REMEMBERING FRED HAMPTON

This week marks 55 years since 21-year-old Fred Hampton, one of the most charismatic leaders African people the world over have ever known, was assassinated in a raid orchestrated by the Chicago Police Department and the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, known as the FBI.

Hampton, born on 30 August 1948 in Chicago, was a visionary leader who dedicated his life to pursuing justice and equality for Africans in the United States. After being a young and dynamic voice in the Civil Rights Movement, Hampton rose to prominence through his involvement in the Black Panther Party, becoming chairman of the Illinois chapter.

Under Hampton's leadership, the BPP initiated the Free Breakfast for Children Programme, providing thousands of African children with nutritious meals before school began.

At the core of Hampton's ideology was the belief in self-defence and self-determination for Africans. He advocated for the right to bear arms and defended the community against police brutality, urging others to do the same. Hampton's fearless approach to confronting systemic oppression made him a symbol of resistance and hope.

His assassination was a blow to the Black Panther Party and the larger struggle for African liberation. Yet, Hampton's ideas and principles continue reverberating throughout revolutionary movements in the US and worldwide.