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* Neil Steinberg wrote a long story the other day for the Sun-Times about the 1968 Democratic convention…
On Wednesday came the moment everyone thinks of when they think of the convention, “The Battle of Michigan Avenue,” a 17-minute melee in front of the Conrad Hilton, broadcast on TV, interspersed with the action on the floor of the convention.
Several thousand protesters attempted to march on the Hilton. The police were determined to stop them.
“The police gathered in groups,” New York columnist Jimmy Breslin wrote. “and then ran into the kids and swung their clubs, cops in blue helmets and short-sleeve blue shirts. Cops with bare arms, swinging in the television lights while they went for the head with their clubs, or for any place below the belt they could reach. Chicago cops who had been misdirected all day and now were completely without supervision. They were running to young kid and beating them…” […]
Police pushed protesters through plate-glass windows, then pursued them inside and beat them as they sprawled on the broken glass. All told, 100 protesters were treated for injuries — plus 119 cops. About 600 protesters were arrested.
* Wednesday’s Sun-Times headline…
Mass arrests?
According to the article “nearly 60 arrests” were made. So, less than a tenth of that day in ‘68. Also, two protesters were injured, “one for knee pain and another a finger injury,” and two cops were hurt but refused treatment.
* Not only has this not been like 1968, this year’s convention is nothing at all like the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. From Wikipedia…
Hundreds of groups organized protests, including United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of more than 800 anti-war and social justice groups, and International ANSWER. Over 1800 individuals were arrested by the authorities, a record for a political convention in the U.S.
The week included a march that had estimated attendance in the hundreds of thousands.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 12:39 pm
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I feel like some of the reporting is an effort to try to maintain a reputation more than it is to accurately report events.
It is frustrating for people whose job it is to interface with the press to lose part of their narrative to creative fiction.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 12:47 pm
There’s two things folks in Chicago talk about as if they happened yesterday, the ‘85 Bears and the 1968 DNC. Guess what, they are both quickly becoming ancient history. Most people in the U.S. weren’t even born 56 years ago.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 12:53 pm
The 2023 CPD Annual report showed about 41,000 arrests in 2022, about 112 per day.
So while 60 additional attests is certainly larger than a typical day, it’s nowhere near the conclusion that many would have us draw.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 12:53 pm
It seems as though much of the media really, REALLY wanted a repeat of ‘68, and are very disappointed that it’s not happening.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 12:53 pm
The genocide propaganda spread by the far left seems to be missing its mark in motivating protesters and students walking out of class.
The DNC “Free Palestine” protests have been a total bust and may have set the movement back significantly because folks realize they do not support a two State solution and are willing to risk a woman’s right to choose to achieve their agenda. The truth shall set you free, I suppose.
Comment by Kelly Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:02 pm
The media has been dying for an issue to happen in Chicago.
They built it up for months: it was going to be the violence of 1968, that 40,000 protestors were going to descend on the city and cause mass chaos, that there would be 25,000 migrants shipped here in the two weeks before the convention and the streets would be flooded with them.
None of their narratives have come true. So now they have to deliver something to the masses throughout the country that they made armageddon promises to for the past 3 months.
Their only big night was two nights ago when there were minor skirmishes in front of Ogilvie station. There were more reporters than protestors in that deal.
Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:03 pm
Thankfully harm is lower so far during these protests. The police seem very prepared for the relatively few who want to breach security at the DNC or commit destructive acts elsewhere. Great to see CPD Supt. Snelling out there trying to keep the peace. The vast majority of protesters are lawful and not representative of the few causing or threatening damage.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:06 pm
Saw an article where restaurants downtown been empty all week. Unless you got a contract for a party doubt many made money. Media scared everybody away over protest stories. Who can forget the stories, prior to DNC, about the hospitals near the UC and how they were prepared for a “mass casualty” event. Brutal.
Comment by jolietj Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:15 pm
with no apologies, edits or tweaks:
Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight
and I’m going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days
Comment by The Boss Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:20 pm
==Mass arrests?==
It’s an old CPD term, one recognized by Cook County courts. They now call it “multiple arrests.”
“Mass arrest incidents deviate from standard arrest protocol in which the arresting officer themselves typically completes the transport and processing of the arrestee and related reports. During mass arrest incidents, the transport and processing of arrestees is facilitated by units other than the arresting officer, enabling CPD to maintain a continuous police presence at the scene.”
https://igchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Follow-up-Inquiry-on-CPDs-Preparedness-for-Mass-Gatherings.pdf
https://ocj-web-files.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orders/GENERAL%20ADMINISTRATIVE%20ORDER%202024-12%20%28Eff.%20July%2024%2C%202024%29%20-%20Court%20Operations%2C%20New%20Cases%2C%20Arrests%20at%20Time%20of%20Democratic%20National%20Convention_0.pdf?Versio
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:26 pm
As usual, the media loves making Dem molehills seem on par with GOP mountains.
Comment by TJ Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:27 pm
One of my memories of the 1968 Days of Rage was getting out of my dad’s vw bug to take a picture of the National Guard barricading Randolph in Grant Park.
Eleven years old.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 1:39 pm
@The Boss nails the media’s yearning for the “Glory Days.”
I said yesterday that they were “rooting for the story” — an occasional and largely sub-conscience mindset that grips reporters and editors covering a potentially big event. But a convention in Chicago this year seems to have added a bit of nostalgia to that phenomenon, even among media folks who were born long after 1968. All reporters want to cover a famous moment in history as it happens. They also wish they could have been around to cover those kind of events in the past.
It’s understandable. But some, particularly the usually level-headed scribes at the Sun-Times, have let it get the best of them.
Comment by TNR Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 2:05 pm
It’s not on par with The Boss, but Don Henley got it pretty much right …
We can do “The Innuendo,” we can dance and sing
When it’s said and done we haven’t told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry
Comment by Out of Stylebook Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 2:41 pm
The media created and/or bought into a pre-convention narrative that hasn’t materialized. Instead of acknowledging that they’ve clung to it. Sadly it’s a case of creating news vs reporting on what’s actually occurring. It reeks of a former Trib Editorial Board member wishing for a hurricane.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Aug 22, 24 @ 3:48 pm