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William Kuntsler Book Tour
Year: 1994Call Number: V 857Format: VHSCollection: Videos – camera originals and reference materials
William Kunstler speaking in 1994 on book tour after publication of his autobiography (My Life as a Radical Lawyer, 1994). He summarizes background on how book evolved and comments on a number of his clients and cases, including: an appeal in the Jack Ruby case, the Chicago conspiracy trial (amusing story about cannabis package in the courtroom), the chaining and gagging of Bobby Seale, the Ohio 7, Leonard Peltier/Wounded Knee, the Birmingham 6 civil rights/freedom riders cases, and others. Kunstler also has a book of poetry coming next month—Allen Ginsberg says the poetry is not too good but he likes it. Comments on the OJ Simpson case (not yet decided at this time) and the racial polarization it represents. Talks about his friendship with Marlon Brando. Also Kunstler mentions his own acting roles, as in Law and Order and several films. He takes questions. What does he hope is the legacy? Hopes that young lawyers will decide that their real job is to represent people who are not going to take things lying down. Of his own life, he says he was always anti-establishment, “a terrible kid”…
father said he’d end up in prison. Discusses the idealism of the “1960s.” Also speaks about Kent State and Vietnam. Says that there is no single social advancement that has not come from mass upsurge. Says, “la luta continua”—in every country. Says that activists should avoid
“rhetoric” to better communicate with masses of people. Also intersperses comments on the positive attributes of the 1960s/70s “counterculture,” and how he attended Woodstock with Abbie Hoffman and went back with Richie Havens for the 15th anniversary.
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