Larry Hoover

Larry Hoover was the founder of the Chicago’s Gangster Disciples, a politically active street gang that helped broker truces between other Chicago gangs in an anti-violence campaign and participated in voter registration initiatives while promoting civic engagement. In 1973, an associate of Hoover, Larry Leverston, murdered a man who had robbed a drug house. In exchange for a reduced sentence, the man claimed Hoover had ordered him to commit the murder. During the trial, the judge refused to allow Hoover's attorney to ask whether or not Leverston was given a plea deal in exchange for testifying Hoover ordered the murder and no other evidence tied him to the killing. Hoover was convicted of being an accessory to murder and sentenced to 150 to 200 years in prison. While in prison Hoover continued to be politically active and started 21st Century VOTE organization which organized voter registration drives, election education, protests at Chicago City Hall, and neighborhood cleanups. He also created a program called Growth and Development, which helped members pursue education and job training, register to vote, and work to reduce violence in neighborhoods. In order to stop Hoover from organizing while in prison, federal prosecutors charged him with conspiring to distribute narcotics by arguing he was still leading the Gangster Disciples and was thus responsible for any crimes they committed. He was convicted of this and sentenced to an additional term of life in prison.