This Day in History: 24 September 2020
24 September 1969
51 years ago, today, the trial for the Chicago Eight opened. They were charged with initiating violent demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Initially, there were eight defendants, one of whom being Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers, who accused Judge Julius Hoffman of being a racist and demanded a separate trial. The seven other defendants did whatever they could to disrupt the trial through acts such as reading poetry and chanting Hare Krishna. While the jury was considering their verdict, Judge Hoffman held the defendants in contempt of the court for their behaviour. They were sentenced to up to 29 months in jail.
At the height of anti-war and civil rights movements, the Chicago Eight had organised protest marches and rock concerts at the Democratic National Convention. Clashes broke out between the protestors and police which escalated into full-scale rioting. The Chicago Eight were indicted for violating the Rap Brown Law, which made it illegal to cross state lines in order to riot. In 1970, the contempt charges were overturned on appeal on the basis that the judge was biased in his cultural and racial views. Before a different judge, some of the group were found guilty of a few charges but did not sentence any of them to jail or fines.
Want to find out more about the Chicago Eight? Click here for more information, or here for more about their trial.
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