A final "vicious melee" occurred in The Loop , Chicago's business district. During this clash, city attorney Richard Elrod was paralyzed after an altercation with a protester. Impact and Aftermath
The timing was intended to coincide with the trial of the Chicago Seven , activists charged with conspiracy following the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests. Days of Rage
The organizers believed peaceful protests were ineffective and that militant direct action was necessary to force a U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. A final "vicious melee" occurred in The Loop
The demonstrations fell far short of the expected turnout of tens of thousands, with only a few hundred "ragers" arriving to face roughly 2,000 heavily armed police officers. Protesters gathered in Lincoln Park and charged through
Protesters gathered in Lincoln Park and charged through the affluent Gold Coast neighborhood, smashing windows of luxury cars, businesses, and the Chicago History Museum.