https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43 What Can Bernadine Dohrn and the Weather Underground Tell Us About Intersectionality? en-us 2023-07-30 23:27:28 UTC 2025-11-14 17:04:42 UTC hello@padlet.com deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653222987 The Leadership of The Weathermen was formed out of leadership from the SDS and was called the Weather Bureau. The three most prominent were Mark Rudd, Bill Ayers, and Jeff Jones.]]> 2023-07-30 23:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653222987 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653223709 He with Terry Robbins was involved in both the Columbia student occupation and Kent State protest. He went underground with the group and like many former radicals became a professor and an author. ]]> 2023-07-30 23:36:53 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653223709 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653225019 He Came To SDS after participating in the Columbia student occupation and the Kent State protests. He was a member of the Weather Underground cell that set off an accidental explosion in a Greenwich Village safe-house. Robbins and two other Weather people died in the blast. ]]> 2023-07-30 23:42:26 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653225019 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653228191 Bernadine Dohrn was described as by an unnamed law professor as one of the most promising young lawyers in the country. She came to SDS after working for Martin Luther King Jr. and the Chicago Freedom Movement, and the National Lawyers Guild. She was the official author of multiple WUO papers and the voice heard on many of the taped communiques warning of imminent bombings by the WUO.]]> 2023-07-30 23:52:19 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653228191 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653230652 The primary anti-war political organization of the 1960's and the face of the "New Left".]]> 2023-07-31 00:01:08 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653230652 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653231624 The organization that formed in 1969 after the SDS dissolved due to lack of organizational leadership and opinion over taking more direct (violent) anti-war action. The group changed its name several times eventually becoming The Weather Underground Organization. They dropped the -men to signal their commitment to gender equality and added the underground when they began terroristic bombings and were wanted by the FBI.]]> 2023-07-31 00:04:36 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653231624 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653233341 The name for The Weathermen was taken from the lyrics of this Bob Dylan Song, " You don't need the weatherman to tell you which way the wind blows". ]]> 2023-07-31 00:09:47 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653233341 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653236708 The WUO defined itself as working for the benefit of Black militant organizations like the Black Panther party and the BLA. The relationship was tenuous at best, and the relevance of WUO's actions to the Black power movement were debatable.]]> 2023-07-31 00:18:16 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653236708 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653239283 The assassination of the Chairman of the Chicago Black Panther Party Fred Hampton by the Chicago Police likely had a strong effect on further radicalizing the WUO. He was a young charismatic Black leader that organized multiracial community coalitions, and also had some personal connections to the WUO as a few members participated in study groups with him.]]> 2023-07-31 00:24:46 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653239283 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653269804 Communist party leader and Black activist professor that was put on the FBI's most wanted list after going underground when she was accused of having a part in planning an armed raid on the Marin County, CA courthouse on August 7, 1970. Despite having no prior knowledge of the action she was charged with conspiracy and kidnapping. Davis was cleared of all charges, but during her time on the run WUO dedicated the October 8 bombing of the courthouse to her.]]> 2023-07-31 01:28:32 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653269804 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653272581 The story of Fred Hampton's betrayal and assassination was made into a major motion picture in 2021. Well worth the watch and highly recommended. ]]> 2023-07-31 01:34:50 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653272581 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653281198 Due to her high profile position in the WUO and her undeniable leadership role Bernadine Dohrn was put on the FBI's most wanted list, only the 4th woman to receive such attention (Angela Davis was the third). The WUO along with other militant, radical, or simply leftist organizations were subjected the illegal surveillance of COINTELPRO .]]> 2023-07-31 01:53:33 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653281198 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653284018 Bernadine Dohrn's husband, father of her children, and fellow weatherperson. ]]> 2023-07-31 01:58:39 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653284018 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653292186 Begun in 1967 the FBI's counterintelligence program was an illegal coalition of the CIA, Army, IRS, and local and state police organized by J. Edgar Hoover to surveil, suppress, and shut down the activist left in the United States. COINTELPRO's four main tactics were infiltration, psychological warfare, harassment through the legal system, and extra-legal force and violence. One of their central goals was to destroy racial solidarity. Luckily for the members of the WUO especially Dohrn much of the evidence gathered regarding their terrorist actions was done through COINTELPRO and their for inadmissible in court. In 1978 several FBI top brass were indicted for COINTELPRO activities specifically related to WUO.]]