Week 5 - “The Media is the Message”: Countercultural Political Protest

I'd like to talk about Abbie Hoffman and the Chicago Eight (which became the Chicago Seven later), as I wrote an essay in high school on this topic for American History (forgive me if I forget a few things, it has been a while since grade 11, haha).

From what I remember, yippies Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner, and Bobby Seale were arrested at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL for having "crossed state lines to incite a riot" and of "conspiracy". Their demonstration was against Lyndon Johnson's policies for the Vietnam War.

The trial was seen as a joke to the accused, with the eighth member of the accused, Bobby Seale, insulting the judge, calling him a "fascist dog", a "honkey", a "pig" and a "racist". These insults led to Seale being charged with contempt and being tried separately from the other seven. The other defendants also wanted to show how ridiculous the trial, which Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin showing up in judicial robes, mocking the judicial system. Hoffman also blew kisses to the jury and remarked to the judge that "you are a 'shande fur de Goyim' (disgrace in front of the gentiles). You would have served Hitler better." From these antics alone, you can judge for yourself what this trial was like.

Eventually, all seven defendants were found not guilty of conspiracy. Froines and Weiner were acquitted completely, while the other five were convicted of crossing state lines to incite a riot, which gave them each 5 years in prison. At the sentencing, Abbie Hoffman told the judge to try LSD, offering to set him up with a deal he knew.

It's a pretty ridiculous part of American history, especially the mockery of the American justice system.