Chicago 1968 Democratic National Convention
The tension in the city was palpable. It excited some and scared the hell out of others. We all knew someone(s) who had died in 'Nam. We would later see the devastation of PTSD in our friends/family who came back seemingly okay.
There had been regular largish Sunday gatherings in Lincoln Park. Called love-ins, be-ins, sit-ins, whatever, the anger and excitement built week on week.
And then the Democrats came to town.
Our Dem mayor, Richard J Daley, was not loved by the left to begin with. He took machine politics to a new and more corrupt place. Thousands had come to town to protest the war, but Daley, who controlled the city, was afraid of the Yippies and was *not* having any of us god damn hippies causing trouble.
More than 10,000 city cops and thousands of Illinois National Guard troops put the city virtually under siege.
i remember those days✌🏾
we have seen this all happening before.
as we said, actually sang, back then:
🎶 we shall overcome✌🏾✌️✌🏻✌🏼✌🏽✌🏾" if we all
🎶get together, try to love one another,
right now🖖🤝👊🎶