Lee Weiner
Encyclopedia
Lee Weiner a member of the Chicago Seven
, was charged with conspiracy and making incendiary devices for his part in the demonstrations that surrounded the 1968 Democratic National Convention
.
J. Anthony Lukas
described Weiner as "a strangely remote figure who shunned most of the defendants' extracurricular activities." Weiner rarely attended defense strategy sessions, perhaps out of a belief that their cause was hopeless. He spent most of his trial hours reading science fiction paperbacks or books on eastern philosophy. Weiner reacted to few courtroom developments, viewing the proceedings with a mixture of scorn and amusement.
Weiner, who was known as the 'quiet defendant' for rarely participating in courtroom antics or outbursts during the trial, was acquitted along with co-defendant John Froines
, of both charges.
At the time of trial, Weiner was a teaching assistant in sociology at Northwestern University
. He served Professor Howard S. Becker
as a research assistant there. He lived in a Hyde Park apartment with a girlfriend, Sharon Avery.
In the years following the trial, Weiner has continued to work and protest for causes. He has worked for the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith in New York and participated in protests for Russian Jews and more funding for AIDS research. At present he is VP of Direct Response at AmeriCares
Foundation in Stamford, CT.
Chicago Seven
The Chicago Seven were seven defendants—Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner—charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois on the occasion of the 1968...
, was charged with conspiracy and making incendiary devices for his part in the demonstrations that surrounded the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
.
J. Anthony Lukas
J. Anthony Lukas
Jay Anthony Lukas, aka J. Anthony Lucas , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and author, probably best known for his 1985 book Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families, a classic study of race relations and school busing in Boston, Massachusetts, as...
described Weiner as "a strangely remote figure who shunned most of the defendants' extracurricular activities." Weiner rarely attended defense strategy sessions, perhaps out of a belief that their cause was hopeless. He spent most of his trial hours reading science fiction paperbacks or books on eastern philosophy. Weiner reacted to few courtroom developments, viewing the proceedings with a mixture of scorn and amusement.
Weiner, who was known as the 'quiet defendant' for rarely participating in courtroom antics or outbursts during the trial, was acquitted along with co-defendant John Froines
John Froines
John R. Froines is a chemist and anti-war activist.He is noted as a member of the Chicago Seven, a group charged with involvement with the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Froines, who holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale, was charged with interstate travel for purposes of...
, of both charges.
At the time of trial, Weiner was a teaching assistant in sociology at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He served Professor Howard S. Becker
Howard S. Becker
Howard Saul Becker is an American sociologist who made major contributions to the sociology of deviance, sociology of art, and sociology of music. Becker also wrote extensively on sociological writing styles and methodologies. In addition, Becker's book The Outsiders provided the foundations for...
as a research assistant there. He lived in a Hyde Park apartment with a girlfriend, Sharon Avery.
In the years following the trial, Weiner has continued to work and protest for causes. He has worked for the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith in New York and participated in protests for Russian Jews and more funding for AIDS research. At present he is VP of Direct Response at AmeriCares
AmeriCares
AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the United States and around the world. Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has provided more than...
Foundation in Stamford, CT.