Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 21.08.2024
The following account of the 1968 events around the convention of the democratic party is based on “Miami and the Siege of Chicago” by Norman Mailer.[i]
“Chicago 1968
In 1968, the Democratic Party convention, held during the US war in Vietnam, marked a significant turning point. The 1968 Democratic Convention, which took place from August 26 to 29, was not just a political event in America but a cultural and historical milestone. The heated debates and divisions that emerged during the convention, largely due to President Johnson’s Vietnam War policies, reflected the turbulent times.
Young peace activists had met at a camp in Lake Villa, Illinois, on March 23 to plan a protest march at the convention. Anti-war leaders including David Dellinger (editor of Liberation magazine and chairman of the National Mobilization Committee to End War in Vietnam), Rennie Davis, head of the Center for Radical Research and a leader of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Vernon Grizzard, a draft resistance leader, and Tom Hayden (also a leader of the Students for a Democratic Society) coordinated efforts with over 100 anti-war groups.
Undeterred by the permit denial, Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman, leaders of the Youth International Party (YIPPIES), persisted in their efforts. They planned a Youth Festival to bring 100,000 young adults to Chicago, demonstrating the strength of their commitment to their cause. The YIPPIES, determined to make their voices heard, arrived in Chicago despite the obstacles.
By early April, there was much talk of Hubert Humphrey, Johnson’s Vice President, running for the presidency. Humphrey officially entered the race on April 27th. Because of his close identity with the Johnson administration, the plans for demonstrations continued.
On April 4, civil rights leader Martin Luther King was assassinated, and riots broke out throughout the country. (This included Chicago, where Mayor Daley reportedly gave a “shoot to kill” instruction to police.) On June 3, artist and cultural icon Andy Warhol was shot. Finally, on June 5th, presidential candidate Robert Kennedy (President John Kennedy’s brother) was shot in the head after winning the California primary. He died the next day. There also were countless protests against the Vietnam War at this time. Student protesters effectively shut down Columbia University in April.
Many Democrats were eager to move their national convention from Chicago to Miami, where the Republicans were to hold their nominating event. Democrats were concerned about the possibility of unruly protests and an ongoing telephone strike in Chicago, which threatened to cause logistical nightmares. The television networks also lobbied to move the event to Miami—TV and phone lines were already installed at the Republican convention site. In addition, because of the phone strike in Chicago, television cameras would be limited to the hotels and the convention center.
Mayor Richard J. Daley would not let the convention leave Chicago. He promised to enforce the order and allow no outrageous demonstrations. He also threatened to withdraw support for Humphrey, the apparent nominee, if the convention was moved. President Johnson also wanted to keep the convention in Chicago and is rumored to have said, “Miami is not an American city.”
Humphrey came to Chicago with the nomination virtually sewn up — he had between 100 and 200 more delegates than he needed, as well as the support of blacks, labor groups, and Southern Democrats. However, he still felt his nomination was in jeopardy.
Humphrey was seen as Johnson’s man. President Johnson still controlled the convention, even ensuring that states supportive of him received the best seats at the convention hall. But Johnson did not show up for the event. Mayor Daley, who wanted Ted Kennedy to run for President, caucused his delegation of 118 the weekend before the convention and decided to remain “uncommitted.” Humphrey also was at risk from the growing anti-war wing of the Democratic party. After vacillating between the pro-war policies of the Johnson administration and the anti-war policies of his opponents, Humphrey made it clear on CBS’s Face The Nation the weekend before the convention that he supported President Johnson’s Vietnam policies.
The clashes
Outside the official convention proceedings, anti-war demonstrators clashed with 11,900 Chicago police, 7500 Army troops, 7500 Illinois National Guardsmen, and 1000 Secret Service agents over 5 days.
The clashes centered on two things: the Chicago police forcing protesters out of areas where they were not permitted to be and protesters clashing with police and their reinforcements as they tried to march to the convention site.
The violence began Sunday, August 25th. Anti-war leaders had tried to get permits from the city to sleep in Lincoln Park and to demonstrate outside of the convention site. Those permit requests were denied, although the city did offer them a permit to protest miles away from the Amphitheater. However, the protesters were undeterred. When the park was officially closed, Chicago police bombed protesters with tear gas and moved in with billy clubs to forcibly remove them from the park.
Along with the many injuries to anti-war protesters, 17 reporters were attacked by police (including Hal Bruno, who was then a reporter for Newsweek and is now political director for ABC.) Throughout the convention, the police would see the press as the enemy. Subsequent battles between police and protesters occurred nightly in Lincoln Park and Grant Park.
Also present that first night and throughout the convention were the famous Beat artists Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and French poet Jean Genet. Most events and protests featured speeches from Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin.
The primary day of protesting was Wednesday, dubbed the “Battle of Michigan Avenue.” Protesters were stopped in their march to the convention site, and the media recorded graphic violence on the part of the Chicago police. The police severely beat many innocent bystanders, reporters, and doctors offering medical help. Fumes from the tear gas used by the police and “stink bombs” thrown by the protesters drifted into the buildings. (One of those affected was the Conrad Hilton, the headquarters for the Democratic party and the press.)
Another major clash occurred on the convention’s final day when protesters tried once again to reach the convention center. They were twice turned away. A barricade around the convention center was put up to prevent anyone without credentials from entering the facility.
When the convention was finally over, the Chicago police reported that 589 arrests had been made, and 119 police and 100 protesters were injured.”
Today:
The Democratic Convention in Chicago faces a significant challenge from Muslim representatives and their allies, who are protesting against US support for Israel’s genocide.
All eyes on Chicago: Dozens of Muslim committee representatives and their allies, outraged by US support for the war in Gaza, want to make changes to the Democratic Party’s platform and intend to push for an arms embargo this week, Reuters reported tonight (Monday).
The move alerts the party of possible disruptions to high-profile speeches at its national convention in Chicago. According to the report, the group, which calls itself “Delegates Against Genocide,” stated that it would exercise its rights to free speech during the Democratic National Convention’s main events.
The move puts the imperialist Democratic party on alert for possible disruptions to high-profile speeches at its national convention in Chicago. According to the report, the group, which calls itself “Delegates Against Genocide,” stated that it would exercise its rights to free speech during the main events of the Democratic National Convention.
The convention, which will meet on Monday, is designed to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency in the November 5 election against former Republican President Donald Trump. However, Reuters reports that the pro-Palestinian group plans to make its voice heard during the main events.
The group’s organizers encourage their supporters to wear Palestinian caps, carry Palestinian flags, work for changes in the party’s platform, and express themselves on the conference stage.
According to the Reuters report, the group demands that the party’s platform include language supporting the enforcement of laws prohibiting the provision of military aid to individuals or security forces who commit serious human rights violations.
“Harris is a murderer,” thousands of pro-Palestinians will chant during the protest outside the Democratic convention.
Liano Sharon, a Jewish business consultant who signed an alternative platform with 34 other Democratic representatives, stated: “We will make our voices heard. Freedom of expression necessarily includes the right to stand up and be heard, even when the authority in the room says to be silent.”
While we stand with the protest against the imperialist democratic party, we tell our brothers and sisters we cannot change the nature of the democratic party, which is an imperialist party of the upper class. It is the right time to form an independent worker’s party. Its platform will include opposition to imperialist wars and against the support for the Zionist state.
Down with the imperialist parties!
For Palestine, red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnote:
[i] https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/chicago/facts/chicago68/index.shtml