Why the Chicago Seven are Still Relevant Today
In September of 2020, Netflix released ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’, a historical dramatization based of the infamous trial of the same name. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, the film received a mixed reviews amid claims of historical inaccuracy, which is true. It misrepresents a lot of what actually happened. However, while watching the film, it’s impossible not to draw similarities between America in the 1960s and the present day - which is precisely the point.
The trial of the Chicago Seven (originally referred to as the Chicago Eight – Bobby Seale, Co-Founder of the Black Panther Party, was later tried separately) began in August 1968. Eight men from different political, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds were arraigned by the US government on a myriad of charges; conspiracy, crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot, participation in other countercultural protests among others. The eight men, who were collectively referred to as the “New Left”, were against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War was a proxy war between America and the Soviet Union, when the two superpowers were engaged in the ‘Cold War’ rivalry that began in the aftermath of the Second World War. The Soviet backed North Vietnamese government wanted the entire country to act under a single communist regime while the American backed South did not. This led to war with American troops, money and supplies sent to Vietnam in a bid to stop the spread of communism to the South and the rest of Asia.
Thousands of Americans opposed the war and their country’s involvement. Many were opposed on moral grounds, outraged by the absolute devastation caused by the war. Others simply thought the objective wasn’t clear and victory was unattainable. Student movements that initially began as part of the Civil Rights movement grew as their attention turned to the Vietnam War.
As a result, several groups of young people planned to travel to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to protest. The convention, which was held to select the Democratic Party candidates for the presidential election, began in August of 1968. Groups of young people from a variety of backgrounds organised demonstrations, rallies, and marches to protest America’s involvement in the war, despite not actually receiving permits (with the exception of one) from Chicago’s mayor, Richard J. Daley.
The one permit Mayor Daley did approve meant the protestors could meet at the south end of Chicago’s Grant Park, with around 15,000 people turning up on 28 August 1968. In retaliation to the massive numbers, Mayor Daley deployed 12,000 police officers, 5,600 members of the Illinois National Guard, and 5,000 Army soldiers to the streets of Chicago; conflict was inevitable.
That evening, the protestors made their way to Lincoln Park, defying the curfew set to them. The forces deployed by Mayor Daley arrived at around 11pm, armed with tear gas and batons. A battle between the two parties erupted, protestors were throwing bottles and rocks in retaliation. The fight lasted four days and nights and is now famously known as the Battle of Michigan Avenue.
Over 600 protestors were arrested, and 1,000 police officers were injured in the battle of Michigan Avenue. Several journalists were injured and had their film equipment broken. In the aftermath, over 200 protestors, police officers, and civilians were interviewed. Eventually, the Chicago Eight were arrested.
Though police officers were also named in the indictments for the riot, the media focused on the eight men: Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Lee Weiner, and Bobby Seale. The men were initially charged under the newly passed Civil Rights Act of 1968, making it a federal crime to cross state lines with the intent to start the riot. This is also known as the Rap Brown Law or the Anti-Riot Act.
As the trial began, it was quickly clear it would be no ordinary trial. Judge Julius Hoffman (no relation to defendant Abbie Hoffman) did not work hard to mask his dislike of the eight defendants. This was evident during Bobby Seale’s trial. Seale had requested his trial be postponed so that his attorney, Charles Garry, could represent him, a process usually covered under the fifth amendment privilege to avoid self-incrimination.
However, Judge Hoffman denied the postponement and didn’t allow Seale to represent himself. With members of the Black Panthers behind him, Seale argued that this was illegal and racist; in retaliation Judge Hoffman demanded Seale be bound, gagged, and chained to a chair. Seale stayed this way for many days in court, something that perhaps isn’t accurately portrayed in the numerous documentaries and films about the infamous trial. For example, in Sorkin’s portrayal of the trial, it’s suggested that Seale was only bound briefly, for one day of the court proceedings.
Ultimately, Judge Hoffman declared Seale’s trial as a mistrial and sentenced him to four years in prison and the Chicago Eight became the Chicago Seven. The seven men remained on trial for a further four months before all being cleared of conspiracy - Froines and Weiner being cleared of all charges, and the remaining five convicted of crossing state lines with intent of starting the riot.
The remaining five men were sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $5,000. However, after two years, their sentences were overturned. In November of 1972, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit deemed Judge Hoffman had been biased. It also came to light that the defence lawyer room had been bugged by the FBI. The justice department later decided not to re-try the case.
Judge Hoffman’s handling of the Chicago Eight case became infamous, inspiring Aaron Sorkin to write the script for ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ in 2007. The film ended up in ‘development hell’ until 2020, when the spotlight on police brutality and racial injustice in America at a fever pitch, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and mass protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a police officer, Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was later convicted of Floyd’s murder.
The comparisons between the America of 1968 and today are so easily drawn - mass protests, brutal clashes with police, calls for racial equality, contentious elections, the Capitol being stormed. In particular, the inhumane treatment of George Floyd as he was being murdered serves as a grisly echo of the degrading treatment Bobby Seale suffered at the hands of Judge Hoffman, showing that the same racist attitudes still permeate all levels of the American justice system today. Watch Sorkin’s film and judge the parrallells yourself.