Mark Clark (Black Panther)
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| Mark Clark | |
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 Black Panther
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| Born | June 28, 1947 Peoria, Illinois, USA |
| Died | December 4, 1969 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
Mark Clark (Black Panther) (June 28, 1947 – December 4, 1969) was a member of the Black Panther Party. He was killed with Fred Hampton in an infamous Chicago police raid on December 4, 1969.
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[edit] Youth
Mark Clark was born on June 28, 1947, in Peoria, Illinois, to Elder William Clark and Fannie Bardley Clark. He became active in the N.A.A.C.P at an early age and joined in demonstrating against discrimination in employment, housing and education. According to John Gwynn, former President of state and local chapters of the N.A.A.C.P, Mark Clark and his brothers played a major part in keeping other teenagers in line. "He could call for order when older persons or adults could not," he said of Mark in a December 1969 interview with the Chicago Tribune.
To many, Mark appeared to be ahead of his years. In his youth he imparted wisdom to older children and adults. He was the one who told young ladies to "stop being a ho" and teenage boys to "act like a man."
Family members say Mark Clark enjoyed reading and art and was very good at drawing portraits. He attended Manual High School and Illinois Central Junior College in Peoria.
[edit] The Black Panther Party
After reading their literature and Ten Point Program, he joined the Black Panther Party and later decided to organize a local Peoria Illinois chapter. He went from church to church in an effort to find a building to house a free breakfast program. He was turned away time after time, but he never gave up. Eventually, Pastor Blaine Ramsey agreed to allow a free breakfast program. Church members later voted against continuing the breakfast program because of the negative FBI propaganda associated with the Black Panther Party.
[edit] The December 4th Raid
Some family members and friends say Mark Clark knew he would be assassinated in Chicago. Before he made the trip, he reportedly told many people he would "probably not see them again."
In the pre-dawn hours of December 4, 1969, Chicago Police stormed into the apartment of BPP State Chairman Fred Hampton at 2337 W. Monroe Street, killing both Mark Clark and Fred Hampton.
[edit] References
- 1. Who Was Mark Clark? - Mark Clark Legacy website. Permission to use this information in the Public Domain is granted by the Mark Clark Legacy website.
- 2. Black Panther Leader Mark Clark Remembered As “Quiet Leader” On Anniversary Of Infamous Police Raid.
- 3. "Panther Clark Expected Death, Sister Reveals", by Joseph Boyce, Chicago Tribune 1963-Current file; Dec 29, 1969; ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1985) pg. 12.
