More people need to be taught about who Fred Hampton is. He was an incredibly impactful man even though he was murdered by the United States government at just 21 years old. The FBI could illegally surveil its citizens to this degree, and murder without consequence in the hopes of silencing a movement for liberation. The ability to complete this execution with the coverage of the United States Government at the time proves that what happened to Fred Hampton is a True Crime Story.
Fred Hampton, with his charismatic leadership, posed a threat to the establishment's narrative. Targeted by the FBI, his assassination was orchestrated on the pretext of curtailing an alleged extremist organization armed with weapons. In truth, Hampton's demise was a calculated move to extinguish the flame of the potential he embodied.
At the heart of this tragic tale is William O'Neal, an informant embedded within the Black Panther Party. His role as a pawn in a dangerous game highlights the intricate web of deceit spun by those in power. O'Neal's manipulation of events, including drugging Hampton on the eve of the raid, unfurls a sinister plot orchestrated to silence a strong voice of unity.
As we peel back the layers of this somber history, we confront the shadowy specter of COINTELPRO—a covert operation that transcended its initial intent to eradicate communism, morphing into a tool of oppression against black activists. Fred Hampton's murder serves as a stark reminder of the unchecked power wielded by those operating in secrecy.