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Trial
Indicted by grand jury on 3/20/69, the original defendants were Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner & Bobby Seale. Wm Kunstler & Leonard Weinglass of the Center for Constitutional Rights were defense attorneys. Julius Hoffman was judge. Richard Schultz & Tom Foran were prosecutors. The trial began on 9/24/69. On 10/9 the Nat'l Guard was mobilized against demonstrators outside.
Seale requested postponement so his attorney, Charles Garry, could represent him after scheduled surgery. Hoffman denied postponement & refused to allow Seale to represent himself, leading to a verbal onslaught, the Black Panther leader calling him a 'fascist dog' & 'racist'. Seale refused to be silenced. Hoffman ordered him bound & gagged in the courtroom, citing a precedent from Ill. v. Allen. (Graham Nash's 'Chicago': "So your brother's bound & gagged, & they've chained him to a chair"). Ultimately Hoffman severed Seale from the case, giving him 4 years in prison for contempt, one of the longest sentences handed down for that offense.
The Chicago 8 became the 7, where the defendants, particularly Yippies Abbie Hoffman & Jerry Rubin, mocked courtroom decorum as the infamous trial became a focus for protest. Abbie & Jerry appeared in court dressed in judicial robes. Abbie blew kisses at the jury. Hoffman became a favorite courtroom target of the defendants, who frequently insulted him. Abbie told him "you're a 'shande fur de Goyim' [disgrace in front of the gentiles]. You would have served Hitler better," later adding "your idea of justice is the only obscenity in the room." Davis & Rubin said "this court's bullshit."
The trial extended months, with many countercultural figures from the left called to testify including singers Phil Ochs, Judy Collins & Arlo Guthrie; writers Norman Mailer & Alan Ginsberg; psychologist Timothy Leary & the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
On 2/18/70, all 7 were found not guilty of conspiracy. Froines & Weiner were acquitted completely. The remaining 5 were convicted of crossing state lines with intent to incite riot under the anti-riot provisions of the '68 Civil Rights Act. On 2/20, they were each fined $5k & sentenced to 5 years. At sentencing, Abbie recommended the judge try LSD, offering to set him up with a Florida dealer he knew.
On 11/21/72, all convictions were reversed by the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit on the basis that Hoffman was biased in refusing defense attorney screening of prospective jurors for cultural & racial bias (Case citation 472F.2d 340). The Justice Dep't decided not to retry the case. During the trial, all the defendants & both defense attorneys had been cited for contempt & sentenced to jail, but those convictions were also overturned. The contempt charges were retried before another judge, who found Dellinger, Rubin, Hoffman & Kunstler guilty of some charges, but opted against sentencing.
Seale requested postponement so his attorney, Charles Garry, could represent him after scheduled surgery. Hoffman denied postponement & refused to allow Seale to represent himself, leading to a verbal onslaught, the Black Panther leader calling him a 'fascist dog' & 'racist'. Seale refused to be silenced. Hoffman ordered him bound & gagged in the courtroom, citing a precedent from Ill. v. Allen. (Graham Nash's 'Chicago': "So your brother's bound & gagged, & they've chained him to a chair"). Ultimately Hoffman severed Seale from the case, giving him 4 years in prison for contempt, one of the longest sentences handed down for that offense.
The Chicago 8 became the 7, where the defendants, particularly Yippies Abbie Hoffman & Jerry Rubin, mocked courtroom decorum as the infamous trial became a focus for protest. Abbie & Jerry appeared in court dressed in judicial robes. Abbie blew kisses at the jury. Hoffman became a favorite courtroom target of the defendants, who frequently insulted him. Abbie told him "you're a 'shande fur de Goyim' [disgrace in front of the gentiles]. You would have served Hitler better," later adding "your idea of justice is the only obscenity in the room." Davis & Rubin said "this court's bullshit."
The trial extended months, with many countercultural figures from the left called to testify including singers Phil Ochs, Judy Collins & Arlo Guthrie; writers Norman Mailer & Alan Ginsberg; psychologist Timothy Leary & the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
On 2/18/70, all 7 were found not guilty of conspiracy. Froines & Weiner were acquitted completely. The remaining 5 were convicted of crossing state lines with intent to incite riot under the anti-riot provisions of the '68 Civil Rights Act. On 2/20, they were each fined $5k & sentenced to 5 years. At sentencing, Abbie recommended the judge try LSD, offering to set him up with a Florida dealer he knew.
On 11/21/72, all convictions were reversed by the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit on the basis that Hoffman was biased in refusing defense attorney screening of prospective jurors for cultural & racial bias (Case citation 472F.2d 340). The Justice Dep't decided not to retry the case. During the trial, all the defendants & both defense attorneys had been cited for contempt & sentenced to jail, but those convictions were also overturned. The contempt charges were retried before another judge, who found Dellinger, Rubin, Hoffman & Kunstler guilty of some charges, but opted against sentencing.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
52 people want to read
About the author
Tom Hayden
88 books29 followersThomas Emmet Hayden was an American social and political activist, author, and politician.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2022
This book despite its name does not merely focus upon the trial of the chicago 7 but also upon the general failures in society, which are often linked to the trial, and how these failures should be combated.
