Growing Up on the Run: The Childhood of a Weather Underground Leader’s Son
- Zayd Ayers Dohrn grew up as the child of fugitive radicals hunted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, learning early how to identify undercover agents in crowds and...
- Rather than normal childhood experiences, Zayd's upbringing involved instructions on spotting federal agents and occasionally exploring a federal prison in preparation for a planned escape, according to accounts...
- Images of Che Guevara and Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minh hung on his bedroom walls instead of Disney characters, and family camping trips doubled as security drills.
Zayd Ayers Dohrn grew up as the child of fugitive radicals hunted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, learning early how to identify undercover agents in crowds and use coded telephone language. Born while his mother, Bernadine Dohrn, sat on the FBI’s most-wanted list as a leader of the Weather Underground, his childhood unfolded under assumed names and constant displacement.
Targeting Government Buildings to Protest Social Injustice
Zayd's father, Bill Ayers, co-founded the organization. Rather than normal childhood experiences, Zayd's upbringing involved instructions on spotting federal agents and occasionally exploring a federal prison in preparation for a planned escape, according to accounts he shared.
Security Drills and Robin Hood Ideology
Images of Che Guevara and Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minh hung on his bedroom walls instead of Disney characters, and family camping trips doubled as security drills. Zayd recalled that his parents did not conceal their fugitive status from him. They explained the FBI’s pursuit by framing their family as modern-day outlaws comparable to Robin Hood, taking from the rich to give to the poor.
Privileged Backgrounds and the Path to Militancy
Both parents came from privileged white middle-class backgrounds before joining the militant underground. The assassination of King, followed shortly by the police killing of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, pushed her toward extreme militancy. Zayd noted that his mother considered Hampton both a friend and a mentor, and his death at the hands of the government hardened her convictions.
Domestic Bombings to Disrupt Government Operations
Bill Ayers joined the group driven by fierce opposition to the Vietnam War and the military draft. The organization’s underlying doctrine aimed to bring the violence of the Vietnam War home to American streets through a campaign of domestic bombings designed to shock the public and disrupt government operations.