why did a riot break out at the democratic national convention in 1968

What happened at the 1968 Democratic National Convention?

In 1968, counterculture and anti-Vietnam War protest groups began planning protests and demonstrations in response to the convention, and the city promised to maintain law and order.

What was the Vietnam War protest movement in 1968?

Protest activity against the Vietnam War took place prior to and during the 1968 Democratic National Convention . In 1968, counterculture and anti-Vietnam War protest groups began planning protests and demonstrations in response to the convention, and the city promised to maintain law and order.

What happened at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago?

At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, tens of thousands of protesters against the Vietnam War battle police in the streets while the Democratic Party tears itself to shreds concerning a platform statement on Vietnam.

Why did riots break out in 1968?

Riots had broken out in the capital Washington earlier in 1968 following the April assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, which was followed in June by the assassination of senator Robert Kennedy. "We'd been covering confrontations and riots for two to three years," Mr Brack says.

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What happened at the Democratic National Convention in 1968?

During the Democratic National Convention in 1968, a riot broke out. They were anti-war protesters who wanted to demonstrate that they were against the Vietnam War being carried out at that time. This group of protesters gathered the same day of the Democratic National Convention to show their dissatisfaction towards the war. There was conflict with the police on the streets. It was a time of violence, political turbulence, and civil unrest.

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When he became president, Woodrow Wilson was concerned that banks • did not involve themselves enough in the US economy. had too much influence in US …

Where were the protests in 1968?

Vietnam War protests at the University of Michigan. Protest activity against the Vietnam War took place prior to and during the 1968 Democratic National Convention . In 1968, counterculture and anti-Vietnam War protest groups began planning protests and demonstrations in response to the convention, and the city promised to maintain law and order.

What was the Democratic National Convention protest?

1968 Democratic National Convention protests. Protest activity against the Vietnam War took place prior to and during the 1968 Democratic National Convention . In 1968, counterculture and anti-Vietnam War protest groups began planning protests and demonstrations in response to the convention, and the city promised to maintain law and order.

What was the Youth International Party?

The Youth International Party was one of the major groups in the organization of the protests. Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and a few friends engaged in conversation at Hoffman's apartment on New Year's Eve, 1967. They discussed the events of the year, such as the Summer of Love and the Pentagon demonstration. The idea of having a free music festival in Chicago was suggested to defuse political tension. Over the next week, the Youth International Party took shape. Its members, known as "Yippies" politicized hippie ideology and used street theater and other tactics to critique the culture of the United States and induce change.

What happened to Dean Johnson?

Dean Johnson, age 17, and another boy were stopped on the sidewalk by the officers for a curfew violation early on the morning of Thursday, August 22. When Johnson drew and fired a pistol at police (the gun misfired), police officers returned fire, hitting Johnson three times. The Yippies and SDS hastily organized a memorial service for Johnson, but as one observer noted, due to poor planning "it turned out that no one had made any plans to actually do anything. We just milled around and began to fill up the intersection. Two squad cars pulled up and the cops got out and told us to keep moving ... but they were pretty gentle about it".

What did the Yippies do at the Democratic National Convention?

Police milled in the crowd giving considerable leeway to the proceedings which led to a peaceable day. The Yippies took a radical approach to the Democratic National Convention. They wrote articles, published fliers, made speeches and held rallies and demonstrations, to announce that they were coming to Chicago.

What was the Chicago police riot?

The protesters were met by the Chicago Police Department in the streets and parks of Chicago before and during the convention, including indiscriminate police violence against protesters, reporters, photographers, and bystanders that was later described by the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence as a " police riot ".

Who wrote the excerpt from Chicago 68?

An excerpt from Chicago '68 by David Farber. An excerpt from No One Was Killed: The Democratic National Convention, August 1968 by John Schultz. An excerpt from Battleground Chicago: The Police and the 1968 Democratic National Convention by Frank Kusch.

What was the Democratic National Convention in 1968?

Though the 1968 protest at the Democratic National Convention were largely against the Vietnam War, the country was undergoing unrest on many fronts. The months leading up to the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention were turbulent: The brutal assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in April had left the country reeling, and although segregation had officially ended, racism and poverty continued to make life difficult for many blacks.

Where was the Democratic Convention held in 1968?

Sources. The Democratic Convention of 1968 was held August 26-29 in Chicago, Illinois. As delegates flowed into the International Amphitheatre to nominate a Democratic Party presidential candidate, tens of thousands of protesters swarmed the streets to rally against the Vietnam War and the political status quo.

What did the yippies do at the 1968 Democratic National Convention?