The focus that is put upon the trial is a fascinating insight into the great American show trial, in it the corruption and political zealotry of the American government are set out and this makes a great leaping on point for many of the ideological and sociological statements of this book.
The book focuses on the dictatorship of conservatism that gripped (and still grips) the American government and how this elite class cared (cares) more about propping up puppet governments then solving deep problems within society like racism, class inequality and police (pigs) brutality. It also points out the failure of Liberal politics and the case for revolutionary politics
The final chapter is a conflict in my mind as it makes two striking predictions that stood out (the book was published in 1964) . The first prediction was that Americas political sphere would make a major move to the left and that through this problems such as racism and abuses of power would become a things of the past, this struck me as in alot of ways the opposite has happened American politics has continued to move towards the right to the point that there left is most of the worlds centre right, but also racism and abuses of power by the police and by the government are going just as strong as they were and continue to be a lasting issue. The second prediction was on if the Liberals managed to gain power in America "even assuming a revived liberalism....(names which of Liberal people I'm not going to type out)...the introduction of palliatives might only inflame rather than calm the social crisis" and "Even the threat of reform is enough to mobilise Conservative power for a showdown" to me there is a clear parallel with the Obama Liberal reform presidency and the rise of the insane right wing reactionary president Donald Trump.
Overall many of the observations, arguments and predictions made in this book, it will have a good effect on you, in addition the analysis of the trial adds a interesting narrative and example for the greater beliefs of the book.
The focus that is put upon the trial is a fascinating insight into the great American show trial, in it the corruption and political zealotry of the American government are set out and this makes a great leaping on point for many of the ideological and sociological statements of this book.
The book focuses on the dictatorship of conservatism that gripped (and still grips) the American government and how this elite class cared (cares) more about propping up puppet governments then solving deep problems within society like racism, class inequality and police (pigs) brutality. It also points out the failure of Liberal politics and the case for revolutionary politics
The final chapter is a conflict in my mind as it makes two striking predictions that stood out (the book was published in 1964) . The first prediction was that Americas political sphere would make a major move to the left and that through this problems such as racism and abuses of power would become a things of the past, this struck me as in alot of ways the opposite has happened American politics has continued to move towards the right to the point that there left is most of the worlds centre right, but also racism and abuses of power by the police and by the government are going just as strong as they were and continue to be a lasting issue. The second prediction was on if the Liberals managed to gain power in America "even assuming a revived liberalism....(names which of Liberal people I'm not going to type out)...the introduction of palliatives might only inflame rather than calm the social crisis" and "Even the threat of reform is enough to mobilise Conservative power for a showdown" to me there is a clear parallel with the Obama Liberal reform presidency and the rise of the insane right wing reactionary president Donald Trump.
Overall many of the observations, arguments and predictions made in this book, it will have a good effect on you, in addition the analysis of the trial adds a interesting narrative and example for the greater beliefs of the book.
February 27, 2022
This book, while useful as a first hand account of the protest movement of the 1960s, is so painfully self indulgent at points as to be unbearable. I appreciated the insight into the trial and by extension the defendants (especially Rennie Davis), but by the conclusion was so put off by Hayden’s posturing that I will not remember this as a “good read” or pick it up again for any sort of revolutionary inspiration.
September 6, 2018
Pulled this off the shelf because of the 50th anniversary of the rukus at the Democratic Nat'l convention in Chicago in 1968. Much of this book isvery dated and written more as a manifesto than a history of the moment. It is also very sad, however, that many of the high ideals Mr. Hayden had for his and subsequent generations have failed to come to fruition.
April 20, 2021
I'm fascinated by the little that I know about Hayden at this point. On the whole, this is a really well-written manifesto of sorts wrapped with the trial and surrounding events used as the primary example of his position. Some of his critiques and analyses are incredibly rich and important while others seem to be reductionist at the very least. Interesting stuff.
January 30, 2022
If you are a young person wanting to learn more about social and political revolution, this is a must-read. The way Tom Hayden writes about the Black Panthers, socialism, the government is easy to understand and incredibly moving. Seriously, a must read!!
January 27, 2018
Recommended especially to see the relationships and interactions between white and black radical groups. A very interesting historical document.
June 8, 2018
3 3/4 stars
December 9, 2014
During the Chicago 7 Trial both John Froines and Lee Weiner were frequent visitors to Grinnell College in Iowa, the two of them being allowed to travel some distance, but not too far, from the court venue between sessions. I became acquainted with both, helping host them at dinners and speaking engagements on campus. Their indictments were ridiculous as events were to show, both of them being rather ordinary college professors not particularly radical in their activism.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews