Brian Flanagan

Brian Flanagan is an American former militant and activist who was a member of the radical left organizations Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Weather Underground Organization (WUO).

Early life Flanagan was raised in Manhattan, New York.

Columbia University During the 1960s, Flanagan attended Columbia University in New York, where he was a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Flanagan studied philosophy and economics at Columbia where he was a C student.

Weather Underground Organization On March 6, 1970, Diana Oughton, Terry Robbins, and Ted Gold, members of Weatherman died in a Greenwich Village townhouse explosion when a nail bomb detonated after members purchased two 50-pound cases of dynamite. It was explained later that the bombs were to be detonated at a non-commissioned officers' dance at Fort Dix. In an interview, Flanagan suggested that he helped one Weatherman member, Kathy Boudin, who later served 22 years in prison for felony murder and robbery, flee New York City after police investigations placed her in the townhouse during the time of the explosion. Following the townhouse deaths, many members of Weatherman went into hiding, forming Weather Underground Organization, said to be responsible for a series of bombings of US state and federal buildings between 1970 and 1975.

In the documentary film The Weather Underground, Flanagan admits to participating in Weather's bombings during the 1970s. During a memorable moment in the film, Flanagan states, "When you feel you have right on your side, you can do some horrific things".

Foreign travel The FBI surveillance files on Weatherman reported that on October 20, 1970, Flanagan was in Algeria meeting with Eldridge Cleaver, fugitive Black Panther Party leader. While in Algeria, Flanagan also met with Jennifer Dohrn, the sister of Bernardine Dohrn, along with Stew Albert and Jerry Rubin, two members of the Yippies.

Post-Weatherman life In the 1990s, Flanagan played pool on a professional billiards circuit and worked as a carpenter and bartender. In 1996, he won $23,000 as a contestant on the television game show Jeopardy!.