'The Trial of the Chicago 7' exclusive featurette: Anatomy of a Scene

Video Transcript

- The Chicago Seven were actually eight people. Bobby Seale had nothing to do with the anti-war movement.

- Bobby Seale is extremely passionate, smart, witty, stands up for himself, and he's not to be defeated.

- They wanted to charge Bobby Seale because they knew that putting a Black guy at the defense table-- who was the head of the Black Panthers, which were considered a terrorist organization-- would sufficiently scare the jury.

- He had every reason to feel defeated, but he was not a guy who was going to lose or was going to allow someone else to see defeat in his eyes.

- Would the defense like to cross-examine the witness?

- Yes. I'm sitting here saying that I would like to cross-examine the witness.

- Only lawyers can address a witness.

- My lawyer is Charles Garry.

- I'm tired of hearing that, sir.

- I could care less what you're tired of.

- What did you say?

- I said it would be impossible for me to care any less what you are tired of, and I demand to cross-examine the witness.

- Sit in your chair and be quiet, and don't ever address this court in that manner again. Are there any further questions? We'll stand in recess for one hour, and court will resume--

- It was premeditated murder.

- Yes, it was.

- Fred Hampton was assassinated last night.

- Marshals, put Mr. Seale--

- He would have been able to hold a gun in his hand. When they promise the coroner's report, make sure you ask about the bullet wounds in his shoulders.

- I strongly caution you, Mr. Seale. I strongly caution.

- Oh, strongly fuck yourself.

- Marshals, take that defendant into a room and deal with him as he should be dealt with.

- Judge Julius Hoffman had no interest in listening or in any way abiding by the law. He came in there determined to get these men into prison.

- It was the powerful versus the powerless, and the judge represents the old America, or the current America of that time, fighting tooth and nail to hold on to its old ways.

- Bobby's is a very strong guy, and he's not stupid. And he knows what's going on. And Yahya plays this with integrity and with a boldness that Bobby deserves.

- The film reminds us how necessary it is for voices to rise up nonviolently against government control, corporate control, everything meant to pull down the right of the individual.

- I hope people start saying, "Gee, we seem to have gone backwards. We won't do that again." And the fact that when you protest your government, it doesn't mean you're anti-American, quite the opposite.

- The defendants represented a new ideology and a new way of thinking, and I was really attracted to the opportunity to bring that to the camera. Hopefully, this film speaks to a sense of urgency and a sense of pulling a voice together and putting yourselves on the line for a greater cause.

- Let the record show that I tried, fairly and impartially. I tried to get the defendant to sit on his own. I ask you again, Mr. Seale, and you may indicate by raising your head up and down or moving it from side to side, if I have your assurance that you will not do anything to disrupt this trial if I allow you to resume proper order. Do I have your assurance?

- It should encourage people to really look at the state of our country. If we have a problem with something, then we should speak up and we should speak out loudly and not be fearful of the consequences.

- Mr. Schultz, call your next witness. Mr. Schultz?

- Your Honor, may we approach?

- Can you breathe? Can you breathe all right, Bobby?

[MUSIC PLAYING]