In the trial of the Chicago 7, the leaders of prominent activist groups faced prison time for breaking a new federal anti-riot law. This came after antiwar demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic National Convention clashed violently with police. According to the Justice Department, the defendants had crossed state lines intending to start a riot.

Who were the Chicago 7? Initially, they were the Chicago 8. Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin were leaders of the Youth International Party, also known as the Yippies. Thomas Hayden and Rennie Davis represented the Students for a Democratic Society. David Dellinger, a conscientious objector in WWII, led the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. Lee Weiner and John Froines were academics. And Bobby Seale was a founding member of the Black Panthers.

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