Mark Clark

From The Chicago Hip-Hop History Project

Mark Clark (June 28, 1947 – December 4, 1969) was an activist and member of the Black Panther Party, known for his leadership in Chicago, Illinois. He helped establish the Free Breakfast Program for children and promoted coalition-building around anti-war and social justice causes. On December 4, 1969, Clark was killed alongside Fred Hampton during a predawn raid by Chicago police, an operation coordinated with federal and local agencies.

Though a coroner’s inquest ruled the deaths justifiable, later investigations and a civil lawsuit—settled in 1982—revealed evidence of government misconduct. Clark's death at age 22 became a symbol of state violence against Black activism and underscored the risks faced by those fighting for equity and justice during the civil rights era.[1][2][3]