> 2023-07-31 02:13:43 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653292186 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653297631 The accidental explosion that killed three weather people March 1970. This was the point where the WUO began to reconsider their commitment to violence, although the bombings continue until 1977 they were committed to only perpetrating violence against property to make symbolic war on the United States. The bomb Robbins and Oughton had building had been intended for an officers dance at Fort Dix New Jersey. This was also the incident that sent the organization truly underground.]]> 2023-07-31 02:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653297631 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653301477 Dustin Hoffman was living next door to radio executive James Wilkerson the father of WUO member Cathy Wilkerson. She was using the residence as a safe house while her parent were in the Caribbean. ]]> 2023-07-31 02:29:31 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653301477 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653307037 Joined SDS/The Weathermen in 1969 during one of their "jailbreaks" at a high school. He went on to recruit others into the organization. He worked as a teacher and was the primary author of the Weatherman songbook.  He died when a bomb being assembled in the basement by Terry Robbins and Diana Oughten unexpectedly went off.]]> 2023-07-31 02:40:09 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653307037 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653313685 A Bryn Mawr Grad, Peace Corp Veteran, and teacher She with Bill Ayers were active in getting the early Weathermen off the ground as a leader of the Midwest arm of the organization. ]]> 2023-07-31 02:52:52 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653313685 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653316212 In the tradition of the Wobblies and other populist progressive movements the WUO published their own music. Its mostly a collection of parody songs, and as Weird Al was still learning the accordion they were the blind.]]> 2023-07-31 02:58:05 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653316212 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653319882 2023-07-31 03:06:47 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653319882 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653322050 The groups first mass action that ran from October 8-11, 1969. They planned on clashing with the police but the brutality of the response served to further radicalize many of the participants. This was the same month as the Chicago 8 trial and was intended to draw police energy away from Black demonstrations. Sixty-four weather people were indicted in relation to the Days of Rage events.]]> 2023-07-31 03:12:14 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653322050 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653324209 After the December 4, 1969 assassination of Fred Hampton WUO bombs empty Chicago squad cars as pay back.]]> 2023-07-31 03:17:43 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653324209 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653326260 The Weathermen have their last conference in Flint, Michigan in December of 1969 before going underground. ]]> 2023-07-31 03:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653326260 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653328963 COINTELPRO relied on paid female informants to infiltrate women's liberation groups. They seemed preoccupied with their appearance describing their unfeminine jeans and their frizzy, unbrushed hair.]]> 2023-07-31 03:30:10 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653328963 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653331370 The radical 19th century abolitionist was taken as a role model and symbol for the WUO solidarity with the Black struggle.]]> 2023-07-31 03:34:51 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653331370 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653332684 WUO targeted the home of the Judge presiding over the Panther 21 case.]]> 2023-07-31 03:38:07 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653332684 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653334479 The WUO's first public communiqué. This is an original recording of Bernadine Dohrn reading the message.]]> 2023-07-31 03:42:16 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653334479 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653338687 An army research facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was bomb inadvertently killing Fassnacht a civilian graduate student working late. ]]> 2023-07-31 03:52:14 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653338687 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653343607 In a pamphlet, "Titled Honky Tonk Woman" passed around at the Flint War council the female Viet Cong solider was idealized as the strong, self-sacrificing woman that weatherwomen should strive to be. ]]> 2023-07-31 04:04:14 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653343607 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653345465 5 members of the Weather Underground allowed a documentary crew to film them during their time in hiding. The film is released in 1976.]]> 2023-07-31 04:08:43 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653345465 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653616034 After the resolution of SDS the organization donated all of their files (with the exception of their members list which was destroyed) to the Kent State University Library.]]