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[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers as he appeared in ''Chicago Magazine''.]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born December 26, 1944 in Oak Park, Illinois) is currently a professor at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago [[community organizer]]. He is best known as a founder of the internationally supported [[terrorist]] [[Weather Underground|Weather Underground Organization]] (WUO), and as a good friend of U.S President [[Barack Obama]].  The WUO has often mistakenly been labeled as a Vietnam era protest organization, however many of the organizations activities continued well past the end of American involvement in [[Vietnam]],<ref>''Ambush:The Brinks Robbery of 1981'', [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/brinks/2.html  truTV - Crime Library: Terrorists, The Weather Underground & Black Liberation Army]</ref> the fall of [[South Vietnam]], and the victory of the [[Communist]] regime of [[North Vietnam]], which was the groups oft stated goals.

[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers as he appeared in ''Chicago Magazine''.]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born December 26, 1944 in Oak Park, [[Illinois]]) is currently a [[Professor_values#Immoral.2C_Unethical.2C_or_Bizarre_Behavior|professor]] at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago [[community organizer]]. He is best known as a founder of the internationally supported [[terrorist]] [[Weather Underground|Weather Underground Organization]] (WUO), and as a good friend of [[U.S. President]] [[Barack Obama]].  The WUO has often mistakenly been labeled as a [[Vietnam War]] era protest organization, however many of the organizations activities continued well past the end of American involvement in [[Vietnam]],<ref>''Ambush:The Brinks Robbery of 1981'', [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/brinks/2.html  truTV - Crime Library: Terrorists, The Weather Underground & Black Liberation Army]</ref> the fall of [[South Vietnam]], and the victory of the [[Communist]] regime of [[North Vietnam]], which was the groups oft stated goals.

Ayers is the husband of terrorist [[Bernardine Dohrn]].

Ayers is the husband of terrorist [[Bernardine Dohrn]].

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==Early life and upbringing==

==Early life and upbringing==

Ayers grew up in a wealthy home as the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison. <ref>Northwestern University, Obituary: Thomas Ayers Served as Board Chair from 1975 to 1986[http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/06/ayers.html]</ref> He lived in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. Ayers attended public schools and received a bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1968. At age 21, Ayers became director of the Children's Community, a small school in a basement that did not have grades, report cards, and had children address teachers by their first names. It was part of a "free school movement."

Ayers grew up in a wealthy home as the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison. <ref>Northwestern University, Obituary: Thomas Ayers Served as Board Chair from 1975 to 1986[http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/06/ayers.html]</ref> He lived in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. Ayers attended [[public school values|public school]]s and received a bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1968. At age 21, Ayers became director of the Children's Community, a small school in a basement that did not have grades, report cards, and had children address teachers by their first names. It was part of a "free school movement."

== Internationally sponsored terrorism ==

== Internationally sponsored terrorism ==

[[Image:Ayers.jpg|left|thumb|Bill Ayers in August 1968.]]

[[Image:Ayers.jpg|left|thumb|Bill Ayers in August 1968.]]

In 1968, Ayers became leader of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]], and then a prominent leader of the violent "Weatherman group." The group was associated with other international communist guerrilla and terrorist groups, including the [[Vietcong]].  Its objective was the furtherance of [[Soviet]] foreign policy and the defeat of the U.S. in Vientam.  In May 1970, the organization issued a Declaration of War<ref>FBI file, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Declaration_of_a_State_of_War Weather Underground Declaration of a State of War]</ref> against the United States authored by Bernardine Dohrn who was later to become Ayers wife but not until other members of the group, including Ayers girlfriend at the time, blew themselves up in a bomb making factory in [[Greenwich Village]] [[New York]].

In 1968, Ayers became leader of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]], and then a prominent leader of the violent "Weatherman group." The group was associated with other international [[communist]] guerrilla and terrorist groups, including the [[Vietcong]].  Its objective was the furtherance of [[Soviet]] foreign policy and the defeat of the U.S. in Vietnam.  In May 1970, the organization issued a Declaration of War<ref>[[FBI]] file, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Declaration_of_a_State_of_War Weather Underground Declaration of a State of War]</ref> against the United States authored by Bernardine Dohrn who was later to become Ayers wife but not until other members of the group, including Ayers girlfriend at the time, blew themselves up in a bomb making factory in [[Greenwich Village]] [[New York City]].

[[File:Bring the War Home2.JPG|right|thumb|SDS leaflet organizing the Chicago Days of Rage, October 11, 1969. [http://www.archive.org/stream/TheWayTheWindBlewAHistoryOfTheWeatherUnderground/waythewindblew#page/n27/mode/2up] ]]

[[File:Bring the War Home2.JPG|right|thumb|SDS leaflet organizing the Chicago Days of Rage, October 11, 1969. [http://www.archive.org/stream/TheWayTheWindBlewAHistoryOfTheWeatherUnderground/waythewindblew#page/n27/mode/2up] ]]

The WUO was responsible for roughly 72 bombings in all, including the [[United States Capitol]] (March 1 1971), [[The Pentagon]] (May 19 1972), the United States [[Department of State]] (January 28 1975)<ref> [http://foia.fbi.gov/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground] pgs. 67-71 pdf</ref> and numerous other targets.  In 1969, the Weather Underground planted a bomb at a statue dedicated to [[police]] casualties in the 1886 [[Haymarket Riot]]. The statue was blown into pieces, but was rebuilt in 1970. It was blown up again by the Weather Underground, five months later.

