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Big Dance: The Untold Story of Weather-Man Kathy Boudin and the Terrorist Family That Committed the Brinks Robbery Murders
Drawing on interviews, testimony, FBI reports, and surveillance tapes, this report documents the Brink's robbery in 1981, in which three people were killed
- GenresHistory
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2022
In his book, investigative journalist John Castelluci tells the story of the protest movement in the post-Vietnam years, focusing on the robbery of an armored car in New York in 1981.
The Weather Underground disbanded in 1976 because of internal conflicts. Largely forgotten and hiding underground, the Weathermen had lost their former militancy and passion. Many of them had come to regret their choices and were embittered. They started accusing one another of “crimes against the people,” “betrayal of the revolution,” “white supremacy,” and “male supremacy." Alliances and friendships fell apart. The cocky leaders, who had once basked in respect and admiration, were now forced to apologize and criticize their own actions, which several years ago had been hailed as bold.
Over the subsequent years, the majority of Weathermen turned themselves in, inspiring local news stories that read like the final words of radicalism. After negotiating deals with prosecutors – typically probation or jail time in some cases – they turned their energy to the difficult task of rebuilding old relationships and a sense of political purpose. They went back to normal life, raising families, developing careers, and sustaining their activist commitments around issues such as fighting racism, imperialism, and economic inequality, which had always motivated them. Their professional lives were usually dedicated to education, political advocacy, or helping disadvantaged communities.
There were a few Weathermen who had decided to continue the armed struggle, though. New groups, such as the "May 19th Communist Organization," were formed to reconsolidate the forces of the far Left, while the United Freedom Front, a small organization in New England and similar to the Weather Underground, bombed state and corporate buildings and robbed banks. “European American anti-imperialists,” as many white “revolutionaries” called themselves, built new alliances with members of African-American and Puerto Rican armed struggle groups. In addition to the traditional attacks on state and corporate property, these new groups organized daring prison escapes and engaged in “revolutionary expropriations", in other words bank robberies, to fund their activities. One such robbery, known as The Big Dance, went horribly wrong.
On October 20, 1981, a group of radical activists attempted to rob a a Brinks armored truck containing 1.6 million dollars. The security guard was shot, and two police officers, who had stopped the getaway car containing the money, were also killed. The driver was former Weatherman David Gilbert. His partner, Kathy Boudin, who had also been in the Weather Underground, was in the passenger seat. Both of them were immediately arrested. Former Weather Underground member Judy Clark and former Black Panther Sam Brown, who had been in the second car, were arrested the same day. In the days and months that followed, more participants in the robbery were arrested, among them Kuwasi Balagoon, formerly Donald Weems, a major figure in the black armed struggle. Investigators gathered crucial information, such as the location of safe houses and names, about the surviving underground network.
Almost all of the defendants, whose trials took place in 1983 and 1984, declined to mount conventional defenses and instead used the court proceedings to denounce America for centuries of plunder, exploitation, and violence. Most were given consecutive life sentences for multiple counts of murder.
This did not stop some former Weathermen and BLA members from committing more robberies and bombings. In the mid 1980s, though, arrests all but destroyed the underground. By 1986, with most suspects captured, the “armed struggle” movement originating in the 1960s came to an end.
According to the author, the actions and beliefs of the radicals of the 1980s were outdated – the public did not relate to radicalism anymore. The activists now fought to survive prison, to come to terms with their choices, and to sustain meaningful forms of activism. In the face of strong resistance from prison administrators, they have worked to improve health care and education in the prisons, to organize peer counseling on issues of HIV/AIDS, and to provide legal assistance to other inmates. Their incarceration gave rise to a small movement on behalf of America’s self-described “political prisoners”, whether from the Black Power, Puerto Rican independence, anti-imperialist, or Native American movements, and drew people's attention to issues such as the death penalty and “super-maximum security” facilities, in which thousands of prisoners are tortured with long periods of complete isolation. Former Weathermen became active in advocacy for prisoners.
THE BIG DANCE is a well-written account of the history of the radical activism after the end of the Vietnam conflict. This book is not analytical, but it is informative.
