CARL BERNARD HAMPTON
On July 26, 1970, the People’s Party II held a fundraiser to attain bail money for two of its members that had been arrested. Shortly thereafter, more than 300 officers moved onto Dowling Street dressed in riot gear and all heavily armed. Officers from the "Red Squad," the criminal intelligence division (CID) took position on top of St. John’s Baptist Church to surveil the area for snipers. At approximately10:30 that night, Carl Hampton left party headquarters with others to see if there were officers on the roof. At this point, discrepancies in the report of the incident occur. The conclusion of the grand jury was that shots came from the ground and the order to return fire was then given. Therefore, the shooting was deemed as justified. Subsequently, the grand jury no-billed the officers responsible for the shooting death of Carl Hampton.
On the other hand, the People's Party II members claimed that the shots were fired after Hampton was identified by a reporter who was on the roof with the officers. It was also alleged that officers used "night vision scopes and hollow point dumdum bullets." Their version of events implied that Carl Hampton was assassinated by the police.
Carl Hampton was an intelligent and diligent proponent of the African-American people. Hampton wished to free his community from the institutionalized domination of a corrupt white society. Hampton brought attention to brutality on black citizens at the hands of police officer. Hampton was a gifted speaker that was having an affect on the black community. With that being said, it was only a matter of time before he was silenced. The assassination of Carl Hampton would be a major contribution to the frustration and anger of the African-American community concerning their treatment at the hands of the Houston Police Department.
Carl Hampton became a martyr for the civil rights cause. In 1969, Hampton had formed Houston's Rainbow Coalition. The coalition was a multiracial organization that rallied around issues that impacted not only the African-American community but also the Mexican and poor white communities. The Rainbow Coalition was made up of the People's Party II, Mexican-American Youth Organization and JBRL (the John Brown Revolutionary League).
On the other hand, the People's Party II members claimed that the shots were fired after Hampton was identified by a reporter who was on the roof with the officers. It was also alleged that officers used "night vision scopes and hollow point dumdum bullets." Their version of events implied that Carl Hampton was assassinated by the police.
Carl Hampton was an intelligent and diligent proponent of the African-American people. Hampton wished to free his community from the institutionalized domination of a corrupt white society. Hampton brought attention to brutality on black citizens at the hands of police officer. Hampton was a gifted speaker that was having an affect on the black community. With that being said, it was only a matter of time before he was silenced. The assassination of Carl Hampton would be a major contribution to the frustration and anger of the African-American community concerning their treatment at the hands of the Houston Police Department.
Carl Hampton became a martyr for the civil rights cause. In 1969, Hampton had formed Houston's Rainbow Coalition. The coalition was a multiracial organization that rallied around issues that impacted not only the African-American community but also the Mexican and poor white communities. The Rainbow Coalition was made up of the People's Party II, Mexican-American Youth Organization and JBRL (the John Brown Revolutionary League).
Scene outside the People's Party II headquarters in the 2800 block of Dowling, just before the shootout on July 26, 1970 where the Black Panther leader and chairman of the Peoples' Party II Carl Bernard Hampton was killed.
More than 50 people were arrested following the July 26, 1970, clash on Dowling Street.
The police force, 300 strong in riot gear and armed on Dowling Street.
Massai Hampton at his father's grave.