The 1968 Democratic National Convention Protests were a series of protests against American involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The protests lasted seven days, from August 23 to August 29. Chicago authorities attempted to prevent the protests but were unsuccessful, causing unprecedented levels of police brutality by the Chicago police.
American national news media heavily publicized the brutality of Chicago police during the Democratic National Convention Protests. Surprisingly, the general public sympathized with the police and not the demonstrators. The protests and ensuing trials highlighted the national divide caused by the Vietnam War and cultural shifts.