Chicago Seven

Long ago, many people met in Chicago.

Some people led large groups. They held big meetings in parks. They used music and art too.

Things became very hard and unfair. There was a lot of fighting. Many people were hurt by the police.

Seven men went to court. They were called the Chicago Seven. They were charged with many things.

A judge said they were wrong. But later, the rules were changed. The men were let go. They are still known today.

In 1968, many people met in Chicago. They wanted to protest the war in Vietnam. Groups like the Mobe and the Yippies planned big meetings.

During the Democratic National Convention, things became very tense. Many police officers and National Guard troops were in the city. Protesters gathered in parks to sing and drum. On some nights, there was a lot of fighting. The police used tear gas and clubs. Many people, including reporters, were hurt.

After the protests, seven men went to court. They were called the Chicago Seven. Their names were Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner. The government charged them with conspiracy. They were also charged with starting riots.

A judge sent some of the men to jail. But later, a higher court changed the rules. They reversed the convictions. The government did not try them again. Today, people still make art about this time.

In 1968, many people gathered in Chicago to protest the Vietnam War. This event took place during the Democratic National Convention. Different groups worked to organize these large meetings. One group was called the Mobe. Another group was called the Yippies.

The Yippies wanted to hold a "Festival of Life." They planned music and theater to respond to the convention. Some leaders, like Rennie Davis and Tom Hayden, wanted the protests to be peaceful. They even asked the government for permits to use city parks. However, most of these permits were denied. This made the situation very tense for everyone involved.

During the convention week, many people were in the city. About 11,900 Chicago police officers were on duty. Nearly 6,000 National Guard members were also sent to Chicago. There were many other officers from the FBI and Secret Service too.

On some nights, there was a lot of conflict in the parks. Police used tear gas and clubs to move people. Protesters, reporters, and bystanders were often hurt in the crowds. Many people chanted, "The whole world is watching." This was because news cameras were filming the events. These videos were shown on television that very night.

After the protests, the government charged seven men with crimes. They were called the Chicago Seven. Their names were Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner. They were charged with conspiracy and starting riots.

At first, some of the men were found guilty. A judge also sent the men and their lawyers to jail for contempt of court. But later, higher courts looked at the case again. They reversed the convictions of the men. The government decided not to try the case a second time. Today, artists still make movies and music about these events.

The Chicago Seven refers to a group of seven defendants charged by the United States Department of Justice in 1969. They were accused of conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intent to incite a riot. These charges stemmed from anti-war protests during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The group was originally known as the Chicago Eight. They became the Chicago Seven after a mistrial was declared for another defendant, Bobby Seale.

The protests were organized by several different groups. One major group was the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, also called the Mobe. Leaders like David Dellinger and Rennie Davis worked with the Mobe to plan demonstrations. Another group was the Yippies, a counterculture group including Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman. The Yippies planned a "Festival of Life" to counter what they called the "Convention of Death." While some leaders like Tom Hayden drafted proposals for nonviolent and legal protests, many permit requests for city parks were denied by officials.

During the convention week in August 1968, Chicago saw a massive increase in security forces. The city deployed 11,900 members of the Chicago Police Department on twelve-hour shifts. Nearly 6,000 National Guard members were sent to the city, with another 5,000 on alert. Additionally, about 1,000 FBI officers and 1,000 Secret Service agents were present. The scale of the security was so large that news anchor Walter Cronkite described the convention as being in a "police state."

Conflict broke out in several locations throughout the week. On August 25, police used tear gas and billy-clubs to clear protesters from Lincoln Park after a curfew began. On August 26, violent skirmishes occurred in Grant Park. On August 28, a large confrontation known as "The Battle of Michigan Avenue" took place in front of the Conrad Hilton hotel. Protesters were met by a phalanx of the National Guard armed with M1 rifles and machine guns. During these moments, many demonstrators chanted, "The whole world is watching," because news cameras were broadcasting the events live on television.

The violence resulted in many injuries and arrests. Reports indicate that 100 protesters and 119 police officers were treated for injuries. Approximately 600 protesters were arrested during the unrest. The legal aftermath focused on the seven men: Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner. The defendants were charged with conspiracy, crossing state lines to incite a riot, and other related charges. Froines and Weiner also faced charges regarding the construction of incendiary devices.

The trial results were complex and changed through the appeals process. All seven defendants were acquitted of the conspiracy charges. However, Davis, Dellinger, Hayden, Hoffman, and Rubin were convicted of crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot. Froines and Weiner were acquitted of their specific charges. During the trial, Judge Julius Hoffman also convicted the defendants and their attorneys of contempt of court. These contempt convictions resulted in jail sentences ranging from less than three months to over four years.

Ultimately, the legal outcomes were overturned. All of the convictions were later reversed on appeal, and the government declined to retry the case. Investigations into the violence yielded different conclusions. The Walker Report, released in December 1968, described the police actions as a "police riot." It noted that while some protesters were provocative, the vast majority intended to express dissent peacefully. The case remains a significant moment in American history, often depicted in films, music, and theater.