In February 1970, contempt citations were issued to the "Chicago Seven," a group of defendants charged with conspiring to riot during the August 1968 Democratic Party convention in Chicago. Demonstrations against the contempt charges took place in numerous cities, including Seattle, where the newly formed Seattle Liberation Front (SLF) called for protests downtown. On February 17, over 2000 people demonstrated in front of the Federal Courthouse, some carrying on running battles with the police, and breaking windows in the U.S. Courthouse and downtown businesses.

Seventy-five people were arrested, and eight were indicted for conspiracy to cause damage to federal property. On April 16, 1970, a federal grand jury issued conspiracy indictments against University of Washington professor and SLF founder Michael Lerner (b. 1943), Susan Stern (1943-1976), Charles "Chip" Marshall (b. 1945), Mike Abeles (b. 1951), Jeff Dowd (b. 1949), Joe Kelly (b. 1946), Roger Lippman (b. 1947), and Michael Justesen (b. 1950). The highly politicized trial of the "Seattle Seven" eventually resulted in a mistrial. While the defendants served short terms for contempt of court, those convictions were later thrown out. During the legal proceedings, it became clear that the violence had been precipitated by FBI agents who had infiltrated the SLF.

This photo shows SLF member Jeff Bickford, on the day after the indictments, on the steps of the courthouse reading a statement from the five SLF members being held in custody: Michael Lerner, Jeff Dowd, Susan Stern, Michael Abeles, and Joseph Kelly. At right is Pat Tonnema, another SLF spokesman.

Caption information source: "Radical Group Unveils Tax Program" by Don Hannula, Seattle Times, April 10, 1970, p. E10; "8 Indicated for Conspiracy" by Dee Norton, Seattle Times, April 17, 1970, p. 1.
Caption information source: "Seattle Liberation Front," by Walt Crowley, HistoryLink.org Essay 2131