Disclaimer: The following blog post is not a reflection of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s opinion on the below topics.
By Ian Cata
The year was 1968; MLK was assassinated, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, thousands of Americans had been killed in Vietnam, the United States of America was a powder keg, and it was ready to blow.[1]
Amongst the hundreds of other major historical events that occurred in 1968, it was also an election year and incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not be running for reelection. His Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, entered into the race after the democratic primaries and relied on the upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago to win over delegates and become the Democratic presidential nominee. His opposition was popular antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), brother of former president John F. Kennedy. After RFK was assassinated in June of 1968, Humphrey only faced opposition from McCarthy. Due to the large political ramifications of a McCarthy nomination in addition to the general atmosphere at the time, tens of thousands of anti-war and counterculture demonstrators descended on Chicago before the convention began on August 26th.[2]
On August 20th, in anticipation of large-scale protest, Governor Samuel Shapiro ordered the Illinois National Guard to be activated and sent to Chicago. In his notice of activation, Shapiro wrote that he had, “received a request from the Honorable Richard J. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago, that this threatened situation in Chicago may become beyond the control of the civil authorities.” Ultimately, 5,600 National Guardsmen were sent to protect the convention amphitheater as well as the hotels where candidates and delegates were staying. They joined the 11,500-strong Chicago police force, 1,000 federal agents, and 7,500 federal soldiers.[3]
The first large batch of anti-war demonstrators convened on August 25th in Lincoln Park (10 miles from the convention). They initially were given permission to stay by the Mayor, but later in the day, their permit was revoked, and the police moved in to enforce at 11 P.M. curfew.[5] Police tear-gassed the demonstrators, many of whom were sleeping and had nowhere to stay. As people scattered, the nearby St. Paul’s United Church of Christ provided a place of refuge from the violence, allowing the demonstrators to sleep in their gym.[6]
On August 26th, the DNC began. TV cameras were allowed to film inside the amphitheater but curiously were banned from filming the anti-war demonstrations occurring outside. Demonstrators gathered in Grant Park (around five miles from the convention), and at night moved across the street to demonstrate in front of the Conrad Hilton Hotel, where many delegates and candidates were staying. Once the police lost control of the crowd, Mayor Daley sent in the National Guard troops.[7]
On August 27th, thousands of demonstrators gathered at Grant Park where organizers had a legal permit to protest. When police arrived, one of the protest organizers requested they leave due to the lack of illegality surrounding their actions. He was then promptly beaten unconscious by police. That night, demonstrators returned to the Hilton where they were tear-gassed and beaten with billy clubs by police.[8]
On August 28th, protests returned in full force.[9] At some point in the night, a 17-minute melee ensued which became known as the “Battle of Michigan Avenue”. Police began beating and teargassing the crowd, but their violence extended to civilians and members of the press as well.[10] The chaos was filmed and broadcast live to the horrors of the nation as they witnessed police brutality unfold before them. Chaos ensued inside the amphitheater as well, as plain-clothes police officers began barring certain delegates from speaking. One live broadcast they beat reporter, Dan Rather, to the floor. Walter Cronkite referred to the Chicago police as “thugs” in response to this.[11] Shortly after midnight, Hubert Humphrey won the nomination.[12]
After days of chaos and violence, the dust had finally settled, and the DNC was concluded. Over 10,000 people were estimated to have participated in the demonstrations.[14] 641 people were arrested, hundreds were injured, and 63 newspeople reported being attacked by police.[15][16] In the days following the protests, the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence appointed a team to investigate the violence that occurred. The report was released on December 1st, 1968, and subsequently became known as the Walker Report (after its author). The report described the violent actions at the hands of the police as a “police riot” and stated that while demonstrators had harassed and provoked police, the police had committed numerous criminal acts and were completely out of line.[17]
Eight protest organizers were charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines to incite a riot: John Froines, Lee Weiner, David Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Bobby Seale (Bobby Seale’s case was declared a mistrial and the remaining group became known as the Chicago 7).[18] In 1970, after an infamous trial full of chaotic moments, all members of the Chicago 7 were acquitted of conspiracy but were charged with contempt of court, and five of the seven were charged with crossing state lines to incite a riot. Two years later, all convictions were reversed after an appeals court had found the Judge presiding over the case to have shown clear bias.[19]
As Chicago is set to host the Democratic National Convention again this upcoming August, the history and lessons of 1968 are important to keep fresh in mind as the city prepares for the event. Freedom of speech and the right to protest is a fundamental part of democracy and it must be protected. The 1968 DNC protests serve as a profound example of what can happen when people aren’t given the space and room to peacefully protest. During the “Battle of Michigan Avenue”, bystanders and demonstrators broke out into a chant repeating the line, “The whole world is watching!”[20] Now more than ever, the world truly is watching, so to those seeking to oppress and silence; tread lightly.
[1] “1968 Democratic National Convention: The Mess in Chicago,” PBSLearningMedia, 2023.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Governor Shapiro Calls Out the National Guard.” Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.
[4] Hannah Abel, “Tipping Point: The 50th Anniversary of the 1968 Democratic National Convention Riots in Chicago,” Magnum Photos, 2018.
[5] Lee Hudson, “Looking back at the 1968 Democratic National Convention,” Politico, 2023.
[6] St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Archives.
[7] Hudson, “Looking back at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.”
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] “The Battle of Michigan Avenue (1969),” National Film Preservation Foundation, 1969.
[11] “1968: CBS News’ Dan Rather gets roughed up while trying to interview a Georgia delegate,” CBS News, 2016.
[12] Olivia B. Waxman, “Inside 1968’s Chicago Democratic National Convention Protest,” Time, 2018.
[13] “Young “hippie” standing in front of a row of National Guard soldiers, across the street from the Hilton Hotel at Grant Park, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 26, 1968,” Library of Congress, 1968.
[14] Ibid.
[15] “Strategy of Confrontation – Chicago and the Democratic National Convention, 1968,” Office of Justice Programs, 1968.
[16] “The Walker Report Summary, excerpted from Rights in Conflict, the NCCPV report on the 1968 Democratic National Convention,” Chicago ’68.
[17] Kai Elz, “Illinois Gov. Dan Walker dies at 92,” Chicago Defender, 2015.
[18] Waxman, “Inside 1968’s Chicago Democratic National Convention Protest.”
[19] Jojo Galven, “The Chicago 7 Trial,” Chicago History Museum, 2022.
[20] Maggie Astor, “’The Whole World Is Watching’: The 1968 Democratic Convention, 50 Years Later (Published 2018),” The New York Times, 2018.