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[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born 1944) is a professor at the [[University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago community organizer. He is best known as a radical [[left-wing]] activist in the 1960's and 70's and founder of the violent [[terrorist]] organization the [[Weatherman group]].  

[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born 1944) is a professor at the [[University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago community organizer. He is best known as a radical [[left-wing]] activist in the 1960's and 1970's and founder of the violent [[terrorist]] organization the [[Weatherman group]].  

==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 Edisonin. 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 Edisonin. <ref>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."

==Work with Radical Groups==

==Work with Radical Groups==

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

[[Image:Ayers.jpg|left|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." Ayers and the organization had bombed buildings such as the [[United States Capitol]], [[The Pentagon]], the United States [[Department of State]]. The aim of these acts was never to kill or injure human beings but rather to intimidate the government and sway popular opinion -- the organization always announced its targets beforehand and allowed time for evacuation. The only instance of a fatal Weatherman explosion was in [[Greenwich Village]] in [[New York City]], when an accidental explosion killed three members of the Weather Underground organization. In 1969, Ayers 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 Ayers, five months later.  

In 1968, Ayers became leader of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]], and then a prominent leader of the violent "Weatherman group." Ayers and other members of the Weather Underground group created a bomb factory in [[New York]], and the organization would go on to bomb buildings such as the [[United States Capitol]], [[The Pentagon]], the United States [[Department of State]]. The aim of these acts was never to kill or injure human beings but rather to intimidate the government and sway popular opinion -- the organization always announced its targets beforehand and allowed time for evacuation. The only instance of a fatal Weatherman explosion was in [[Greenwich Village]] in [[New York City]], when an accidental explosion killed three members of the Weather Underground organization. In 1969, Ayers 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 Ayers, five months later.  

In a 2001 interview with the [[New York Times]], Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough."

In a 2001 interview with the [[New York Times]], Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough."

==Relationship with Barack Obama==

==Relationship with Barack Obama==

From 1999 to 2002, Senator [[Barack Obama]] joined Ayers in a paid nine-member board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an [[poverty|anti-poverty]] foundation. While running for the state Senate in [[Illinois]] in 1995, Ayers meet with Obama and would later introduce him at his house. In 2001, Ayers supported and contributed $200 to Obama's state Senate campaign<ref>http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=330121189</ref>. Barack Obama was asked about the relationship in an April 2008 Presidential debate by moderator George Stephanopoulos:  

Obama and Ayers worked together at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), from 1995-1999, an orginisation that was guided to contribute money to organisations such as ACORN (The Association Of Community Organizations For Reform Now). From 1999 to 2002, Senator [[Barack Obama]] joined Ayers again in a paid nine-member board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an [[poverty|anti-poverty]] foundation. While running for the state Senate in [[Illinois]] in 1995, Ayers meet with Obama and would later introduce him at his house. In 2001, Ayers supported and contributed $200 to Obama's state Senate campaign<ref>http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=330121189</ref>. Barack Obama was asked about the relationship in an April 2008 Presidential debate by moderator George Stephanopoulos:  

:''"Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?"''

:''"Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?"''