Struggle continues to rename street

The Prisoners of Conscience Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., has been waging a struggle over the past three months to have the 2300 block of West Monroe named in honor of his father, the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Chairman Fred Hampton, Sr. along with BPP member Mark Clark were assassinated by a paramilitary squad of Chicago cops in collusion with the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and State’s Attor ney Edward Hanrahan on Dec. 4, 1969 in an incident that came to be known as the “Massacre on Monroe.”

Fred Hampton was a courageous representative, not only of the African-American community, but of humanity.

Alderwoman Madeline Haithcock had sponsored an ordinance in City Council to officially designate the 2300 block of Monroe as “Honorary Chairman Fred Hampton Way.” Chairman Fred Jr. kept the heat on the street by organizing more than 125 people to march on City Hall March 29 in support of the ordinance.

Representatives of many organizations, including the New Black Panther Party, the Moorish Science Temple and Workers World Party attended the march. Chairman Fred Jr. and his mother, Akua Njeri, a longtime revolutionary activist, tried to force a vote on the ordinance by attempting to enter the City Council chambers while the council was in session. They were prevented from doing so by a wall of cops.

Verbal altercations between Chairman Fred Jr. and several councilmembers and cops followed while the demonstrators shouted, “Bring the vote to the floor!” and “Black power!” The demonstration then spilled out into the street, where Chair man Fred Jr. led a militant march to the federal detention facility where POCC Mini ster of Defense Aaron Patterson is being held captive. The POCC later held a block party in front of the former BPP headquarters.

Alderman Tom Allen of the 38th Ward refused to call for a vote even though the ordi nance had already passed in his transportation committee. The ordinance again came before the City Council floor on April 26.

Haithcock needed at least 26 votes to discharge a piece of legislation from committee over Allen’s objections. She was unable to come up with the needed votes, saying, “Certain interest groups have successfully conspired to confuse and intimidate the public on this issue.”

A smear campaign has been waged by Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline, the Chicago Police Department and their cop “union,” the Fraternal Order of Police, against the memory of Fred Hampton Sr. and the historical legacy of the BPP.

Chairman Fred Jr. reacted to these events by saying, “Chairman Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were courageous representatives, not only of the African community, but of humanity. Their legacies—people are trying to wipe it out. Why are people scared to talk about Fred Hampton Sr.? Why have there been threats on my life?” Chairman Fred Jr. narrowly survived two assassination attempts several years ago.

Commenting on Mayor Richard Daley Jr.’s role in smothering the vote on the street name, Chairman Fred said, “Is this a democracy or a Daley dictatorship? All shots come from the fifth floor. [The city hall location of the mayor’s office.] “I know that much about Chicago history. Once you start talking about Chairman Fred Hampton, you’ve got to start making some concrete connections about who was mayor and under whose tenure he was assassinated. There’s a Pandora’s Box that a lot of people don’t want to open in this city.” Daley, of course, is trying to play the victim since being confronted with his role in sinking the street name ordinance. He says, ‘Who else are they going to blame? Everybody blames me!’”

Both Chairman Fred and Alderwoman Haithcock vow to continue the struggle despite the temporary setback. Haithcock said, “I will put the sign up in some kind of way. I will honor him in some manner. If it’s not the sign, it’ll be something.”