Protest on Trial: The Seattle 7 Conspiracy - Paperback

by Kit Bakke (Author)

The Seattle 7 embodied late 1960s counterculture--young, idealistic, active organizers against racism and the Vietnam War, and fond of long hair, rock'n'roll, sex, drugs, and parties. In January 1970 they founded the Seattle Liberation Front (SLF). Nationally, the FBI was using tactics such as wiretapping, warrantless break-ins, and the placing of informers and provocateurs to destroy organizations like the SLF. But in Seattle, it went a step further.

After a protest at Seattle's downtown federal building turned violent, seven SLF leaders--Michael Abeles, Jeff Dowd, Joe Kelly, Michael Lerner, Roger Lippman, Chip Marshall, and Susan Stern--faced federal conspiracy and intent to riot indictments. Their chaotic trial became a crash course in the real American judicial system. Carl Maxey and Michael Tigar led the defense team; the U.S. prosecuting attorney was Stan Pitkin. When Pitkin's key witness faltered and the government's case appeared doomed, the presiding judge issued a surprise ruling to end the trial and send the defendants to prison.

For this solidly researched oral history, the author conducted dozens of interviews with defendants, attorneys, FBI agents, jurors, and others. She also accessed the trial transcript, appeals briefs and depositions, media articles, books, and more.

Front Jacket

The Seattle 7 embodied late 1960s counterculture--young, idealistic, active organizers against racism and the Vietnam War. In January 1970 they founded the Seattle Liberation Front (SLF). Nationally, the FBI was practicing secret and illegal tactics such as wiretapping, warrantless break-ins, and hiring informants and provocateurs to destroy organizations like the SLF. In Seattle, it went a step further. Months after a February 1970 protest at Seattle's downtown federal building turned violent, authorities arrested seven SLF leaders. The activists faced federal conspiracy and intent to riot indictments. During their chaotic trial in nearby Tacoma, they received a twelve-day crash course in the real American judicial system. When the prosecution's key witness faltered and the government's case appeared doomed, the presiding judge issued a surprise ruling to end the trial and send the defendants to prison. "'Protest on Trial' chronicles a significant, real-life slice of history, but it reads more like a well-crafted novel--a compelling narrative that feels completely contemporary, and reminds us that dissent--now no less than then--is the essence of democracy."--Bill Ayers, author of "Fugitive Days," Public Enemy," and "Demand the Impossible!" "Using impressive interviews as well as the revealing trial transcript, this excellent narrative makes contributions to the history of the Northwest, Seattle, radicalism, and activism."William Rorabaugh, University of Washington Professor of History and author of "American Hippies"