Chicago 8 (7) Trial Opens; Anti-Riot Act Tested
The trial of leaders of the demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic Party Convention (August 28, 1968 (known as the Chicago 8 and later the Chicago 7) opened on this day. They were charged with violating the new Anti-Riot Act, which was passed on April 11, 1968.
The Anti-Riot Act made it a crime to travel between states to:
A) to incite a riot; or (B) to organize, promote, encourage, participate in, or carry on a riot; or (C) to commit any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or (D) to aid or abet any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot. . . .
The defendants, anti-Vietnam War activists, Yippies, and other activists, included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin (founders and leaders of the Yippies), Tom Hayden (a founder of Students for a Democratic Society), Dave Dellinger (pacifist and conscientious objector), Bobby Seale (Black Panther Party leader), Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner.
Because of Seale’s outbursts in the courtroom, Judge Julius Hoffman had him bound and gagged; he then severed Seale from the trial. This explains why the case is sometimes referred to as the Chicago 8 and sometimes as the Chicago 7. Images of the gagged Seale bound came to symbolize the bias of the judge and the injustice of the case. Seale was eventually convicted and sentenced to four years in prison.
The trial became a tumultuous affair, including clear bias on the part of Judge Julius Hoffman, who cited the two defense attorneys for contempt on February 15, 1970. All seven of the remaining defendants were found not guilty of conspiracy, but five (all but Froines and Weiner) were convicted of violating the Anti-Riot Act on February 18, 1970. The convictions were later overturned on appeal.
Learn more about the trial of the Chicago 8 here
See a documentary on the protests and the trial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a-sFuzmloE
Read about the trial: Jason Epstein, The Great Conspiracy Trial (1970)
Read Tom Hayden’s memoirs: Tom Hayden, Reunion: A Memoir (1988)