1968 Chicago Riots?

Question

Any One Know Where I Can Find information?

Answer 1

There were several sets of riots in Chicago in 1968. Like Funeral Guy, I was there, too as a high school student. 1968 was a terrible year in America. The war in Viet Nam was going hot, heavy, and badly for America (and the VietNamese!) Bobby Kennedy won a number of Primary Elections, but was murdered after winning California.

But in April, Dr Martin Luther King was murdered in Memphis, and cities all over America burst into flames. The burning in Chicago was so bad, that we could cleary see the smoke cloud in Deerfield, a suburb over 20 miles away!

All day and night for days soldiers from the 101st Airborn Division were flown into Glenview Naval Airstation in giant C-141 airplanes. Their tents lined both sides of the runway. They and their equipment arrived and staged for the invasion of Chicago, Ill.

These were NOT the Illinois National Guard. They were US Army troops that were "requested" by Mayor Richard J Daley of Chicago (the father of Chicago's present mayor). President LB Johnson had to suspend the rules that forbid US Army troops rfrom operating in combat in the US. The US was going to war in the city of Chicago against those citizens who were disobeying marshal law.

Of course, once those citezens saw the tanks rolling down their streets blasting away at buildings that were "suspect" the rioting stopped! Tragically, but not surprisingly, it was the businesses and homes of the very people who were rioting that were burned. Those people left homeless got little sympathy from the city that ordered US soldiers to "shoot to kill." (An infamous statement by the mayor) It was a heartbreak for all of America and a black-eye (so to speak) for Chicago.

The next set of Chicago riots occurred during the 1968 Democratic Party National Convention. Here thousands of young people came to Chicago to protest the war in Viet Nam, and the Selective Service, known as the draft, that forced the young men to fight this very unpopular war.
I was one of millions of men that were subject to the draft. Many of us either joined other services (like I did) or simply left the country rather than go to Viet Nam. But millions were drafted and over 50,000 of us died.

Mayor Daley decided he didn't want soldiers this time. Instead he unleashed the Chicago police department in what became known as "police riots." These riots were well known in the South where black Americans were trying to register to vote, ride in public transportation, and attend public universities. It was the police that formed the mob in these riots. They were the ones out-of-control. They randomly attacked young people on the streets with the philosophy of "they weren't doing anything NOW, but later???"

It was during the police riots that the young people began chanting "Sieg Heil!" and "The whole world's watching!" And it was. It was still another black-eye for Chicago and America. Five years later, I was traveling and when I said I was from Chicago, people would say, "Chicago? Nice cops, there, huh? The whole world's watching!" or "Chicago? How's Herr Daley?" or "They still got Nazi cops there?"

I hope this tells you (all) a little about how it felt to be a teenage boy in one of America's darkest ages.

Answer 2

1968 a very tumultous time in our history. The 68 riots at the democratic national convention in Chicago were mostly fueled by protests of the Vietnam War and the national draft. So much tension was about since this came right after Martin Luther King & Bobby Kennedy's assassinations. The year America came of age, and is often referred to as the Year The Dream Died. I was in high school, a junior actually, and I remember the 60's pretty well, but none will ever rest in my mind like that of 1968.

Answer 3

Ask people who were there, I was.