The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: Bobby Seale

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sondra : You can't give this speech in Chicago!

  Bobby Seale : Fred Hampton wants me there. Plane ticket.

  Sondra : Let Fred give the speech!

  Bobby Seale : Between Hayden and Hoffman there could be 5'000 people. It'd be nice to talk to 5'000 people.

  Sondra : Not while you're in trouble in Connecticut.

  Bobby Seale : Yes, well I'm in trouble - I'm the head of the Black Panthers, Sondra! When the hell am I not gonna be in trouble? Travel bag.

  Sondra : You're going to be in a lot more of it if you stand up and say 'Fry the pigs!'

  Bobby Seale : IF they attack me. You're taking it out of context.

  Sondra : So will every white person in America! Cops won't give a shit about context, and you don't have enough protection in Chicago.

  Bobby Seale : There's no place to be right now but in it.

  Sondra : But 'Fry the pigs'?

  Bobby Seale : IF they attack...

  Sondra : Dr. King...

  Bobby Seale : Is dead! He has a dream? Well now he has a fucking bullet in his head! Martin's dead, Malcom's dead, Medgar's dead, Bobby's dead, Jesus is dead. They tried it peacefully, we're gonna try something else.

• [after being informed of Fred Hampton's murder] 

  Bobby Seale : [to Tom Hayden]  You've all got the same father, right? 'Cut your hair, don't be a fag, respect authority, respect America - respect me.' Your life, it's a 'fuck-you' to your father, right? A little?

  Tom Hayden : Maybe.

  Bobby Seale : Maybe. And you can see how that's different from a rope on a tree?

  Tom Hayden : [quietly]  Yeah.

  Bobby Seale : Yeah. He was shot in the shoulder first. You can't aim a gun if you've been shot in the shoulder, you can't squeeze the trigger. Second shot was in his head. Fred was executed. Anything else?

  William Kunstler : No.

  [Bobby leaves the room without another word] 

• William Kunstler : Your friends shouldn't sit together. The jury's not going to like that.

  Bobby Seale : This isn't my jury, and if they don't like it...

  Fred Hampton : No, he's right.

  [to the group of Panthers] 

  Fred Hampton : Spread out, okay? In pairs.

  William Kunstler : And Fred?

  [Gestures to head] 

  Bobby Seale : No, they're dressed just fine.

  Fred Hampton : It's alright.

  [to Panthers, sarcastically] 

  Fred Hampton : And take your very scary hats off.

• Judge Julius Hoffman : Would the defense like to cross examine the witness?

  Bobby Seale : Yes. I'm sittin' here saying that I would like to cross examine the witness.

  Judge Julius Hoffman : Only lawyers can address a witness.

  Bobby Seale : My lawyer is Charles Garry.

  Judge Julius Hoffman : I'm tired of hearing that.

  Bobby Seale : Couldn't care less what you're tired of.

  Judge Julius Hoffman : What did you say?

  Bobby Seale : [Stands up, louder]  I said it would be impossible for me to care any less what you are tired of, and I demand to cross examine the witness.