Hannerhand's Special Police Squad, December 4th, 1969 The FBI's "COINTELPRO" was complicit in this murder of Fred and Mark Clark and the vicious shooting of several party members while they were asleep at 5:00 a.m. After ten years the families ultimately won a suite against the state
a great investigation into the death of fred hampton. everything is exposed, including COINTELPRO goverment documents to interviews with members of the black panther party during fred's death. fred hampton did so much before he died at the young age of 21. if you are interested in learning more about the law and the corruption behind the US government when it came to black organizations during the civil rights era, READ THIS!
True story that chronicles the murder of Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark by the FBI and Chicago police. The book is written by a U of C law alum whose work has inspired a generation of lawyers dedicated to working for social change. - Craig Futterman
Good to read this story from a legal standpoint. Lots of facts and evidence that is often overlooked when this moment in history is revisited...
really good so far.
I'm so proud of the author, his partners, and the victims and family members who never gave up the fight to uncover the truth. I think it's important to note that the government never seems to take note of anyone unless s/he turns out to be a charismatic leader bringing up the subject of class inequity. In this case, the FBI had a man killed for feeding breakfast to kids who couldn't afford it otherwise. We have to remember Fred's assertion that you can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill...more
May 23, 2013
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Attorney Jeff Haas has spent his career working for justice. In 1969 he and three other lawyers set up the Peoples Law Office, whose clients included the Black Panthers, SDS, and other political activists. Haas went on to handle cases involving prisoners rights, police torture, and the wrongfully accused. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and children and continues to represent victi...more
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