Conspiracy in the Streets: The Extraordinary Trial of the Chicago Seven

Book Overview

THE TRIAL THAT IS NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Reprinted to coincide with the release of the new Aaron Sorkin film, this book provides the political background of this infamous trial, narrating the utter craziness of the courtroom and revealing both the humorous antics and the serious politics involved

Opening at the end of 1969--a politically charged year at the beginning of Nixon's presidency and at the height of the anti-war movement--the Trial of the Chicago Seven (which started out as the Chicago Eight) brought together Yippies, antiwar activists, and Black Panthers to face conspiracy charges following massive protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, protests which continue to have remarkable contemporary resonance.

The defendants--Rennie Davis, Dave Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale (the co-founder of the Black Panther Party who was ultimately removed from the trial, making it seven and not eight who were on trial), and Lee Weiner--openly lampooned the proceedings, blowing kisses to the jury, wearing their own judicial robes, and bringing a Viet Cong flag into the courtroom. Eventually the judge ordered Seale to be bound and gagged for insisting on representing himself. Adding to the theater in the courtroom an array of celebrity witnesses appeared, among them Timothy Leary, Norman Mailer, Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, and Allen Ginsberg (who provoked the prosecution by chanting "Om" on the witness stand).

This book combines an abridged transcript of the trial with astute commentary by historian and journalist Jon Wiener, and brings to vivid life an extraordinary event which, like Woodstock, came to epitomize the late 1960s and the cause for free speech and the right to protest--causes that are very much alive a half century later. As Wiener writes, "At the end of the sixties, it seemed that all the conflicts in America were distilled and then acted out in the courtroom of the Chicago Conspiracy trial."

An afterword by the late Tom Hayden examines the trial's ongoing relevance, and drawings by Jules Feiffer help recreate the electrifying atmosphere of the courtroom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565848330
• ISBN13: 9781565848337
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Crucial Companion to Morgen's "Chicago Ten" Doc

After watching the new anima-cumentary "Chicago Ten," I wanted to learn more about this colorful and pivotal moment in U.S. history. I found "Conspiracy in the Streets" a crucial (and very funny) companion to the documentary; one that gave me a deeper look at the men who-- with courage and humor, with great irreverence for power and deep reverence for people-- put the war in Vietnam on trial in 1969. The Chicago Ten film blends archival footage of the streets of Chicago with animated reenactments from the trial itself. Buy this book and you can read along with the animated versions of David Dellinger and Abbie Hoffman. Educational fun for the whole family!

Best book I've read in a while...

Nothing more than excerpts from the transcript of the Chicago conspiracy trial. Sounds boring, right? Transcript of a trial? Wrong! Probably one of the best books I've read in the last few years. I highly recommend the book if you don't know much about the late 60s, but even moreso if you've read quite a bit about the subject. It's a really really really great book... Funny enough to make you laugh out loud, and maddening enough that you find yourself grinding your teeth at certain sections. I hope everyone that goes to see the new Chicago 10 documentary picks up a copy of this book.

There is humor, there is tragedy

I wasn't expecting to laugh when I started reading, but I laughed at so many points. Not only the defendants' humor is hilarious at times, the prosecution almost never ceases to be ridiculous making a funny scene at times, and truly disturbing at others. Drawings are beautiful, and the cover itself sells the book I bet. Where each of the eight defendents ended up later in their lives was most amazing. Those stories may suggest how different these people must have been in core, yet the 60s could meld all into what government claimed to be a conspiracy.