Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall refuses to delay trial of 8 charged with conspiracy to cause violence at Democratic Convention
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner

(Chicago, Illinois) Group calls self the "conspiracy" and use charge into political position against government [Rennie DAVIS - calls for contributions.] Report on group's background. David Dellinger, 53, is pacifist. Tom Hayden, 29, Students for a Democratic Society founder and now revolutionary. Abbie Hoffman, 31, founder of Youth International Party Jerry Rubin, 31, Yippie leader Rennie Davis, 29, leading radical against war. Bobby Seale is co-founder of Black Panthers, and National Chairperson John Froines is Assistant Prof. Chemistry at University OR. Lee Weiner is radical at Northwestern. Latter 2 accused of teaching use of incendiary devices. [Attorney General MITCHELL - explains charge of crossing state lines to create riot. It's federal crime.] Law challenged as unconst. by Illinois Civil Liberties Union. [ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Spokesperson Jay MILLER - says law would end dissent.] [Representative Roman PUCINSKI - cites difference between dissent and tearing up city.] [DAVIS - says we'll subpoena LBJ and Mayor Daley.] Wiretapping issue too. [MITCHELL - says foreign and international security of United States must be protected.] Aug 28, 1968 film shown. Judge Julius Hoffman won't rule on wiretap legality until after trial. Defendants speak across state to HS students to make trial case for youth. [Defense Attorney Stuart BALL - says anyone can be put in jail for 10 years and that's us if we think wrong.] [GIRD - asks for volunteers with work.] Yippies plan candlelight procession Decision will define legal limits of dissent.
REPORTER: John Laurence