Independent Lens Season 5 Episode 22 The Weather Underground

In season 5, episode 22 of Independent Lens, viewers are taken on a journey back in time to the tumultuous era of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States. The episode is titled "The Weather Underground," and it explores the radical leftist organization of the same name that emerged during this period and the controversies that surrounded it.

The Weather Underground was a group of radical activists who emerged in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests. They were heavily influenced by the ideas of Marxism and Maoism, and they believed that violent revolution was the only way to bring about real change in America. The group took its name from a line in a Bob Dylan song: "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

The Weather Underground's tactics were controversial, to say the least. They used bombs and other forms of violence to target government buildings, banks, and other symbols of what they saw as oppressive institutions. They believed that their actions would inspire a larger movement of revolutionaries who would rise up against the government and capitalism.

The group's most famous action was the bombing of the U.S. Capitol Building in 1971, which caused significant damage but didn't injure anyone. The group also conducted a series of bombings of other government buildings, banks, and corporations over the next several years.

The episode of Independent Lens explores the motivations and justifications behind the Weather Underground's actions, as well as the reaction of the government and the public. It features interviews with former members of the group, as well as with law enforcement officials and political commentators who offer their perspectives on the organization.

One of the most interesting aspects of the episode is its focus on the personal stories of the Weather Underground members. Viewers get a sense of who these people were before they became radicalized, as well as the toll that their actions took on them. Many of them went into hiding and lived secret lives for years, and some eventually turned themselves in to the authorities.

The episode also explores the legacy of the Weather Underground. While the group's actions were largely unsuccessful in achieving their goals, they did have an impact on American politics and culture. The rise of the New Left and the anti-war movement can be traced back to the same period as the Weather Underground, and their tactics and rhetoric influenced other radical groups that emerged in subsequent decades.

Overall, "The Weather Underground" is a fascinating and thought-provoking episode of Independent Lens that offers a unique perspective on a controversial chapter in American history. Viewers who are interested in the history of activism and radical politics in the United States will find this episode to be both informative and engaging.