. >> reporter: hoffman and his co-defendant jerry ruben became celebrities in our own right. >> it was raining, cold and it was not a night out for man and beast and it was only -- they should choose this night to hold a news conference. >> only people to stop the trial are the people in the streets. >> the u.s. attorney wanted a negro defendant to scare the jury. >> reporter: the trial was a different experience for the lone black defendant, bobby seal. he wound up representing himself and ended up clashing with judge hoffman. >> he was gagged and chained for refusing to obey the judge. a white linen cloth reinforced with adhesive tape was knotted around his neck. >> he would pull his hands up and he would be clubbed in front of the jury and it went on for several days. >> i wasn't in any contempt. i told the judge you are in contempt of the american people. >> reporter: eventually the case was a mistrial and the chicago eight became the chicago seven. five were convicted of some charges but all were overturned on appeal. their trial is history but fight is very much alive. >> we didn