Tear Gassed

How many of my friends have experienced being Tear Gassed? None? Well I've had the misfortune of being gassed on three (3) separate occaisions! At the time there were two major forms of tear gas; CS and CN. CS gas was the most popular form used in crowd control. This made the modern day 'pepper spray' feel like alo vera.  The 'S' or sting component caused acute respiritory burning and in some cases 'anaphalaxis' All mucous membranes exposed were swollen and inflamed with fire. This included eyes, nasal passages, throat and lungs. Exposed skin was burned to the equivalent of 2nd degree hydroflouric acid. It was not uncommon for the raw skin to peel away as a major sunburn effect. Due to a large quantity of civilian 'anaphalaxis' reports, CS was discontinued for civilian use in 1973. CN gas had all the properties of CS, but included an esophogeal irritant causing projectile vomiting. CN was used from 1968 - 1970 as a last resort for crowd control. I was banned from use as a civilian crowd control element in 1971, but is still used by Military and Swat units today.

So whats my point? Well, in 1968, I was a young Hippie/Actor/Musician. Living in a Chicago suburb. My friends/band mates and I frequented the Chicago Music/Theatre scene via the IC train. Playing in Blues Clubs an performing in Theatres, we decided to make a normal trip downtown to party with friends. Unaware that the 1968 Democratic National Convention Protests were in full force, we exited Union Station only to be greeted by Mayor Daleys' full tear gas barage and a wall of State Police riot squads. What the Hell? Not being politically astute, we just ran. Up Randolph, over Lake Shore Drive and ending up in Grant Park. Why was this happening? Who was behind it all?

Unable to get back to the train and burning w/CS, we asked around about some safe haven. A few of the older kids mentioned a group called the SDS Weathermen, who had a house up on Rush Street. We said cool, and made a stealth run at night, up to Rush St. This was like a scarey nightime rush; hiding in the shadows and evading the cops. We finally arrived. A small two flat apt in the alley behind Rush St. There was a line of others in front of us and one by one the were admitted into the flat. Everyone was hacking and gasping from the gas. When we were finally admitted into the flat, we met a guy named Jerry. He immediately ordered some chicks to minister to our injuries. The sweet smell of weed and inscense filled the room and we were finally becoming calm. Jerry told us that we were heros of the revolution and they would protect us no matter what. I said to myself: "What Revolution?"

This was my first experience with the SDS Weatherman.