Riot Reunion
- 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."
Most polls taken at the time showed widespread support for the police actions that week. It was only with the passing of time and a politically motivated witch hunt that blame was affixed to a supposed "police riot." Not mentioned anywhere were the months of threats by yippie and hippie groups, the outright provocations, the bags of urine and feces hurled at police. The entire event was rewritten as some heroic struggle against the system instead of a bunch of overly rich spoiled college anarchists intent on being as disruptive as possible.
Our predecessors still have our utmost respect for the fine job they did in 1968. Full info on the reunion over at this link.
Our predecessors still have our utmost respect for the fine job they did in 1968. Full info on the reunion over at this link.
Labels: events
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
35 Comments:
Let us not forget that the liberal asshole that coined the term "Police Riot" is one of the three (soon to be four) Illinois Governors to go to prison in the last 40 years.
Jerry Rubin wrote in his book that "we were guilty as hell of everything we were charged with"
Peace loving hippies MY ASS.
The CPD saved the city in 68, 69 & '70 plain and simple.
It was the dawn of the liberal aggenda in the media. It has completely taken over now. The media hasn't realized that they are dying because of it. Report the news, don't shape it.
The city had a big scare when the WTO World Trade Organization had a convention scheduled at McCormick Place years ago--The WTO is notorious for its 1000's of obnoxious and disorderly members--They have caused much chaos and rioting in many countries--But when they came to Chicago only 19 protesters appeared--This protesters were asked what happened, why were there only 19 of them---There response--They are afraid of the Chicago PD because of the Democratic Convention---I think that's great!! This is exactly how we can halt crime---let us act like our now retired brothers--let us be the real police! Quit tying our hands with frivolous bs!
"...a bunch of overly rich spoiled college anarchists intent on being as disruptive as possible..." -- SCC
I was in Hyde Park as events built up to the '68 convention -- on the side streets, where I saw the VW vans with the New York plates and peace signs disgorging loads of raggedy-ass, hair-in-the-eyes, rolled-up-sleeping-bag-under-the-arm agitators to "crash" in the many apartments with like-minded University of Chicago students.
By the way -- at the Target store tonight, I disgustedly noticed that some cockroach has bought up the "Woodstock" logo -- that bird sitting on the guitar neck -- and naming rights, and is bringing out a whole line of paisley-print, "psychedelic" peace-sign posters, as well as "Woodstock" tote bags, coffee mugs, mouse pads, picture frames -- the interchangeable, we-print-anything-on-it flood of money-taking, space-filling crap from China.
Reality check --
A. The "Sixties" were not one long nude pot party in a mud puddle with Che Guevara flags. Most of us were working.
B. The "Sixties" hurt a lot of people. I know someone who has essentially wasted her life, dazed on methadone to this very day from the habit she picked up "turning on, tuning in, and dropping out." Looks out the window, pets the cat, waits for the SSI check to come...
C. The "Sixties" WERE OVER FORTY YEARS AGO. I don't care what PBS keeps dragging out. THEY'RE OVER.
Got it?
Amen brothers; Here one for the boys!
And you know what kids, the mayor backed us! Something his snot nosed kid never learned to do.
God bless the great officers from 1968! They were the "real police" not like todays tru and msf kids! But not blaming the kids, in 68 you had bosses that had balls and backed up the police, today we have seatbelt mission type who are spineless! Masters!
Did you see that the Chicago Copwatch is planning to protest at the hall that night. Maybe some of the old timers can show us what a wood shampoo really is.
Those guys have always had my respect.Wish I couldve been there but I was just a little kid then. Closest I ever got to that was the Bulls 2nd Championship riot. What a good time that was.
WOOOHOOO!!!!
This city needs some more hippie beatings. Retired guys can't get in trouble. Hmmm.
Can I come?
I am afraid that I can't go.
As a circa 1995 policeman; I do not have the right to stand in this circle of real policemen.
These fine men should stand in their their circle with their bretheren. Our fathers, uncles, grandfathers, older cousins. Real men who walked the land and didn't take shit from anyone. They came from WWII and Korea; early Vietnam, etc. and conducted themselves as a quasi-military organization. We in 2009.....do not.
As a decade and a half police officer; I never experienced what they experienced. How can I relate to a group like this, when I never was fucking there. The Bulls wins aside.
Honestly, I wish I could stand with them. But my department, the legal system, our reverends and non-representing representatives have prevented this from ever happening.
These old real warriors (Fuck you Dugan!)need their day to themselves.
I was one of the people who started this reunion for my 70 yr old father he was a policeman back in 68 . The police had rocks , feces, balls with nails thrown at them , fires were lit.It was pure chaos 10,000-15,000 protesters .
Chicago Cop watch wants to protest a private party of senior citizens !
here is the Chicago Cop Watch face book Page :
Marching on the 1968 Chicago Riot Cop Reunion
seriously, riot cops from the DNC are gonna have a party
DescriptionThe Chicago lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (the cop union that thinks of itself like the Masons) will be hosting a 1968 Riot Cop Reunion. Officers who cracked heads at the Democratic Convention (and at the Division Street riots of 1966, and possibly murdered Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark) will be hobnobbing with today's police who are still occupying our communities and phalanxing our rallies.
We're organizing hundreds of Chicagoans to rally and march, to speak from personal experience about violence of the Chicago police in the 1960s, as well as their violence today. We will be marching to the FOP lodge, and have filed for a permit to see if we can't make it a bit safer for everyone attending (although we will rally and march, permit or none).
Bring your friends, make effigies and dolls of riot police, and help us let these cops who celebrate their sadistic violence know: We can't forgit, because we're still livin it!
