The resulting legal battles and internal divisions led to the collapse of the SDS as a national organization.
A final "vicious melee" occurred in The Loop , Chicago's business district. During this clash, city attorney Richard Elrod was paralyzed after an altercation with a protester. Impact and Aftermath
Protesters gathered in Lincoln Park and charged through the affluent Gold Coast neighborhood, smashing windows of luxury cars, businesses, and the Chicago History Museum. Days of Rage
Over 280 people were arrested , and the city of Chicago suffered roughly $183,000 in damages and related costs.
The timing was intended to coincide with the trial of the Chicago Seven , activists charged with conspiracy following the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests. The resulting legal battles and internal divisions led
Following the failure to spark a mass uprising, the Weathermen went underground, transitioning into a clandestine group that conducted a years-long bombing campaign against government and corporate targets.
Leaders like Bill Ayers , Bernadine Dohrn , and John Jacobs aimed to replace the American government with a revolutionary system. Key Events Impact and Aftermath Protesters gathered in Lincoln Park
The violence alienated many in the broader anti-war movement. Black Panther leader Fred Hampton famously denounced the action as "anarchistic" and "folly".