Plot Against the Convention

Seven men, most of them veterans active in an anti-war group, were charged with plotting violence at a national political convention. The indictment said they conspired to organize 'fire teams' to attack police stations, police cars and shops with automatic weapons and fire bombs during the convention. They also faced explosives and unregistered-firearms counts. The men denied the charges and went to trial. The jury trial lasted about a month, and the jury had to decide whether the government had proved a real plan, not just angry talk among veterans.