The Silencing Gavel: Trials As Instruments Of Suppression

Shreya Sharma, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad

ABSTRACT

The movie “The Trial of the Chicago 7” dramatises the famous real-life American political courtroom scene. Numerous important issues are covered in the film, such as racism, democracy, law and order, and war and peace. The Chicago Seven case involved anti-Vietnam War and 1960s counterculture protests in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Seven defendants were charged with conspiring, violating state guidelines to start a riot, and other offenses. "Abbie Hoffman," "Tom Hayden," "David Dellinger," "Jerry Rubin," "Lee Weiner," "Rennie Davis," "John Froines," and "Bobby Seale" were members of the "Chicago Eight." The original “Chicago Eight” became the “Chicago Seven” after the case against the co-defendant "Bobby Seale" was ruled to be a mistrial. From September 1969 through February 1970, the trial lasted about five months. It was clear that the Chicago seven trial was no ordinary courtroom. The jury determined that "Davis," "Dellinger," "Hayden," "Hoffman," and "Rubin" were guilty of crossing state boundaries to ignite a disturbance. “Judge Hoffman" received much criticism because it was thought that he sided with the prosecution. This case enlightens us about how the United States Federal Government violated the freedom of speech and expression of the people who were protesting against the atrocities faced by the youth who were sent to fight in the war and used the trial as a tool to control the voices of its citizens who were against them for sending young citizens of America to the Vietnam war.

This research paper will primarily address the question, "Can trials be used to restrict people's freedom of speech and expression?"

Keywords: Chicago, Seven, Riot, Trial, Vietnam War