Fred Hampton Jr. faces new threats
By Greg
Butterfield
On April 1, African American political prisoner Fred Hampton
Jr. was secretly taken from his cell at Pontiac Prison and
moved to Menard Prison in southern Illinois. There he was
thrown into solitary confinement.
Family, friends and supporters learned of Hampton's
whereabouts a month later. Now they are calling for stepped-up
solidarity to win his freedom.
When he arrived at Menard, Hampton said, he faced death
threats from prison guards. Some chanted, "Dead man walking"--a
phrase used to describe a condemned prisoner being taken to the
execution chamber.
Other guards compared Hampton to George Jackson, a Black
Panther who was assassinated by guards in California's Soledad
Prison in 1971.
Later Hampton learned he was being punished for alleged
"unauthorized gang activity"--his continued political
affiliation with the National People's Democratic Uhuru
Movement. Hampton is president of the group's Chicago
chapter.
Legacy of struggle
Starting in the early 1990s, Hampton earned the wrath of
Chicago's police and political establishment for "organizing to
expose and defeat the U.S. government counterinsurgency war
against the African community," according to an NPDUM
statement.
Hampton was also targeted because he is the son of Fred
Hampton Sr.--the Chic ago Black Panther leader killed in cold
blood by police in 1969.
In May 1992--after two earlier police frame-ups had
failed--Fred Hampton Jr. was arrested and charged with
firebombing a Chicago grocery store in the aftermath of the Los
Angeles rebellion. The FBI was involved in the arrest along
with the Chicago police.
In court, no evidence was given to show that a fire had even
been set. Instead, the trial focused on Hampton's political
beliefs. The judge did not allow anyone to mention the racist
police killing of his father.
Hampton was sentenced to 18 years in prison for "aggravated
arson."
His supporters are continuing the fight to have him freed.
They are also demanding his release from solitary confinement
and guarantees that he will not be killed by guards.
Readers are urged to send letters of protest to: Warden
Thomas Page, Menard C.C., P.O. Box 711, Menard, IL 62233, and
to Gov. George Ryan, 207 State House Rd., Springfield, IL
62706, fax (217) 524-4049.
Readers can also send letters of support to Hampton. Write
to: Fred Hampton Jr., a.k.a. Alfred Johnson #B42954, Menard
C.C., P.O. Box 711, Menard, IL 62233.
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