Violence in Chicago (excerpt)

In October 1968, Jane A. Kennedy, MS, then assistant director of nursing for research and studies at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, reported in the American Journal of Nursing on her work with MCHR during the Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago on August 25--29, 1968.

I was on the street that day because I am a nurse, because I am concerned that many adults today seem totally uncomprehending of the needs and rights of today's youth, and because I am co-chairman of the Chicago Chapter of the Medical Committee for Human Rights.

MCHR was organized in 1964 by doctors, nurses, and others interested in health issues related to the civil rights movement. Members of MCHR have provided "medical presence" in civil rights marches, in Resurrection City [a Poor People's Campaign encampment on the Washington Mall], and in demonstrations by youth and peace groups....

In planning for convention week we worked closely with the Student Health Organization, a national group composed of medical, nursing, and paramedical students. From what we could learn, the city health department had no plans for emergency care, so it appeared that, for the demonstartors, there would be a health care vacuum unless we stepped in....

During the week the most important instruction which I gave to teams as they left the station for areas where violence had been reported was to try to perform a calming influence for everyone involved, both demonstrators and police. My own experience proved this possible.

At one point, police were making a sweeping move along Michigan Avenue, telling demonstrators and bystanders alike to move. The quicker people moved, the quicker the police pursued them and the more violent and hasty their actions became. We began to shout, "Walk, walk, walk." The people slowed down, the police slowed down, and everyone became calmer....

[I]t appeared each policemen made his own decision about how he would relate to us. At one point, a nurse and two medical students who were waiting for me outside an aid station were stoned by the police. Over her uniform, the nurse was wearing a lab coat with red crosses on both sleeves. The medical students also were appropriately dressed. The nurse shouted, "Don't do that, we're medics." The police replied, "Medics! If you weren't here, they [the demonstrators] wouldn't be here."

We treated about 1,000 persons during that tragic week; we were a calming influence on the streets; we were sick with the violence we saw.