> 2023-07-31 14:43:35 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653616034 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653763178 This film pushes Bernadine Dohrn into the background despite in real life her having just as much involvement as her male SDS colleagues. The character credit doesn't even list her full name, jut Bernadine. ]]> 2023-07-31 21:42:46 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653763178 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653770140 During the days of rage.The women members of the Weathermen in an early all female action organized a march on the Grant Park Army Induction Center in Chicago with the goal of shutting it dow. They got their asses kicked.]]> 2023-07-31 22:14:19 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653770140 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653800656 Jeff Jones was a California native who had worked in the SDS New York Regional offices and would go on to help produce the WUO publication "Prairie Fire"]]> 2023-07-31 23:53:24 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653800656 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653802204 The Weathermen took the name for their short-lived news paper started after the final SDS conference in 1969 from this book of essays by James Baldwin. The title was meant to indicate the publication was a wakeup call.]]> 2023-07-31 23:56:32 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2653802204 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654194336 The lyrics to the song by The Rolling Stones complicate the image expressed by the Weathermen's propaganda.]]> 2023-08-01 14:04:42 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654194336 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654200045 As a protest of the Vietnam war and Harvard's status as the educator of the "Man" the women of the Weather Underground bomb the Harvard War Research Center for International Affairs on October 15, 1970]]> 2023-08-01 14:14:25 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654200045 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654203745 In December of 1970 The Weathermen Underground released the communiqué, "New Morning, Changing Weather". It was a disavowal of violence for violence sake and outlined a more coherent organizational philosophy. The group would go on to bomb empty buildings that housed oppressive institutions in an "armed propaganda" campaign. In this document they also change their name to the gender neutral Weather Underground because they have begun to incorporate women's issues into their mission. The document was signed by Bernadine Dohrn with a finger print next tot her signature.]]> 2023-08-01 14:21:28 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654203745 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654206220 The title for the communique was taken from Bob Dylan's Album "New Morning". The celebration of youth culture in the document fits with the pop culture reference in the title.]]> 2023-08-01 14:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654206220 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654214522 In January of 1973 the WUO publishes a document calling for a stronger commitment to feminist theory to develop their cause. Pictured is a print inscribed with the poem of the same name by Japanese poet and activist Yosano Akiko. The poem was originally published in 1911. ]]> 2023-08-01 14:41:10 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654214522 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654218091 A summer women's study program was developed due to the WUO's recommitment to Women's Liberation. The group produced a packet titled "Six Sisters". The group synthesized sexism with their previous understanding imperialism and racism. The discussions now would be described as intersectional feminism.]]> 2023-08-01 14:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654218091 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654224046 Inspired by the conclusions of "Six Sisters" the Women's brigade bombs the federal offices of Health, Education, and Welfare on March 6, 1974. They called it "the major vehicle of social control of women". They called for woman control of daycare, healthcare, and birth control. They also denounce forced sterilization. This will be the final action of the Women's Brigade.]]> 2023-08-01 14:56:29 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654224046 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654226670 The WUO publishes this collective work on theory in 1974. It is reprinted 40,000 times]]> 2023-08-01 15:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654226670 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654231025 The Hard Times Conference was the end of the Weather Underground. The January 1976 conference was meant to build consensus, but the organizers were accused of sexism and racism. An organizational rupture of the WUO followed and the Weather Underground was dissolved by the next year.]]> 2023-08-01 15:10:00 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654231025 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654236801 This podcast is hosted by Bernadine's son Zayn Dohrn. This was my inspiration for pursing this subject.]]> 2023-08-01 15:22:15 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654236801 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654248465 This was one of my favorite sources for my paper. You know how you come across a source and say, "Crap someone already wrote my paper". It is a good read for an academic paper.]]> 2023-08-01 15:45:28 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654248465 deborahwomack1 https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654249968 This Book by Ruth Rosen is a great read about the wider women's movement. The author was active in the women's movement and a historian. The book is available through the Austin Public Library.]]> 2023-08-01 15:49:39 UTC https://padlet.com/deborahwomack1/9yvkcjejiol5db43/wish/2654249968