Days of Rage

Quick Facts: Who was Days of Rage?

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Days of Rage

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A series of riots in Chicago, Illinois, organized by the Weatherman faction of SDS in October 1969.

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Origins & Early Life

The Days of Rage were a series of riots 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", 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. In 1969, tensions ran high among the factions of SDS.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Weathermen were still part of the organization but differences were coming to the surface. "Look at it: America 1969" put forth SDS's bottom line regarding the National Action. By the end of August, the differences between the Weathermen and Revolutionary Youth Movement II (RYM II) had emerged, leading to the resignation of RYM II leader and member of SDS Mike Klonsky from the Weatherman-controlled national office leadership. He accused the Weathermen of going back on the convention's mandate. Weathermen members Mark Rudd and Terry Robbins responded, saying that priority must be given to building an anti-imperialist youth movement.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the months before the Days of Rage, despite the tensions within SDS, many members of Weather/SDS worked non-stop in promoting the demonstration. Lyndon Comstock was sent, along with three other members, to Lansing, Michigan, to organize and promote the event. Leaflets were printed and distributed to high school and community college students during the day, while at night members would spray paint anti-war graffiti on local school campuses. On October 6, 1969, the statue commemorating the policemen killed in the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago was blown up by a group including William Ayers. The blast broke nearly 100 windows and scattered pieces of the statue onto the Kennedy Expressway below; no one was ever arrested for the bombing.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1968: 1968 Milestone — The group planned the October 8–11 event as a "National Action" built around John Jacobs' slogan "bring the war home", which grew out of a resolution drafted by Jacobs and introduced at the October 1968 SDS National Council meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
2. 1969: 1969 Milestone — The Days of Rage were a series of riots during three days in October 1969 in Chicago, organized by the emerging Weatherman faction of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Days of Rage

True or False: “The primary catalyst for the Days of Rage was the failure of the Democratic National Convention in August 1968.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The protest activity at the 1968 Democratic National Convention significantly influenced John Jacobs's advocacy for direct action as a political strategy.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Days of Rage