Fed up with Democratic leadership’s penchant for war, yippies protesting at the 1968 Democratic National Convention conceived their own solution: nominate a pig for president.

How many protesters were there in the Amphitheatre?

Up to fifteen thousand protestors gathered, much less than protest leaders had hoped for, and they were quickly surrounded by hundreds of police and National Guardsmen under orders to keep the protestors from reaching the Amphitheatre.

What was the first mayor of Chicago in 1968?

1968: Hippies, Yippies and the First Mayor Daley. The Chicago Tribune.

When did protesters take over Lincoln Park?

Protestors Take Over Lincoln Park. In July 1968 , MOBE and yippie activists applied for permits to camp at Lincoln Park and hold rallies at the International Amphitheatre, Soldier Field and Grant Park.

What forced the Democratic Party to take a hard look at how they did business and how they could regain the public?

The events of the convention forced the Democratic Party to take a hard look at how they did business and how they could regain the public’s trust.

What happened in 1968?

On August 28, 1968, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, thousands of Vietnam War protesters battle police in the streets, while the Democratic Party falls apart over an internal disagreement concerning its stance on Vietnam.

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How many people attended the march on Washington?

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Who led the anti-war campaign?

A faction led by Eugene McCarthy, a committed anti-war candidate, began to challenge the long-held assumption that the United States should remain in the war. As the debate intensified, fights broke out on the convention floor, and delegates and reporters were beaten and knocked to the ground.

What was the Cold War consensus?

The “Cold War consensus,” in U.S. government, however, fractured during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. Democratic delegates from across the country were split on the question of Vietnam. A faction led by Eugene McCarthy, a committed anti-war candidate, began to challenge the long-held assumption that ...

What year did the Democratic Party hold its national convention?

More than 50 years on, the Democratic Party's national convention of 1968 continues to haunt the party and cast a shadow over US politics, writes James Jeffrey.

What year did the Detroit riots happen?

Wounded civilians during Detroit riots of 1967, a precursor to the tumult in Chicago. "It was the most intense week of hate I've ever experienced," Mr Brack said in an oral history interview given to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, Texas, which houses Brack's archives. "Combat heat is different.

How many US troops were on standby at the protests?

Another 6,000 US Army troops were put on standby. "Not all protesters are angry, they have a point to make, but these protesters regarded the police as pigs, who in turn regarded them as draft-dodging hippies," says photojournalist Dennis Brack who covered the convention.

Why did anti-war protesters arrive in the city the week before?

Anti-war protesters began arriving in the city the week before, vowing to change the party's policy toward the increasingly hated Vietnam War.

What was the fence around the convention center?

The International Amphitheatre hosting the convention was encircled by barbed wire and a long, high chain-link fence, while an 11pm curfew was imposed across the city.

How many police were there in the Daley protest?

The city's tough-talking mayor Richard Daley wasn't taking any chances. The force he mobilised against demonstrators included all the city's 12,000 police, supported by 6,000 armed National Guardsman and 1,000 intelligence agents from the FBI, CIA, Army and Navy. Another 6,000 US Army troops were put on standby.

What happened in the 1960s in America?

America was on the edge - the decade appeared ensnared in unending violence both abroad and at home. Detroit had been torn apart during the long, hot summer of 1967 by violent and bloody confrontations between blacks and police. Riots had broken out in the capital Washington earlier in 1968 following the April assassination ...

Who said the Democratic Convention is about to begin in a police state?

Walter Cronkite remarked on air that, “The Democratic Convention is about to begin in a police state. There just doesn't seem to be any other way to say it.”. Many of those in the press expected this however and it was not uncommon to see them toting their own riot gear in case the situation turned for the worse.

When did the Democratic National Convention start?

Start of the Convention. The 1968 Democratic National Convention began on Monday, August 6 with delegates from several states entering the International Amphitheater. Live cameras from multiple news agencies covered the entire convention floor but none showed the protests outside.

Why did the Vietnam War debate take place?

The next day, Wednesday, August 28, the televised Vietnam War debate took place in order to see if the Democrat Party would adopt a peace plank or if they would continue to support the war. At roughly the same time MOBE and other protest groups convened at the bandshell in Grant Park to hold their highly anticipated anti-war rally. Roughly 15,000 protesters showed up with most coming from Chicago itself, though this was far less than leaders had anticipated. Despite the disappointing turnout they went ahead with the rally. They held speeches where some made inflammatory remarks, even calling for revolution, while most just wanted an end to the conflict in Vietnam. Hundreds of police and National Guardsmen surrounded the protesters with orders to prevent them from reaching the amphitheater.

Why did the protesters scatter in all directions?

