A CITY IN CRISIS : Other Verdicts

* The McDuffie Case (1980): Four white Miami police officers accused in the fatal beating of 33-year-old black insurance salesman Arthur McDuffie--who was pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle--were acquitted. Three police officers testified under immunity that their fellow officers had beaten McDuffie. On the evening of the acquittal, riots broke out in Miami’s black neighborhoods. During the rioting, three white men were dragged from a car and beaten to death. By the time the riots ended three days later, 14 were dead, 300 were injured and property damage reached $100 million.

* The Dan White Case (1979): A jury returned a verdict of involuntary manslaughter for the double-murder of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, a leader of the city’s large gay population, by Supervisor Dan White. White, a former policeman, said he had been mentally incapacitated at the time because of his consumption of junk food and offered what became known as the “Twinkie Defense.” Thousands of gays and other activists rioted, setting fire to 12 police cars and causing $1 million in property damage.

* The Chicago Seven Case (1969): Seven people, including Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman and SDS activist Tom Hayden, were charged with inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The seven defendants were acquitted of conspiracy, but five were convicted on lesser charges and received heavy sentences and fines that were later overturned. The verdict sparked massive marches and protests in Boston, Chicago and Washington. Students at UC Santa Barbara burned down an Isla Vista bank, prompting Gov. Ronald Reagan to threaten anti-riot prosecutions.

* The Scottsboro Boys Case (1931): Nine black youths, ages 13 to 19, were charged and quickly convicted of raping two white prostitutes in Scottsboro, Ala. All but the youngest received the death penalty. Several demonstrations against the convictions were held around the United States. In Harlem, N.Y., 1,500 protesters demonstrated and in Dresden, Germany, communists stoned the U.S. Consulate. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered retrials and all were acquitted.

* The Sacco and Vanzetti Case (1921-1927): Two Italian-born anarchists, shoemaker Nicola Sacco and fishmonger Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were convicted of murdering a guard and paymaster in South Braintree, Mass. The six-year legal battle attracted worldwide attention causing general strikes in South America and large-scale demonstrations in Europe by those who believed they were innocent. Their execution in the electric chair on Aug. 23, 1927, caused renewed rioting around the world.

SOURCE: “The Book of Lists No. 3”