The Weather Underground disbanded in 1976 because of internal conflicts. Largely forgotten and hiding underground, the Weathermen had lost their former militancy and passion. Many of them had come to regret their choices and were embittered. They started accusing one another of “crimes against the people,” “betrayal of the revolution,” “white supremacy,” and “male supremacy." Alliances and friendships fell apart. The cocky leaders, who had once basked in respect and admiration, were now forced to apologize and criticize their own actions, which several years ago had been hailed as bold.
Over the subsequent years, the majority of Weathermen turned themselves in, inspiring local news stories that read like the final words of radicalism. After negotiating deals with prosecutors – typically probation or jail time in some cases – they turned their energy to the difficult task of rebuilding old relationships and a sense of political purpose. They went back to normal life, raising families, developing careers, and sustaining their activist commitments around issues such as fighting racism, imperialism, and economic inequality, which had always motivated them. Their professional lives were usually dedicated to education, political advocacy, or helping disadvantaged communities.
There were a few Weathermen who had decided to continue the armed struggle, though. New groups, such as the "May 19th Communist Organization," were formed to reconsolidate the forces of the far Left, while the United Freedom Front, a small organization in New England and similar to the Weather Underground, bombed state and corporate buildings and robbed banks. “European American anti-imperialists,” as many white “revolutionaries” called themselves, built new alliances with members of African-American and Puerto Rican armed struggle groups. In addition to the traditional attacks on state and corporate property, these new groups organized daring prison escapes and engaged in “revolutionary expropriations", in other words bank robberies, to fund their activities. One such robbery, known as The Big Dance, went horribly wrong.
On October 20, 1981, a group of radical activists attempted to rob a a Brinks armored truck containing 1.6 million dollars. The security guard was shot, and two police officers, who had stopped the getaway car containing the money, were also killed. The driver was former Weatherman David Gilbert. His partner, Kathy Boudin, who had also been in the Weather Underground, was in the passenger seat. Both of them were immediately arrested. Former Weather Underground member Judy Clark and former Black Panther Sam Brown, who had been in the second car, were arrested the same day. In the days and months that followed, more participants in the robbery were arrested, among them Kuwasi Balagoon, formerly Donald Weems, a major figure in the black armed struggle. Investigators gathered crucial information, such as the location of safe houses and names, about the surviving underground network.
Almost all of the defendants, whose trials took place in 1983 and 1984, declined to mount conventional defenses and instead used the court proceedings to denounce America for centuries of plunder, exploitation, and violence. Most were given consecutive life sentences for multiple counts of murder.
This did not stop some former Weathermen and BLA members from committing more robberies and bombings. In the mid 1980s, though, arrests all but destroyed the underground. By 1986, with most suspects captured, the “armed struggle” movement originating in the 1960s came to an end.
According to the author, the actions and beliefs of the radicals of the 1980s were outdated – the public did not relate to radicalism anymore. The activists now fought to survive prison, to come to terms with their choices, and to sustain meaningful forms of activism. In the face of strong resistance from prison administrators, they have worked to improve health care and education in the prisons, to organize peer counseling on issues of HIV/AIDS, and to provide legal assistance to other inmates. Their incarceration gave rise to a small movement on behalf of America’s self-described “political prisoners”, whether from the Black Power, Puerto Rican independence, anti-imperialist, or Native American movements, and drew people's attention to issues such as the death penalty and “super-maximum security” facilities, in which thousands of prisoners are tortured with long periods of complete isolation. Former Weathermen became active in advocacy for prisoners.
THE BIG DANCE is a well-written account of the history of the radical activism after the end of the Vietnam conflict. This book is not analytical, but it is informative.
February 20, 2021
The best book I've read, out of many, on the revolutionary violence of the 1970s. John Castellucci is an outstanding investigative journalist who lets the facts speak for themselves, and his research is exhaustive. This is the only book I've read that clearly explains the connection between the remnants of WUO and BLA/The Family. I only wish it were in print so I could buy a copy (they retail used for around $500!), because I want to re-read it.
October 18, 2016
The play by play of the 1981 Nyak robbery is better than, 'Family Circle', but overbal that is the better book. This was an enjoyable read and there is a lot of good info about the Dohrn sisters and Bill Ayers.
June 24, 2013
I have read this book about four times. Great read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews