Weather High School Jailbreaks: Difference between revisions

Weather High School Jailbreaks
Weather High School Jailbreaks
Part of the Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War
Date	1969
Caused by	US involvement in Vietnam; Schooling conditions;
Goals	Promotion of the Days of Rage; Recruit for Weather Underground;
Methods	Demonstration; Occupation;
Parties
Weather Underground;	Municipal Police; School staff; Angered locals;

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Jailbreaks were demonstrations staged by members of Weatherman during the summer and fall of 1969 in an effort to recruit high school and community college students to join their movement against the United States government and its policies.

Purpose

Leading up to the Days of Rage event that took place on October 8–11, 1969, the Weatherman collective used various methods of recruiting individuals to join them in Chicago. These demonstrations were intended to recruit high school students to join the organization at the Days of Rage and convince them to join the Weatherman.^[1] The institution of school had been specifically identified in the initial Weatherman statement as an oppressor of the youth of America.^[2] Weather members felt that the curriculum taught in United States schools promoted values such as sexism and competitive capitalism.^[3]

Notable jailbreaks

Pittsburgh

In September 1969, a group of Weatherwomen, carrying the Vietcong flag, marched on South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. While the mostly white, working-class students were on lunch, the group arrived and distributed leaflets which advertised the Days of Rage. A small group led by Eleanor Raskin interrupted a history class and proceeded to tell the students that what they were being taught by their educational institution was false information. Raskin declared the school a prison and called for the students to join the cause and participate in demonstrations in Chicago in order to bring the war home. A handful of students followed the women as they marched out of the school. By this time the school invasion had attracted the attention of a group of local construction workers. Verbal taunting led to physical skirmishes as the police arrived.^[4] Raskin and twenty-five others, including Cathy Wilkerson, were arrested.^[5] Charges included rioting, inciting a riot, and disorderly conduct.^[4] It was reported (and since disputed) that the women ran through the school topless.^[2]

Detroit: The "Motor City Nine"

Macomb Community College near Detroit was the site of another jailbreak led by a small group of Weatherwomen that included Diana Oughton.^[5] Nine women took over a classroom of forty to fifty students in the middle of a sociology final, blocked the door and lectured the class on imperialism and racism. The teacher's attempt to leave and contact the police was halted by the Weatherwomen who had been trained in karate.^[6] The "Motor City Nine" were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.^[2]

Outcome

Jailbreaks were only slightly effective for Weatherman recruitment and became more well known for the resulting arrests that occurred.^[2] Members of Students for a Democratic Society that had marched and protested alongside Weather members before the two groups split wished to further distance themselves from Weathermen due to their increasingly violent and chaotic methods.^[2]

References

^ Stern, Susan (1975). With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman, Doubleday.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Berger, Dan (2006). Outlaws of America, Verso.
^ Short, John G. (12 November 1969). "The Weathermen're Shot, They're Bleeding, They're Running, They're Wiping Stuff Out". The Harvard Crimson (Cambridge).
^ ^a ^b Jones, Thai (2004). A Radical Line: From the Labor Movement to the Weather Underground, One Family's Century of Conscience, Free Press.
^ ^a ^b Wilkerson, Cathy (2007). Flying Close to the Sun, Seven Stories Press.
^ Barber, David (2008). A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why It Failed, University Press of Mississippi.

[1] Stern, Susan (1975). With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman, Doubleday.

[Outlaws-2] Berger, Dan (2006). Outlaws of America, Verso.

[Weathermen're_Shot-3] Short, John G. (12 November 1969). "The Weathermen're Shot, They're Bleeding, They're Running, They're Wiping Stuff Out". The Harvard Crimson (Cambridge).

[Radical-4] Jones, Thai (2004). A Radical Line: From the Labor Movement to the Weather Underground, One Family's Century of Conscience, Free Press.

[Flying-5] Wilkerson, Cathy (2007). Flying Close to the Sun, Seven Stories Press.

[6] Barber, David (2008). A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why It Failed, University Press of Mississippi.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Direct action by the Weather Underground}}
-'''Jailbreaks''' were demonstrations staged by members of [[Weatherman (organization)|Weatherman ]] during the summer and fall of 1969 in an effort to recruit high school and community college students to join their movement against the United States government and its policies.
+{{Infobox civil conflict
+| title        = Weather High School Jailbreaks
+| partof       = the [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War]]
+| image        =
+| caption      =
+| date         = 1969
+| place        =
+| coordinates  =
+| causes       = *[[Role of the United States in the Vietnam War|US involvement in Vietnam]]
+*Schooling conditions
+| goals        = *Promotion of the [[Days of Rage]]
+*Recruit for [[Weather Underground]]
+| methods      = *[[Demonstration (protest)|Demonstration]]
+*[[Occupation (protest)|Occupation]]
+| status       =
+| result       =
+| side1        = *[[Weather Underground]]
+| side2        = *[[Law enforcement in the United States|Municipal Police]]
+*[[School|School staff]]
+*Angered locals
+| side3        =
+| leadfigures1 =
+| leadfigures2 =
+| leadfigures3 =
+| howmany1     =
+| howmany2     =
+| howmany3     =
+| casualties1  =
+| casualties2  =
+| casualties3  =
+| fatalities   =
+| injuries     =
+| arrests      =
+| detentions   =
+| charged      =
+| fined        =
+| casualties_label =
+| notes            =
+}}
+'''Jailbreaks''' were demonstrations staged by members of [[Weatherman (organization)|Weatherman]] during the summer and fall of 1969 in an effort to recruit high school and community college students to join their movement against the United States government and its policies.
 ==Purpose==
-Leading up to the [[Days of Rage]] event that took place on October 8-11, 1969, the Weatherman collective used various methods of recruiting individuals to join them in Chicago.  These demonstrations were intended to recruit high school students to join the organization at the Days of Rage and convince them to join the Weatherman.<ref>With the Weathermen p.113-118.</ref> The institution of school had been specifically identified in the initial Weatherman statement as an oppressor of the youth of America.<ref name="Outlaws">Berger, Dan (2006). ''Outlaws of America'', Verso.</ref> Weather members felt that the curriculum taught in United States schools promoted values such as sexism and competitive capitalism.<ref name="Weathermen're Shot">Short, John G. (12 November 1969). "[http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/11/12/the-weathermenre-shot-theyre-bleeding-theyre/ The Weathermen're Shot, They're Bleeding, They're Running, They're Wiping Stuff Out]". ''The Harvard Crimson'' (Cambridge).</ref>
+Leading up to the [[Days of Rage]] event that took place on October 8–11, 1969, the Weatherman collective used various methods of recruiting individuals to join them in Chicago.  These demonstrations were intended to recruit high school students to join the organization at the Days of Rage and convince them to join the Weatherman.<ref>Stern, Susan (1975). ''With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman'', Doubleday.</ref> The institution of school had been specifically identified in the initial Weatherman statement as an oppressor of the youth of America.<ref name="Outlaws">Berger, Dan (2006). ''Outlaws of America'', Verso.</ref> Weather members felt that the curriculum taught in United States schools promoted values such as sexism and competitive capitalism.<ref name="Weathermen're Shot">Short, John G. (12 November 1969). "[http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/11/12/the-weathermenre-shot-theyre-bleeding-theyre/ The Weathermen're Shot, They're Bleeding, They're Running, They're Wiping Stuff Out]". ''The Harvard Crimson'' (Cambridge).</ref>
-==Notable Jailbreaks==
+==Notable jailbreaks==
 ===Pittsburgh===
-In September of 1969, a group of Weatherwomen, carrying the Vietcong flag, marched on South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. While the mostly white, working-class students were on lunch, the group arrived and distributed leaflets which advertised the Days of Rage. A small group led by [[Eleanor Raskin]] interrupted a history class and proceeded to tell the students that what they were being taught by their educational institution was false information. Raskin declared the school a prison and called for the students to join the cause and participate in demonstrations in Chicago in order to bring the war home. A handful of students followed the women as they marched out of the school. By this time the school invasion had attracted the attention of a group of local construction workers. Verbal taunting led to physical skirmishes as the police arrived. Raskin and twenty-five others were arrested. Charges included rioting, inciting a riot, and disorderly conduct.<ref>A Radical Line: From the Labor Movement to the Weather Underground, One Family's Century of Conscience</ref> It was reported (and since disputed) that the women ran through the school topless.<ref name="Outlaws"/>
+In September 1969, a group of Weatherwomen, carrying the [[Viet Cong|Vietcong]] flag, marched on South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. While the mostly white, working-class students were on lunch, the group arrived and distributed leaflets which advertised the Days of Rage. A small group led by [[Eleanor Raskin]] interrupted a history class and proceeded to tell the students that what they were being taught by their educational institution was false information. Raskin declared the school a prison and called for the students to join the cause and participate in demonstrations in Chicago in order to bring the war home. A handful of students followed the women as they marched out of the school. By this time the school invasion had attracted the attention of a group of local construction workers. Verbal taunting led to physical skirmishes as the police arrived.<ref name="Radical">Jones, Thai (2004). ''A Radical Line: From the Labor Movement to the Weather Underground, One Family's Century of Conscience'', Free Press.</ref> Raskin and twenty-five others, including [[Cathy Wilkerson]], were arrested.<ref name="Flying">Wilkerson, Cathy (2007). ''Flying Close to the Sun'', Seven Stories Press.</ref> Charges included rioting, inciting a riot, and disorderly conduct.<ref name="Radical"/> It was reported (and since disputed) that the women ran through the school topless.<ref name="Outlaws"/>
 ===Detroit: The "Motor City Nine"===
-McComb Community College in Detroit was the site of another jailbreak led by Weatherwomen. Nine women took over a classroom of forty to fifty students in the middle of a sociology final, blocked the door and lectured the class on imperialism and racism. The teacher's attempt to leave and contact the police was halted by the Weatherwomen who had been trained in Karate.<ref>Barber, David (2008). ''A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why It Failed'', University Press of Mississippi.</ref> The "Motor City Nine" were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.<ref name="Outlaws"/>
+[[Macomb Community College]] near Detroit was the site of another jailbreak led by a small group of Weatherwomen that included [[Diana Oughton]].<ref name="Flying"/> Nine women took over a classroom of forty to fifty students in the middle of a sociology final, blocked the door and lectured the class on imperialism and racism. The teacher's attempt to leave and contact the police was halted by the Weatherwomen who had been trained in [[karate]].<ref>Barber, David (2008). ''A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why It Failed'', University Press of Mississippi.</ref> The "Motor City Nine" were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.<ref name="Outlaws"/>
 ==Outcome==
-Jailbreaks were only slightly effective for Weatherman recruitment and became more well-known for the resulting arrests that occurred.<ref name="Outlaws"/> Members of [[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)|Students for a Democratic Society]] that had marched and protested alongside Weather members before the two groups split wished to further distance themselves from Weather due to their increasingly violent and chaotic methods. <ref name="Outlaws"/>
+Jailbreaks were only slightly effective for Weatherman recruitment and became more well known for the resulting arrests that occurred.<ref name="Outlaws"/> Members of [[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)|Students for a Democratic Society]] that had marched and protested alongside Weather members before the two groups split wished to further distance themselves from Weathermen due to their increasingly violent and chaotic methods.<ref name="Outlaws"/>
-==See Also==
+==See also==
-[[Weather Underground (organization)]]
+*[[Weather Underground (organization)]]
+*[[List of Weatherman actions]]
+*[[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)]]
+==References==
-[[List of Weatherman actions]]
-[[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)]]
-[[Eleanor Raskin]]
-==Notes==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{Weather Underground}}
-==References==
+{{Anti-Vietnam}}
-*With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman by Susan Stern
-*Berger, Dan (2006). ''Outlaws of America'', Verso.
-*Jones, Thai (2004). ''A Radical Line: From the Labor Movement to the Weather Underground, One Family's Century of Conscience'', Free Press.
-*Barber, David (2008). ''A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why It Failed'', University Press of Mississippi.
-*Short, John G. (12 November 1969). "[http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/11/12/the-weathermenre-shot-theyre-bleeding-theyre/ The Weathermen're Shot, They're Bleeding, They're Running, They're Wiping Stuff Out]". ''The Harvard Crimson'' (Cambridge).
 {{DEFAULTSORT:High School Demonstrations And Jailbreaks}}
-[[Category:Riots and civil unrest in the United States]]
+[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Michigan]]
 [[Category:Weather Underground]]
+[[Category:Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War]]
-[[Category: Clandestine groups]]
-[[Category: Opposition to the Vietnam War]]
+[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Pittsburgh]]

v t e Weather Underground
Background	Anti-Vietnam War movement Counterculture of the 1960s New Left (New Communist movement· Maoism) Students for a Democratic Society (Revolutionary Youth Movement) 1968 Democratic National Convention (riots) Flint War Council Domestic terrorism in the United States Women's Brigade of Weather Underground Seattle Weather Collective FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, 1970s Bill Clinton pardon controversy Bill Ayers 2008 presidential election controversy
Members	Jane Alpert Bill Ayers Kit Bakke Alan Berkman Silas Bissell Kathy Boudin Scott Braley Judith Alice Clark Bernardine Dohrn Dianne Donghi Elizabeth Ann Duke Linda Evans Brian Flanagan Larry Grathwohl (informant) David Gilbert Ted Gold Phoebe Hirsch John Jacobs Naomi Jaffe Jeff Jones Michael Justesen Michael Kazin Sharon Krebs Nancy Kurshan Roger Lippman Howard Machtinger Eric Mann Sam Melville Mark D. Naison Diana Oughton Robin Palmer Eleanor Raskin Jonah Raskin Terry Robbins Susan Rosenberg Robert Roth Mark Rudd Matthew Steen Susan Stern Laura Whitehorn Cathlyn Platt Wilkerson
Attacks	Days of Rage (Weather High School Jailbreaks) Greenwich Village townhouse explosion Bombing of the National Guard Bombing of the Presidio of San Francisco Bombing of the Bank of America HQ Timothy Leary escape from California Men's Colony Bombing of Marin County Courthouse Bombing at Harvard University Bombing of the United States Capitol Bombings of the Office of California Prisons Bombing of the New York Department of Corrections Bombing of the Pentagon Brink's robbery 1983 United States Senate bombing (Resistance Conspiracy case)
Derivatives	Prairie Fire Organizing Committee (May 19th Communist Organization)
Associates	Seattle Liberation Front (Michael Lerner)
Media	The Weather Underground Katherine Underground The Company You Keep American Pastoral Osawatomie Mother Right Fugitive Days The Anarchist Columbus Free Press
See also	Protests of 1968 Communist terrorism Yippies Rainbow Coalition John Brown Anti-Klan Committee Michael Klonsky and Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) Tate–LaBianca murders (Charles Manson) Attica Prison riot Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues Black Power movement Jewish left Student activism White privilege theory (Critical race theory) COINTELPRO
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