Bernadine Dohrn

Bernardine Dohrn (born January 12, 1942) is an American former radical activist, lawyer, and legal scholar who gained prominence as a leader of the Weather Underground, a militant protest group active during the Vietnam War era. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dohrn studied law and became involved in civil rights and anti-war activism during the 1960s. As a member of the Weather Underground (1969-1977), she participated in planning bombings of government buildings in protest against U.S. military policies. After the group dissolved, she went underground for several years before turning herself in to authorities. Although initially facing serious charges, she eventually pleaded guilty to lesser offenses and served minimal time. In subsequent decades, Dohrn reinvented herself as a advocate for social justice, becoming a clinical associate professor at Northwestern University School of Law and founding the Children and Family Justice Center. She has worked extensively on issues related to incarceration, education, and children's rights. Her transformation from radical activist to thoughtful scholar and advocate reflects broader social and political changes in American society. Dohrn married fellow activist Bill Ayers, and together they have written and spoken about activism, justice, and social change.