MCA Speaker Series - The Chicago 8 Trial

The Chicago 8 Trial

Presenter: MCA Member Neil Adelman

The Chicago 8 Trial was one of the most unusual courtroom spectacles in American history.  This was the 1969-70 trial of eight radicals accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.  

There is no question that a riot occurred on the streets of Chicago.  But whether it was a riot by anti-Viet Nam war protestors, or a riot by the Chicago police, remains an open question.  The events of the convention turmoil and trial mayhem made Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Judge Julius Hoffman national figures - for a short period of time.

Neil will discuss the trial and what significance it may still have today.

Bio

Neil Adelman is a retired attorney from Chicago who now makes his summer home in Denver.  He has spoken on Jewish and other subjects for MCA, Beth Tikvah Congregation in Naples and at synagogues and Jewish groups in the Chicago and Denver areas.  Neil has spoken in the past for MCA on Jewish Music, Jews and Booze, the Rosenberg trial, and the Jewish artist Arthur Szyk.   Neil is also an experienced opera lecturer, having been a volunteer community lecturer for Lyric Opera of Chicago and having lectured on opera in Chicago and Denver and in Naples for the Renaissance Academy, now FGCU Academy.