I'm not a cop, but I've always been angered that the police were blamed for the riot that occurred. The idiots were overrunning the city in protest, and what were the police supposed to do... let them? Maybe not everyone down there those nights went in looking for trouble, but enough of them did to create the situation that happened. Any bloodshed is on their hands, not any copper that worked that night.
Hell yeah! They have my utmost respect. I wish I was a copper then. Those were the times i'm sure.
It sounds like "Chicago Cop Watch" is one very, very lonely person.
Dude, here's some advice: Just go put yourself out of your misery. I don't think anyone will miss you.
My answer remains unchanged. Everyone who came to the convention was able to leave when it was over. More than can be said for Kent State. Some demonstrators got handled a little rough. Too bad. Its been 40+ years and the only conviction was the one that sent the author of The Walker Report to jail. For the newbees, former Gov. Dan Walker called it a "Police Riot" to get publicity and was later convicted of federal felonies and allowed to manufacture our license plates.
Though retired, my wood shampoo dispenser is still in the trunk.
Bring your friends, make effigies and dolls of riot police, and help us let these cops who celebrate their sadistic violence know: We can't forgit, because we're still livin it!
6/18/2009 09:30:00 AM
Is this a joke or are you just trying to make an old copper like me happy to see you?
I am afraid that I can't go.
You are most welcome at our reunion IF you promise ALWAYS to help another police officer when ever you can. Thats all it takes, nothing more.
Most polls taken at the time showed widespread support for the police actions that week. It was only with the passing of time and a politically motivated witch hunt that blame was affixed to a supposed "police riot."
^^^^^^^^^^^^
It was bec the liberal puss head hippies that were there gained positions of power. The old guard were very pro- law and order types.
OldSchoolCPD said...
Amen brothers; Here one for the boys!
And you know what kids, the mayor backed us! Something his snot nosed kid never learned to do.
6/18/2009 06:44:00 AM
His snot nosed kid lived under the blanket of OUR protection for his whole life.
And the Mayor said to the real police of 1968 " Shoot to kill " meaning shoplifters, the 1968 Mayor was the Chicago Police Commander and Chief and did the right thing for this City unlike his son who keeps pretending to be Da Boss
You hear that? Do you hear that? Skulls, son. Nothing else in the world sounds like that. I love the sound of skulls breaking in the morning.
I was a kid back in the late 60's and recall being kept in due to the protestors. The retired officers who were on duty in 1968 should be commended for saving the City.
Ever since meeting Officer Friendly in grammar school, I've always supported the fine men and women on the Chicago Police Department.
I hope that these gentlemen enjoy their reunion and know that there are many of us in Chicago who support them.
Days will be short in 016, I think they avearge 40 years on job.....
Anonymous Anonymous said...
It was the dawn of the liberal aggenda in the media. It has completely taken over now. The media hasn't realized that they are dying because of it. Report the news, don't shape it.
6/18/2009 12:15:00 AM
I wouldn't go that far. The right may be down but not out.
Funny thing is, if the socialists do win out, the media will be the first to "go" seeing as the useful idiots (media) would no longer be needed. So it would behoove them to start doing their job and shine a light on the corrupt to the core left.
Are National Guard members who served welcome too?
God bless the great officers from 1968! They were the "real police" not like todays tru and msf kids! But not blaming the kids, in 68 you had bosses that had balls and backed up the police, today we have seatbelt mission type who are spineless! Masters!
I see what you are saying but you really cant blame the bosses either. Like it or not the country has turned 180 on us. The times have changed, the demographics in the city have changed, the job has changed and political correctness will soon bring the downfall of this country. We are screwed. I dont like it but the bosses are just cant fight the power if they want to stay a boss. Gotta tow the media driven party line. Still it would be nice to see 1 just say fuck it and tell it like it is.
When we were issued our helmets in the Academy, mine still had blood in it from some poor Copper from the riot. When we had to turn ours in for new ones, I kept mine. They never came for it when I told them why. It's a piece of history that should be appreciated.
Chicagotribune.com has a series of photographs from the '68 riots. I recommend that you take a look, because it makes the case that numerous protestors went in there looking for trouble. There's one picture of hippies taunting the national guard. There's another of people trying to climb the statue of General Logan, and another with a guy being arrested who got up there... and look at his shirt: the anarchy symbol is right there on his chest. There are pictures of protestors throwing things back at the police and a close up of one of the balls jammed up with nails. Anyone claiming the police started that riot needs to see those pictures and understand the truth so they can give the officers on duty at that time the respect and credit they deserve.
Whats a PDT?
You're already planning the reunion and the riots not for two more weeks! oops, my bad.
I will not forget those so called days of rage in 8/68. I was 15 and like most people watched on TV. Even at 15 I was smart enough to know the demonstrators were idiots looking for trouble and frankly, I was glad to see they got it. We are not a police family but I remember my dad and uncles who worked downtown, my dad for the phone company and they were appalled at the college brats misbehaving all over the Loop. I remember them expressing pleasure in conversation that the police were giving many of them the spanking they deserved. It was really a pivitol point in society because limits were being challenged in cities across the country by civil disobedience. So I say I hope you have a nice renunion and fuck Cop Watch. Those 1968 cops taught this teenaged punk at the time you can goof off a little but there is a line you do not cross. And to this day I as a citizen am proud of the CPD in that people who came to break the law got way more than they bargained for when they got to Chicago. Best of all, some of them got what they deserved thanks to old time cops.
The old time coppers are the reason why the anti-war "hard core" protestors won't come to Chicago. God bless the old timers.
It wasn't a riot, it was a good old-fashined ass kicking, and that's all they should have wrote about it...
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