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A coroner’s jury in Chicago, Illinois, concluded that the deaths of Black Panther Party leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, were justifiable.
1970 (Jan 21)
A coroner's jury in Chicago, Illinois, concluded that the deaths of Black Panther party leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, were justifiable. The two were slain during a police raid on Hampton's apartment on December 4, 1969. Seven other panthers were arrested following the raid. A special inquest was assembled on January 6 after Panther leaders charged that Hampton was murdered in his bed. Chicago detectives who participated in the pre-dawn raid testified that one or more persons in Hampton's apartment opened fire on the police. The attorneys representing the families of the two slain Panthers did not call any witnesses during the hearing. They indicated that they did not want to reveal their plans for the defense of the seven Panthers who faced possible trial for attempted murder. The foreman of the six-man jury said the verdict was reached "solely on the evidence presented." A Cook County grand jury was also investigating the incident.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.