Difference between revisions of "William Ayers"
Chippeterson (talk | contribs) |
Chippeterson (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
==Radical History== | ==Radical History== | ||
| − | 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, and in Greenich Village which had resulted in the death's of three people. In 1969, Ayers planted a bomb at a statue dedicated to police casualties in the 1886 Haymarket Riot. The statue was | + | 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, and in Greenich Village which had resulted in the death's of three people. 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 later rebuilt in 1970. However, it was then blown up again by Ayers, five months later. |
| + | |||
| + | In a 2001 interview with the [[New York Times]], Ayers would later say, ""I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough." | ||
==Friendship with Barack Obama== | ==Friendship with Barack Obama== | ||
Revision as of 03:19, August 25, 2008
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.
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, reprt cards, and had children address teachers by their first names. It was part of a "free school movement."
Radical History
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, and in Greenich Village which had resulted in the death's of three people. 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 later rebuilt in 1970. However, it was then blown up again by Ayers, five months later.
In a 2001 interview with the New York Times, Ayers would later say, ""I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough."
Friendship with Barack Obama
From 1993 to 2002, Obama joined Ayers in a nine member board Woods Fund of Chicago, an 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. Barack Obama was asked over the controversy 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?" To which Obama replied,
"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George"
Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton would go on to say, "Senator Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time, the Woods Fund, which was a paid directorship position." [1]