Chicago Seven

The Chicago Seven were a group of people who were charged with organizing rioting during a Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 28, 1968. They were called the "Chicago Seven" because there were originally eight defendants, but one of them, Bobby Seale, was later removed from the case and became known as the "Chicago Eight."

The Chicago Seven were Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner. They were leaders of various anti-war and countercultural movements and they traveled to Chicago to protest the war in Vietnam.

During the convention, there were a lot of protests, some of which became violent, and the police responded with force. The Chicago Seven were accused of inciting violence, and were arrested and charged with conspiracy.

The trial was very controversial, as many people believed that the charges were politically motivated and that the defendants were being punished for their anti-war activism. The defendants also argued that they were not responsible for any violence that occurred at the convention.

In the end, all seven were found guilty of crossing state lines with the intent to incite a riot, but their sentences varied. Some were given prison sentences, while others were given fines. The convictions were later overturned on appeal.

The Chicago Seven have since become symbols of dissent and free speech. The trial was a landmark case in the history of the American justice system, and it sparked a national conversation about the limits of protest and the role of the government in protecting free speech.