Hosted by Flint Taylor
Photo: Flint Taylor of the People's Law Office at Gene Siskel Film Center on December 3, 2024. Photographer Corey Walden
People’s Law Office and Church of the Holy Covenant
It was in the aftermath of the 1968 Democratic Convention that Ted Stein and a group of lawyers came together to devise a way to defend the numerous activists being arrested in record numbers. The People’s Law Office was founded in August 1969 and established its office at 2156 N. Halsted. Lawyers represented members of the Black Panther Party, the Young Lords, Rising Up Angry! and many others.
After the political assassination of Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton and Defense Captain Mark Clark, the PLO and attorney James Montgomery spent 13 years in litigation. They won a landmark civil rights decision and a settlement of $1.8 million. The People’s Law Office is celebrating its 56th year and continues to represent little-known and underrepresented people against police brutality, including the John Burge case.
Brief Background
Photo: Skip Andrew of the People's Law Office at 2337 W. Monroe on December 4, 1969. Still shot from "The Murder of Fred Hampton" documentary made available by the Chicago Film Archives
Beginning on December 4, 1969, the PLO spent 10 days in the massacred apartment gathering evidence against the FBI and the police’s illegal raid. Because Panther Headquarters was constantly being raided, some of that evidence was hidden at the Church of the Holy Covenant.
In 1968, Reverend James Reed went south during Freedom Summer to fight segregation. He then worked within the national Methodist Church establishment to integrate the Methodist congregations. In Lincoln Park, Holy Covenant gave refuge to Panthers, Young Lords, Students for a Democratic Society and others during the Days of Rage. Resident groups in Lincoln Park persecuted Holy Covenant for its involvement with political groups fighting social issues, and Reed was accused of “aiding radicals” in a 1970 U.S. Senate Subcommittee Meeting.
Photo: (center) Deputy Minister of Defense Bobby Rush with People’s Law Office attorney Dennis Cunningham on January 7, 1970, during the inquest into the assassination of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, ST-17101282D-0028, Chicago Sun-Times collection, Chicago History Museum
Join Us on Saturday, October 11
Join us for the Double-Dedication Ceremony hosted by the People’s Law Office’s Flint Taylor, commemorating Sites 11 and Site 12 on the inaugural Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois. Hear from the People’s Law Office, Holy Covenant, and former members of the Black Panther Party and Rainbow Coalition. Learn more about this historic time and why both locations are important to our collective history.
Scroll Down to Register: FREE
Saturday, October 11, 2025
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
925 W. Diversey
Chicago, IL 60614
Come at 11:30 a.m. to view the exhibit; the program starts at 12:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
No attire requirements, we love you just the way you are!
Allow time to find parking, street parking only, congested area
Plaque Sponsors
We thank Trust for Public Land for sponsoring the People's Law Office plaque and the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, with other donors, for sponsoring the Church of the Holy Covenant plaque.
Donate to the Heritage Trail
Please donate during checkout to help us preserve this history and establish the Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois.
Free Registration
Donating during checkout will help us fulfill our mission to preserve the history of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party.