The Herlihys are a working class family from Chicago whose three children take wildly divergent paths: Brian joins the Marines right out of High School and goes to Vietnam, Michael becomes involved in the civil rights movement and after campaigning for Bobby Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy becomes involved in radical politics, and Katie gets pregnant, moves to San Francisco and joins a hippie commune. Meanwhile, the Taylors are an African-American family living in the deep South. When Willie Taylor, a minister and civil rights organizer, is shot to death, his son Emmet moves to the city and eventually joins the Black Panthers, serving as a bodyguard for Fred Hampton.
Michael Herlihy

Katie Herlihy

Brian Herlihy

Kenny Klein

Sarah Weinstock

Emmet Taylor

Bill Herlihy

Mary Herlihy

Neal Reynolds

Fred Hampton

Reverend Willie Taylor

Father Daniel Berrigan

Constance
Buddy Wells

Melissa

Mama Earth

Cop #3

SDS Radical

Civil Rights Leader #1

Althea Taylor

Civil Rights Leader #2
Dancer

Sister Elisabeth

Chicago Delegate / Reed Student

Sheriff

Marine
Father Monahan
Toby Manders
Tommy

Joanie

Jimmy Dunbar

Nurse

Chinese Waiter

Marquette

Corey

Amanda Stone

Huey Newton

Leather Hat

Owl Man

Digger Girl

Big Max

Half Sauced Man
John Denny
Tom Gryzbowski

Sergeant

Wahoo

WavyGravy

FBI Agent #2
Trippie Hippie

Red
Hippie Guy

Chairman of Draft Board

O'Doud

Hippie Mother (uncredited)

Doctor (uncredited)
Haight Ashbury Hippie (uncredited)
Freedom Rider Singer
Dancer
Singer / Guitar Player on Bus
Marine Pal
Train Engineer
Train Conductor
Leonard Tannen
Nun
Katie's Friend #2
Berkeley Delegate
Katie's Friend #1
Singer in Band
Singer in Band
Singer in Band
Doorman
Bus Driver
2nd Blackman
Blackman
Marquette's Mother / Woman in Mississippi
Cop #1

Clinic Doctor
Hippie in Need
Bobby Seale
David Hillard
Reporter #1
Allen Ginsberg
Baby Rainbow
Baby Rainbow
Vietnam Vet
FBI Agent #1
Trip Captain
Rainbow (Toddler)
Panther
Hippie (uncredited)
Cross-dressing Draftee (uncredited)
Frat House Partier / Dancer (uncredited)
Hate Ashbury - Hippie (uncredited)
Diner Waitress (uncredited)
Coach
