The 1968 Democratic Convention and the Chicago Police Riot
The 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago was one of the most dramatic political events in U.S. history. Intended as a gathering to nominate the Democratic presidential candidate, it became a flashpoint for the nation’s divisions over the Vietnam War, civil rights, and authority. Chicago became the stage for a violent confrontation between demonstrators and the Chicago Police Department (CPD), an event often described as a “police riot.”
This article examines the causes, events, and consequences of the 1968 DNC clashes, showing how they shaped Chicago’s law enforcement history and national debates about protest policing.
The Political Climate of 1968
1968 was one of the most turbulent years in American history.
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The Vietnam War had escalated, and over 500,000 U.S. troops were deployed overseas.
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The assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy earlier that year had plunged the country into grief and anger.
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Racial unrest was spreading across major cities, including Chicago, following King’s assassination.
The Democratic Party was deeply divided over the war, and the convention was expected to be contentious.
Why Protestors Came to Chicago
Various activist groups, including the Youth International Party (Yippies), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (Mobe), planned demonstrations.
Their goals included:
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Demanding an immediate end to the Vietnam War.
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Calling for social justice, racial equality, and free speech.
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Challenging the political establishment and Mayor Richard J. Daley’s control over the city.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators came to Chicago, although the city denied permits for many protests, setting the stage for confrontation.
Mayor Richard J. Daley’s Security Plan
Mayor Daley was determined to maintain order and protect Chicago’s image.
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He deployed 12,000 police officers, 5,000 National Guardsmen, and 7,500 Army troops.
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Daley ordered a “no-nonsense” approach, instructing police to crack down on protests swiftly.
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The result was an atmosphere of militarization, with barbed wire, checkpoints, and a heavy police presence around the convention center.
Daley’s critics later argued that his policies escalated tensions rather than calming them.
The “Police Riot”
From August 25–29, 1968, violent clashes broke out between demonstrators and law enforcement.
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Police wielded nightsticks, used tear gas, and carried out mass arrests.
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Protestors threw rocks, chanted antiwar slogans, and sometimes fought back, but most accounts describe police as the aggressors.
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Journalists and bystanders were also attacked, with television cameras capturing scenes of chaos.
On August 28, outside the Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue, police charged into crowds of demonstrators and beat protestors as chants of “The whole world is watching” rang out.
The violence was broadcast live, shocking the nation.
Public Reaction
The clashes polarized the American public.
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Many viewers were horrified by images of police beating unarmed protestors.
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Others sympathized with Mayor Daley and the police, seeing them as defenders of order against “unpatriotic radicals.”
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The Democratic Party was further fractured, as the violence reinforced perceptions of chaos and disunity.
Ultimately, the convention nominated Vice President Hubert Humphrey, but the damage to the party’s reputation was severe.
The Walker Report
In December 1968, the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence released the Walker Report, which investigated the convention clashes.
The report’s conclusion was damning:
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It described the events as a “police riot.”
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It found that many police officers used “unrestrained and indiscriminate” force.
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Protestors were often peaceful, but police escalated situations with excessive violence.
The report cemented the convention’s reputation as a turning point in U.S. policing and protest history.
Impact on the Chicago Police Department
The 1968 DNC had lasting consequences for the CPD and its relationship with the public:
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The department’s reputation was tarnished internationally.
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Activists and minority communities became even more distrustful of police.
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The CPD was accused of being a political weapon of Mayor Daley rather than a neutral public safety force.
At the same time, many rank-and-file officers felt unfairly vilified, believing they had followed orders in a chaotic situation.
Legacy
The 1968 convention shaped Chicago’s law enforcement history in several ways:
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It highlighted the dangers of militarized policing at protests.
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It set the stage for future debates over free speech, assembly, and police accountability.
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It symbolized the deep cultural divide between young activists and the political establishment.
The phrase “The whole world is watching” became a lasting reminder of how televised images of policing could shape public opinion.
