In 1968 a Chicago federal grand jury indicted David Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Lee Weiner, John Froines, and Bobby Seale for several offenses, including conspiracy to cross state lines with the intent to incite a riot. These âChicago 8â became co-defendants in one of Americaâs most spectacular criminal trials. [âŠ] âWhat a scene it must have been,â defendant Tom Hayden later recalled. âEight madmen in bright clothes passing notes, climbing over the table, whispering, laughing, arguing over the appearance of the jurors. We were judging them, putting them down, shaking our heads, looking sharply at them, yet we were the ones on trial.â (CRF-USA)
Beginning as the Chicago Eight Trial, it quickly became the Chicago Seven when Seale, after loudly disrupting the trial when he could not have the lawyer of his choice, was at first bound and gagged in the courtroom and then severed from the case for a later trial, which never occurred. (The Chicago Tribune)
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 2020 âș written and directed by Aaron Sorkin
