Days of Rage

Days of Rage
Part of the opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam and political violence in the United States during the Cold War
DateOctober 8–11, 1969
Location
GoalsCreate mass action to end American involvement in the Vietnam War
Resulted inCity damages and arrests of Weathermen
Parties

Law enforcement

  • Chicago Police Department
  • Illinois National Guard
Lead figures
Number
800
2,000
Casualties
Injuries34+
Arrested250+
Poster advertising the event

The Days of Rage were a series of protests during three days in October 1969 in Chicago, organized by the emerging Weatherman faction of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

The group planned the October 8–11 event as a "National Action" built around John Jacobs' slogan "bring the war home",[1] which grew out of a resolution drafted by Jacobs and introduced at the October 1968 SDS National Council meeting in Boulder, Colorado. The resolution read, "The Elections Don't Mean Shit—Vote Where the Power Is—Our Power Is In The Street". It was adopted by the council, prompted by the effects of the 1968 Democratic National Convention protest activity in August and reflecting Jacobs's advocacy of direct action as political strategy.[2]

  1. ^ Sale, Kirkpatrick, SDS, Vintage Books, 1974, ISBN 0-394-71965-4 [page needed]
  2. ^ Wilkerson, C. (2007). Flying Close to the Sun: My Life and Times as a Weatherman. Seven Stories Press. ISBN 978-1-58322-771-8.[page needed]