1968 Chicago riot cops to hold reunion

Source: Chicago Tribune

1968 Chicago riot cops to hold reunion
And, as at the Democratic National Convention, there will be protesters

By Erika Slife | Tribune Reporter
June 17, 2009



Police hold an anti-war protester spread-eagled over the hood of a car in front of the Conrad Hilton. (1968 Tribune File Photo)


The violent clashes between police and protesters during the 1968 Democratic National Convention aren't typically considered proud moments in Chicago history.

But some members of the Fraternal Order of Police want to change that. On June 26, the Chicago police union will hold a "Chicago Riot Cops Reunion" at its hall to set straight "what really happened," according to the reunion's Web site.

"The only thing that stood between Marxist street thugs and public order was a thin blue line of dedicated, tough Chicago police officers," the Web site says. "Chicago police officers who participated in the riots continue to endure unending criticism -- all of which is unwarranted, inaccurate and wrong."

Former Police Supt. Philip Cline is scheduled to be a keynote speaker.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-talk_riot_policejun17,0,5460559.story

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This takes balls.

Get ready for the next edition of "Rewriting History, Chicago Style"

and why now??

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...than it is to the fascist pigs in that "thin blue line." Oink, motherfuckers!

They might get scared and taze some old grandma and her poodle again!

that officer friendly died.

"The police officer is not there to create disorder. The police officer is there to preserve disorder"

I'm an old Yippee!, am I invited? I missed Czechago, but I made Miami.

telecom companies breaking the law in the name of "national defense".

Remember that! There are two sets of rules, one for us and another special set for the powers that be.

They better watch out for swine flu if they're going to get that many fucking pigs together. :mad:

is what their invitations say, prolly.

I doubt they'll be inviting MC5 as the band. Sick.

definitely worth seeking out, both as a documentary of the times and commentary on the era -- a disturbing, powerful piece of cinema verite, a file that began as a fictional story but found itself (as it was filmed) caught in the very real events surrounding the 1968 Democratic Convention. Well worth seeking out.


http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/32056/Medium-Cool/overview

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Cool

:thumbsup:

reunion (we'd have to wait for an awful, rainy weekend) but to get tear gassed and beaten again - 'for old times sake' - not so much.
There are plenty of current real issues to hit the streets over, nostalgia ain't one of them.

Besides it just wouldn't be the same without Mayor Daley, Jerry Rubin, Abby Hoffman, the rest of the "Eight" or our candidate "Pigasus" (who must be in Hog Farm Heaven these days)

(This must be an ONION article!)

"But Mark Donahue, president of the FOP, insists the union is not trying to make a statement. It's just a get-together for guys who worked together 40 years ago," he said. "Nothing more."

And then on the other, they say this:

But some members of the Fraternal Order of Police want to change that. On June 26, the Chicago police union will hold a "Chicago Riot Cops Reunion" at its hall to set straight "what really happened," according to the reunion's Web site.

"The only thing that stood between Marxist street thugs and public order was a thin blue line of dedicated, tough Chicago police officers," the Web site says. "Chicago police officers who participated in the riots continue to endure unending criticism -- all of which is unwarranted, inaccurate and wrong."

Can you at least get your story straight on what you're trying to accomplish, officers?

donahue said it's not a statement.

others said it was.

here's a hint: cops don't think in lockstep, any more than any other group

No disrespect intended. Sometimes I let my prejudices get the better of me. Years of protesting in the past have given me an antagonistic attitude towards police when it comes to stories like these. However, I do realize that not all cops are bad and they don't think in lockstep. A story like this brings out the old prejudice in me, and I know that it's neither accurate nor fair.

Thank you for reminding me of this, and I hope I didn't offend you too much.

that was a nice response. thanks.

fwiw, on a semi-related tangent one of my longtime pet peeves is when people quote the IACP as indicative of what cops think. IACP International Association of CHIEFS of Police.

iow, their opinions are about as relevant to the "cop on the beat" as the CEO of GM's is to the average assembly line worker.

many of us good cops hate the bad cops as much or more than the average person. because they make us look bad by association.

i will admit i am going to be more likely to give the benefit of the doubt to cops in most situations, but that's a bias borne by experience, and i can live with that.

anyways... cheers

they have the nerve to hold a reunion! :wtf: :mad: :grr:

I remember the Chicago cops very well. Zeig Heil!

Why on earth would they want to reminisce about their role in this?

:P

The vast majority of cops of that day and age were (barely) high school grads and a lot were drafted and had no way out.

Then the children of privilege come into town and make a mess for several days. I was not there (or even born) but everyone I have ever talked to said that the things said and done to those cops would provoke anyone.

I wasn't in Chicago in June, but I was in Paris on May 10, 1968. I saw the French CRS riot police up close and personal. I have had a very, very low opinion of riot cops ever since. I hope these maroons all choke on their doughnuts.

From http://www.paulchefurka.ca/Paris/Paris.html:

I was getting ready for the end of the school year and looking forward to a summer of swimming, skating and bicycling. Ah, to be innocent and sheltered in that era. The only protests and police action that I was aware of in those days were what I saw on the TV news about the Chicago convention, and Chicago might as well have been in a different world.

Time to blow off some steam and paint the town red.