A Monumental Debate: How The Chicago 7 Trial Changed the Justice System
The Chicago Seven defense and defendants celebrate in the aftermath of the trial. Photo courtesy of History.com
Due to the breakdown of diplomacy and trust during the Vietnam war, protesters assembled en masse at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, numbering over ten thousand. Police brutally suppressed and arrested those participating, bringing into court eight men who were the main organizers of the event. Quickly, one of the men was eliminated from the trial, leaving seven; the sentencing of those that remained sparked a heated debate between those who thought them innocent and passionate, and those who thought of them as anarchists and rioters. To make matters worse, the appointed Judge was highly partial to the prosecution and convicted almost all of the defense with conspiracy to riot, contempt of court, and lengthy stays in prison. Thankfully, the defendants were acquitted of conspiracy to riot by the jury and later their contempt of court and prison sentences were overturned as well.
James Pope, Hailey Prieb, Daniel Demmin, Wyatt Lindsay
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