The WUO was responsible for roughly 72 bombings in all, including the [[United States Capitol]] (March 1 1971), [[The Pentagon]] (May 19 1972), the United States [[Department of State]] (January 28 1975)<ref> [http://foia.fbi.gov/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground] pgs. 67-71 pdf</ref> and numerous other targets.  In 1969, the Weather Underground planted a bomb at a statue dedicated to [[police]] casualties in the 1886 [[Haymarket Riot]]. The statue was blown into pieces, but was rebuilt in 1970. It was blown up again by the Weather Underground, five months later.

==San Francisco Police Department bombing==

==San Francisco Police Department bombing==

In sworn testimony before the U.S. [[Senate Internal Security Subcommittee]] on October 18 1974,<ref>Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, October 18, 1974 quoted in [http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/chicago-obama.pdf''Communism in Chicago and the Obama Connection''], USA Survival, Inc.</ref> an [[FBI]] informant declared,

In sworn testimony before the U.S. [[Senate Internal Security Subcommittee]] on October 18 1974,<ref>Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, October 18, 1974 quoted in [http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/chicago-obama.pdf''Communism in Chicago and the Obama Connection''], USA Survival, Inc.</ref> an [[FBI]] informant declared,

{{cquote|"When he [Bill Ayers] returned, we had another meeting at which time -- and this is the only time that any Weathermen told me about something that someone else had done -- and Bill started off telling us about the need to raise the level of the struggle and for stronger leadership inside the Weathermen 'focals' [i.e., cells] and inside the Weatherman organization as a whole.  And he cited as one of the real problems was that someone like Bernardine Dohrn had to plan, develop and  carry out the bombing of the police station in San Francisco, and he specifically named her as the person that committed that act."}}

{{cquote|"When he [Bill Ayers] returned, we had another meeting at which time -- and this is the only time that any Weathermen told me about something that someone else had done -- and Bill started off telling us about the need to raise the level of the struggle and for stronger leadership inside the Weathermen 'focals' [i.e., cells] and inside the Weatherman organization as a whole.  And he cited as one of the real problems was that someone like Bernardine Dohrn had to plan, develop and  carry out the bombing of the police station in [[San Francisco]], and he specifically named her as the person that committed that act."}}

The informant added that Ayers said "the bomb was placed on the window ledge and described the kind of bomb that was used to the extent of saying what kind of shrapnel was used in it."  He was asked, "Did he say who placed the bomb on the window ledge?" He replied, "Bernardine Dohrn."<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78130 Did Ayers' wife kill policeman? FBI report said Dohrn named as bomb builder, planter], ''WorldNetDaily.com, October 16, 2008.</ref>

The informant added that Ayers said "the bomb was placed on the window ledge and described the kind of bomb that was used to the extent of saying what kind of shrapnel was used in it."  He was asked, "Did he say who placed the bomb on the window ledge?" He replied, "Bernardine Dohrn."<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78130 Did Ayers' wife kill policeman? FBI report said Dohrn named as bomb builder, planter], ''WorldNetDaily.com, October 16, 2008.</ref>

The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' reported on March 12 2009, in a highly unusual move, the San Francisco Police Officers Association have accused Ayers and his wife of taking part in the bombing.  The Association claims,  

The ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported on March 12 2009, in a highly unusual move, the San Francisco Police Officers Association have accused Ayers and his wife of taking part in the bombing.  The Association claims,  

{{cquote|There are irrefutable and compelling reasons to believe that Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn ... are largely responsible for the bombing of Park Police Station,}} and a cold case investigation is being called for.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/BATK16DHA4.DTL&hw=ayers&sn=001&sc=1000 S.F. police union accuses Ayers in 1970 bombing], Demian Bulwa, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' March 12, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://marklevin.ning.com/forum/topics/ayers-dohrn-murder-case Ayers, Dohrn Murder Case Reopened] marklevin.ning.com</ref>

{{cquote|There are irrefutable and compelling reasons to believe that Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn ... are largely responsible for the bombing of Park Police Station,}} and a cold case investigation is being called for.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/BATK16DHA4.DTL&hw=ayers&sn=001&sc=1000 S.F. police union accuses Ayers in 1970 bombing], Demian Bulwa, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' March 12, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://marklevin.ning.com/forum/topics/ayers-dohrn-murder-case Ayers, Dohrn Murder Case Reopened] marklevin.ning.com</ref>

[[Image:Dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan.jpg|thumb|right|Prairie Fire is dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin.]]

[[Image:Dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan.jpg|thumb|right|Prairie Fire is dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin.]]

Interestingly, the book lists [[Sirhan Sirhan]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]]'s assassin, among many other now-obscure '60s-era radicals, criminals and revolutionaries on the dedication page.

