Argumentative Essay: The Chicago 8 Trial
Emma Smallcomb
Professor Prewitt
Term Paper
2 July 2023
The Chicago 8 Trial opened September 24, 1969. Eight men were accused by the United States government of conspiring to initiate a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago Illinois (The Chicago 8 Trial, An Account). The Chicago 8 Trial was “as one commentator suggested, “a monumental non-event”” (The Chicago 8 Trial, An Account). The Chicago 8 trial was a disastrous trial with eight men who were carless and disrespectful, a judge that was biased, as well as the First Amendment rights being overlooked. Many would say this federal act was triggered by one of the most disastrous wars in the United States history, the Vietnam War. It wasn’t just that though, there was
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Julius Hoffman was an average white male, conservative, middle aged, as well as middle-class. Julius Hoffman was to soon be the Judge of this trial. It is only imaginable that this was a culture class with the defendants, as previously mentioned, waiting to happen. Not to mention the jury as well, which consisted of two white men, two black women, and eight white women (The Chicago 8 Trial, An Account). This jury will prove later that they were not in favor of the defendants. As far as the trial goes, if this even was a trial, it was only in the name. It seemed more like a comedic side show than anything. Taking into consideration that there was foolishness and childish behavior from these grown men everywhere and anywhere. “These defendants wouldn’t even stand up when the judge walked in; when there is no more respect we might as well give up the United States” (The Chicago 8 Trial, An Account). In the court room, these eight men were doing anything that they could to waste the time that they had in the court room. Even going as far as sleeping the time away. They were simply making a mockery of the trial. “Our strategy was to give Judge Hoffman a heart attack. We gave the court system a heart attack, which is even better”—Jerry Rubin (The Chicago 8 Trial, In Their Own Words). On top of this, Judge Hoffman had no shame in how he felt about the defendants and had zero effort to hide the dislike he had towards these men (The Chicago 8 Trial, Judge Julius Hoffman). The defendants didn’t make it easy for Judge Hoffman and Judge Hoffman gave it right back to them. It was all very back and forth between the defendants and
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