The weathermen underground

1. The Weathermen Underground Meredith Portnoy Rhetoric, Conflict & Identity

2. Background on The Weathermen Militant faction of youth organization Students for a Democratic Society (1969) Formed in response to frustration over Vietnam War “Days of Rage”: planned attack in Chicago in October 1969 Bombed the Capitol in February 1971

3. “Weather Underground”: Documentary Clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay4cgdq6g-o&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV7GSff4fIA#t=21m29s

4. Within the Weathermen Susan Stern, With The Weathermen: “I fell in love with a concept. My white knight materialized into a vision of world-wide liberation. I ceased to think of Susan Stern as a woman; I saw myself as a revolutionary tool.” (65) “Violence by itself is neither good, bad, right or wrong. The thing to get a handle on is what’s necessary to build a revolution in the world.” (181) Larry Grathwohl , Bringing Down America: An FBI Informer with the Weathermen: “Violence may turn too many against us...But, at the same time, we have to show them we're deadly serious when we talk about revolution. Why did we take over the SDS? I'll tell you why. Because they had too much talk about a revolution and not enough action. Therefore, we need more violence in the demonstration." (72)

5. Representing Political Violence: The Mainstream Media and the Weathermen “Days of Rage” Press as boundary containing mechanism Conservative vs. Moderate Media Representations of political violence Movement needs leadership…symbols Collapse of difference between the two sides Mob identity Iconography

6. Becker & Burke Hero systems and group identity (Becker) Tragic framework- Rejection: leading to violence and conflict (Burke)

7. Q&A “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”- JFK Do you think political violence is ever justifiable? Reactions to the article or suggestions for connection to class material.