The scene in which the judge commands to amordazar and chain Bobby Seale It happened in real life. Also when Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden They dress with judicial robes to make fun of Judge Julius Hoffman. Abbie Hoffman marched in real life along with hundreds of people to demand the freedom of Tom Hayden.
Although there are also some facts that are not very precise, for example, it was David Dellinger who read the names of the fallen in Vietnam and not Tom Hyden.
In August 1968, the 7 of Chicago were arrested. The trial began in September 1969 and ended 5 months laterin February 1970. Important witnesses of the cultural life of the United States participated at that time, such as Allen Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Jesse Jackson and Judy Collins.
It was characterized by the teasing of the detainees towards the judge and the words that Bobby Seale He told the judge: «Racist and fascist pig», which led the judge to order Seale.
The protests occurred in the midst of certain historical events. The National Democratic Convention of 1968 It was held in August for the Democratic Party to choose its following presidency candidates. That year was also marked by the murders of Martin Luther King Jr.on April 4, and that of Robert F. Kennedyon June 6.
Before the Convention, the members of the International Youth Party (the «Yippies») and the National Mobilization Committee to end the war in Vietnam (Mobe) organized peaceful protests, but everything got out of control when the police arrived.
Why protested the 7 of Chicago?
These men protested against the participation of the United States in the Vietnam War. Thousands of people gathered in Lincoln Park on Monday 26 for camping, and challenged the curfew of 11:00 pm that the mayor of Chicago had decreed.
More than 15 thousand people They met on August 28 to march to the place where the convention was held, but the police dissolved the protest with the tear and blows that even affects the press that covered the protests.
What did the 7 of Chicago do?
These activists were accused and tried for «inciting a riot» in the National Democratic Convention of 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, which took place from August 26 to 29. Actually they only went to protest The United States participation in the Vietnam Warbut they did violate the Civil Rights Law of 1968 in doing so. They were also accused of obstructing the work of the police and teaching other people to manufacture homemade weapons.
Any of the 7 of Chicago went to jail?
In reality, none of the 8 men went to jail even though Judge Julius Hoffman ordered them to sentence them to 5 years in prison for inciting the disturbances and contempt. But the Court of Appeals of the Seventh Circuit reversed the convictions, due to the impartiality of the judge in the case.
He «Chicago 7 judgment» It is available through Netflix.