The protesters began to scatter in all directions as the gas grew thicker and police moved in, many tripping over each other and falling due to the blinding effects of the gas. Police began mercilessly hitting people with clubs, oftentimes not stopping even when someone had dropped to the ground. Eyewitnesses reported that police used no restraint and there was much unnecessary bloodshed, some reporters even claiming that officers removed their badges, name plates, and unit patches so they would be unidentifiable in any photographs taken.

How many votes did Humphrey win?

That night after bitter contention, yelling, cursing, fights, and general chaos Humphrey officially won the nomination by over a thousand votes. The mood within the convention turned somber as any illusion of solidarity in the Democratic Party had been utterly shattered. Many of the peace delegates joined the protesters outside and held a candlelight vigil. The next day protesters and hundreds of the anti-war delegates again attempted to make their way to the amphitheater but were quickly dispersed with tear gas.

How do you feel when you fall into a riot?

In the confusion people run, trip, and stumble. You hear police barking orders but are unsure of what to do as your vision is now clouded and the coughing worsens. In front of you appears a dark figure and not but a second later you feel a terrible pain shoot through the side of your head as you fall to the ground. Lying on the ground you can feel multiple people battering your back and sides with hard objects. Eventually the pain fades as you slip into unconsciousness.

What happened to Martin Luther King Jr.?

On top of that, the one most able to heal the racial divide, Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated in April and left many civil rights activists and black communities disheartened.

What was the purpose of the 1968 Democratic National Convention?

Johnson had announced he would not seek reelection, thus making the purpose of the convention was to select a new presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. The keynote speaker was Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine were nominated for president and vice president, respectively. The most contentious issues of the convention was the continuing American military involvement in the Vietnam War and calls to reform voting, particularly expanding the right to vote for draft age soldiers who were unable to vote as the voting age was 21. The convention also marked a turning point where previously idle groups such as youth and minorities became more involved in politics and voting.

What was the significance of the 1968 convention?

The convention of 1968 was held during a year of riots, political turbulence, and mass civil unrest. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April of that year inflamed racial tensions to an unprecedented level. King's assassination lead to riots in more than 100 cities and marked the end of the Civil Rights Era.

Why did Daley want the Democratic Convention to be held in Chicago?

Johnson had wanted the Democratic convention to be held in Houston, but Daley had successfully lobbied the president to have the convention held in Chicago, as he wanted the convention held in his city to showcase to the national media how successful he had been since he started serving as mayor in 1955. Daley, a man who ruled Chicago in an extremely authoritarian style, felt very strongly that the protesters were going to ruin what was supposed to be his moment of triumph and was determined to stop them. One of Daley's aides told the media that the anti-war demonstrators were "revolutionaries bent on the destruction of America". The mayor attempted to impose restrictions to keep protesters as far away as possible from the convention, on their numbers, and on their activities, making it very clear that he much preferred that no protesters come to his city. Two of the SDS leaders, Tom Hayden and Rennie Davis, had planned to keep their protests peaceful, but the lack of permits for protesting together with thinly veiled threats that the Chicago police would beat demonstrators made it clear that there would probably be violence. When the media reported that Daley had given orders to the police to restrict the activities of Democratic delegates loyal to McCarthy, Daley was enraged, giving a rambling press conference saying, "This is a vicious attack on this city and its mayor".

Why did Daley call in so many policemen and guardsmen?

After the violence at the convention, Daley said his primary reason for calling in so many Guardsmen and police was reports he received indicating the existence of plots to assassinate many Democratic Party leaders, including himself.

What was the Democratic Party's division after the Kennedy assassination?

After Kennedy's assassination on June 5, the Democratic Party's divisions grew. At the moment of Kennedy's death the delegate count stood at Humphrey 561.5, Kennedy 393.5, McCarthy 258. Kennedy's murder left his delegates uncommitted. Support within the Democratic Party was divided between McCarthy, who ran a decidedly anti-war campaign and was seen as the peace candidate; Humphrey, who was seen as the candidate representing the Johnson point of view; and Senator George McGovern, who appealed to some of the Kennedy supporters.

How many points behind Nixon was Humphrey?

After the convention, which had very publicly exposed the fault-lines between hawkish and dovish Democrats, Humphrey was 22 points behind Nixon in the polls. By contrast to the violence and chaos in Chicago, the Republican convention in Miami had been a model of order and unity, which made Nixon appear better qualified to be president as even Humphrey himself conceded in private.

How many defendants were charged in the Chicago Seven?

Main article: Chicago Seven. A grand jury charged eight defendants with conspiracy, crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot, and other federal crimes following the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Overview

Before The Convention

Background

Aftermath

The Mcgovern–fraser Commission

Protests And Police Response