Fugitive Pleads Guilty to ’69 Riot Charge

CHICAGO — A fugitive member of the 1960s anti-war group Weather Underground surrendered Thursday and pleaded guilty to taking part in the 1969 “Days of Rage” rioting.

Jeffrey David (Donovan) Powell, 43, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and fined $500 on one state count of mob action. A charge of aggravated battery was dropped.

“I am proud to have fought for my country against the criminal government of Richard Nixon. And I am glad not to be at war against my country now,” Powell told reporters before appearing in county criminal court.

Powell has been living in Colorado, said his attorney, Jeffrey Haas. He has spent most of his time as an activist for Head Start and nutritional programs for needy children and has testified before congressional panels, Haas said.

The charges stemmed from the group’s demonstrations against the Vietnam War in Chicago from Oct. 8-11, 1969. The window-smashing and street-fighting rampage injured scores of demonstrators and law enforcement officers and resulted in more than 300 arrests.

In 1974, federal indictments against members of the Weather Underground, including Powell, were dropped. State charges were not, however.