06/15/2026
THE UNSPOKEN DESECRATION
The Ongoing War on Fred Hampton’s Legacy
Most people know that on December 4, 1969, 21-year-old Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton was assassinated by Chicago police and the FBI while he slept.
But many do not know that the violence against him never stopped.
Fred Hampton is buried at Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. For decades, his gravestone has been the target of a disturbing, recurring ritual: it is repeatedly shot up.
His son, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., and visitors regularly document the deep, violent bullet impacts marring the headstone. Activists note that the grave is targeted consistently, turning the desecration into a cruel annual tradition.
Because Restvale Cemetery lacks modern 24/7 video surveillance, no specific individuals have ever been caught or charged. However, the Hampton family and community historians strongly believe these anonymous, late-night shootings are carried out by local law enforcement keeping a generational grudge alive.
The bullet holes in Fred Hampton’s gravestone prove that the forces of hatred still fear what he stood for: unity, community care, and empowerment. They want to erase his memory, but we won't let them.
Please share this post to expose this ongoing injustice.
