Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, was born on August 30, 1948 and raised in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois. Hampton became involved in the civil rights movement, joining his local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In 1968, Hampton joined the Black Panther Party (BPP). Using his NAACP experience, he soon headed the Chicago chapter. During his brief BPP tenure, Hampton formed a “Rainbow Coalition” which included Students for a Democratic Society, the Blackstone Rangers, a street gang and the National Young Lords, a Puerto Rican organization. Hampton also started a community service program that included a free breakfast program for children and a free medical clinic, and held political education classes.

In an effort to neutralize the Chicago BPP, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Chicago Police Department placed the chapter under heavy surveillance and conducted several harassment campaigns.

During an early morning police raid of the BPP headquarters on December 4, 1969, twelve officers opened fire, killing the 21-year old Hampton and Peoria, Illinois Panther leader Mark Clark.