Interestingly, the book lists [[Sirhan Sirhan]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]]'s assassin, among many other now-obscure '60s-era radicals, [[criminal]]s and revolutionaries on the dedication page.

   

   

Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism, and provide a handy list detailing not only each crime but in most cases the justification for each crime as well.  

Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism, and provide a handy list detailing not only each crime but in most cases the justification for each crime as well.  

Among the bombings by Ayers' group listed in the book:

Among the bombings by Ayers' group listed in the book:

*Haymarket police statue, Chicago

*Haymarket police statue, [[Chicago]]

*Chicago police cars

*Chicago police cars

*New York City police headquarters

*[[New York City]] police headquarters

*Marin County Courthouse

*[[Marin County]] Courthouse

*Long Island City Courthouse

*[[Long Island]] City Courthouse

*Department of Corrections, San Francisco

*Department of Corrections, [[San Francisco]]

*Office of California Prisons, Sacramento

*Office of California Prisons, [[Sacramento]]

*Department of Corrections, Albany NY

*Department of Corrections, Albany [[New York]]

*103rd Precinct of New York City police

*103rd Precinct of New York City police

*Harvard Center for International Affairs

*Harvard Center for International Affairs

*National Guard Headquarters, Washington D.C.

*National Guard Headquarters, Washington D.C.

*Presidio Army Base and MP Station, San Francisco

*Presidio Army Base and MP Station, San Francisco

*Federal Offices of Health, Education and Welfare, San Francisco <ref>[http://www.zombietime.com/prairie_fire/ William Ayers' forgotten communist manifesto: Prairie Fire], zombietime.com, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/10/forgotten-terrorist-manifesto-prairie.html Forgotten Terrorist Manifesto: Prairie Fire], Bob Ellis, Dakota Voice, October 24, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/23/reading-bill-ayers/ Reading Bill Ayers], Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com, October 23, 2008</ref>

*Federal Offices of Health, Education and Welfare, San Francisco <ref>[http://www.zombietime.com/prairie_fire/ William Ayers' forgotten communist manifesto: Prairie Fire], zombietime.com, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/10/forgotten-terrorist-manifesto-prairie.html Forgotten Terrorist Manifesto: Prairie Fire], Bob Ellis, Dakota Voice, October 24, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/23/reading-bill-ayers/ Reading Bill Ayers], [[Michelle Malkin]], MichelleMalkin.com, October 23, 2008</ref>

== "Guilty as hell, free as a bird" ==

== "Guilty as hell, free as a bird" ==

 

Bill Ayers, his wife Bernardine Dohrn and other WUO figures were not prosecuted because of alleged [[FBI]] misconduct while investigating the foreign influence in domestic terrorism. In fact, FBI officials [[W. Mark Felt]]<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB156/ Nixon and the FBI: The White House Tapes], National Security Archive, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.</ref> and Edward S. Miller were indicted and convicted in November 1980 of conspiring to violate the civil rights of relatives of the Weather Underground, including Jennifer Dohrn,<ref>http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=jennifer%20dohrn</ref> sister of Bernardine, whose homes had been burglarized.  

Bill Ayers, his wife Bernardine Dohrn and other WUO figures were not prosecuted because of alleged [[FBI]] misconduct while investigating the foreign influence in domestic terrorism. In fact, FBI officials [[W. Mark Felt]]<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB156/ Nixon and the FBI: The White House Tapes], National Security Archive, The George Washington Universtiy, Washington, D.C.</ref> and Edward S. Miller were indicted and convicted in November 1980 of conspiring to violate the civil rights of relatives of the Weather Underground, including Jennifer Dohrn,<ref>http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=jennifer%20dohrn</ref> sister of Bernardine, whose homes had been burglarized.  

However, on April 15, 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] in his first 100 days granted full and unconditional pardons, saying, in part:

However, on April 15, 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] in his first 100 days granted full and unconditional pardons, saying, in part:

==Fugitive Days==

==Fugitive Days==

Today, Ayers and his wife -- fellow former Weather Underground fugitive [[Bernardine Dohrn]] -- live in Hyde Park, where they moved after surrendering in 1980.

Today, Ayers and his wife -- fellow former Weather Underground fugitive [[Bernardine Dohrn]] -- live in Hyde Park, where they moved after surrendering in 1980.

Asked if he would do it all again,  Ayers stated, ''I don't want to discount the possibility.''   

Asked if he would do it all again,  Ayers stated, ''I don't want to discount the possibility.''   

Ayers rebellion against authority also extended to sexual morality. He stated that  that  the Weathermen tried to ''smash monogamy,''  and engaged in fornication, including for Ayers, homosexual relations with his best male friend. <ref>''No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives,'' N.Y. Times, September 11, 2001</ref>

Ayers rebellion against authority also extended to sexual morality. He stated that  that  the Weathermen tried to ''smash monogamy,''  and engaged in fornication, including for Ayers, [[homosexual]] relations with his best male friend. <ref>''No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives,'' [[N.Y. Times]], September 11, 2001</ref>

==Obama, the Annenberg Challenge, ACORN and the Woods Fund ==

==Obama, the Annenberg Challenge, ACORN and the Woods Fund ==