March 1 - Capitol Bombing

This Day in History: 1 March 2020

 

1 March 1971

 

49 years ago, today, a bomb exploded in the Capitol building in Washington, causing around $300,000 in damage, but no injuries. The group who claimed responsibility for this incident was the Weather Underground, who had committed this crime in protest of the ongoing US-supported Laos invasion. They were a radical faction of the SDS, the Students for a Democratic Society, and promoted violence to transform America's society. Marxism built the philosophical foundations of the group, influencing their belief on revolution occurring through militant struggle, therefore striking out the state, and sparking revolution among the young, white working class. They mainly attempted to carry this out through arson and bombing.

 

The Capitol building was not the only target of the bombings. Other places that fell victims to their violence were the Long Island Court House, the New York Police Department headquarters, the Pentagon, and the State department. Thankfully, no one was killed in these bombings, as the bombers would always call in an advanced warning. Despite this, three members of the Weather Underground had died on March 6, 1970, when they were constructing the bombs, and the house exploded.

 

Want to find out more about the Weather Underground and this terror attack? Click here for more details.