Awesome / The Trial of the Chicago 7

• When Judge Hoffman has Bobby Seale beaten, tied, and gagged in the courtroom for speaking his mind about his mistreatment in the trial, Richard Schultz, the lead prosecutor, will not stand for that obscenity against the very idea of American justice and requests Seale's case be severed from the other defendants and declared a mistrial. When the dumbfounded Hanging Judge tries to confirm that the prosecution has requested this, the defense counsel stand up to the bigoted judge:
  William Kunstler: Of course, because you took their Black guy and you made him a sympathetic character.
  Judge Hoffman: Mr. Kunstler, I have lived a very long time, sir. And you're the first person ever to suggest that I have discriminated against a Black man!
  Leonard Weinglass: Then let the record show that I am the second.
• Jerry punching two frat boys trying to rape a female protester. He gets arrested for it after, but he still managed to help the woman before the cops get him. Thankfully, he's let go because they realized they had no good reason to lock him up.
• After Hoffman compliments Tom Hayden for behaving the most professionally throughout the trial, Tom responds by using his statement to read off the list of every victim of the Vietnam War during the course of the trial, numbering 5000+. Even as Hoffman bangs his gavel in futility, the rest of the courtroom goes wild.
• The Yippies, in a sense, for how they drew attention to the trial. The trial was already a circus and they had nothing to lose, so their antics brought oodles of attention to the situation - and arguably did advance their cause. Not to mention, Hoffman and Rubin repeatedly pissing off Judge Hoffman is very satisfying.
• Bobby Seale repeatedly stands up for himself in the face of his despicable mistreatment. All these moments count, but especially when he protests the execution of his friend and fellow Black Panther Fred Hampton and refuses to back down, even after he's been beaten and gagged.
  Judge Hoffman: I'm tired of hearing that.
  Bobby Seale: I couldn't care less what you're tired of.
  Judge Hoffman: What did you say?
  Bobby Seale: I said it would be impossible for me to care any less what you are tired of.
• When Judge Hoffman silences Seale by screaming "You have lawyers to speak for you!", soft spoken William Kunstler practically roars back "NO HE DOESN'T".
• After the two jurors most sympathetic to the case are dismissed due to threatening letters, Kunstler calls out Foran for probably sending them himself and threatens to have him arrested.
• After Rennie is hit by the police, John calls out what they're doing from the bandstand to try and stop them.
• Throughout the riot, Dellinger makes repeated attempts to stop violence from breaking out.
• Abbie Hoffman proves he's a lot smarter than he looks when he takes the stand. His performance throughout the whole examination counts, but the real-life quote "I've never been on trial for my thoughts before" is especially impressive.
• When Kunstler, Hayden, and Weinglass visit Ramsey Clark to ask him to testify, only to be worried when Howard Ackerman is there as well. Except Clark wants Kunstler to call him, and even calls himself Kunstler's star witness:
  Ramsey Clark: I'm in private practice now, and if John Mitchell wants to cut me in half, he can and he will.
  Tom Hayden: You have to find some...Sir, you have to find some courage now.
  Ramsey Clark: Find some courage? Yeah.
  Tom Hayden: Yes. You have to find some courage, and-
  Len Weinglass: Tom-
  Ramsey Clark: (pointing to Ackerman and Kelly) That's what those two men came to tell me, that if John Mitchell wants to cut me in half, he can and he will. So I wanted them in the room when I said, "When do you want me in court?"
  Howard Ackerman: Mr. Clark?
  William Kunstler: I'm sorry?
  Ramsey Clark: Swear me in, Bill.
  Howard Ackerman: It is against the law for you to testify, Ramsey. It is as simple as that.
  Ramsey Clark: It's General Clark. And arrest me or shut the fuck up. (turns to Hayden) Found some.
• After Fred Hampton is murdered by the police, Tom Hayden and William Kunstler visit Bobby Seale to tell him the news, only to find out he knows, and he has this to say to Hayden:
  Bobby Seale: You've all got the same father, right? "Cut your hair, don't be a fag, respect authority, respect America - respect me." Your life, it's a "fuck-you" to your father, right? A little?
  Tom Hayden: Maybe.
  Bobby Seale: Maybe. And you can see how that's different from a rope on a tree?
  Tom Hayden: (quietly) Yeah.
  Bobby Seale: Yeah. He was shot in the shoulder first. You can't aim a gun if you've been shot in the shoulder, you can't squeeze the trigger. Second shot was in his head. Fred was executed. Anything else?
  William Kunstler: No.
• Bernadine, Kunstler's receptionist, has one as well after Hampton's murder:
  Bernadine: Conspiracy Office, how can I help you? (Beat) No, sir, I am a white woman. (Beat) Yeah, I've slept with several in my life so far, and on balance, I'd have to say yes, it is better, and to tell you the truth, I think that's a big part of what's got you worked up.
  Leonard Weinglass: Hang up the phone.
  Bernadine: It's not even so much that it's bigger, it's just better, you know what I mean?
  Leonard Weinglass: Hang up the phone. [she does] Was that a parting gift for Bobby?
  Bernadine: No. That was just for me.