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It's November 5, 1969, and the trial of the Chicago 8 is about to return from recess.

The federal courtroom in Chicago is mostly quiet as both the defense and prosecution sit waiting for the judge to return from chambers.

And today, the political activists on trial seem to be on good behavior.

But one of the co-defendants Bobby Seale isn't planning to keep up the act for much longer.

Seale is a leader of the Black Panthers, a political group fighting for racial justice.

And he was one of several speakers who came to Chicago last summer, where demonstrators were planning to protest at the Democratic National Convention.

Seale wasn't involved in planning the protest. He only agreed at the last minute to come give a few speeches.

But now Seale is being charged with conspiracy to incite a right, charges stemming from clashes that broke out between protesters and the Chicago police.

Seale believes the charges are nothing more than a political stunt, orchestrated by the administration of President Richard Nixon.

And at first, Seale wanted to believe the trial would at least follow basic procedure. But he was quickly proven wrong.

Seale's attorney had to miss the trial because of health issue. So Seale took a risky step and decided to represent himself in court.

But judge Julius Hoffman didn't respond well.

The two men got into several heated arguments and Hoffman took the drastic step of ordering federal marshals to punish Seale for speaking out.

A skirmish broke out in court and a member of law enforcement ended up kicking Seale in the groin.

Seale was then carried away to a back room where he was shackled to a chair.

One of the marshals wrapped duct tape around his mouth, leaving him gasping for breath.

When Seale was bound and gagged, he was returned to court where he sat immobile and silenced.

Press images of Seale bound and gagged in the courtroom prompted an immediate public backlash.

And after three days, Judge Hoffman relented and allowed Seale to return to court without restraints.

It was a small concession to Seale's basic constitutional rights.

But even though they removed the duct tape from his mouth and the chains from his ankles, Seale knows the judge still wants him to stay quiet.

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