Critics' Picks Calendar Williamson County Democrats Potluck Dinner Williamson County Democrats' P...

If, like Edwin Starr, you feel that war is good for absolutely nothing, or you're just a political history buff, you won't want to miss this potluck dinner, courtesy of the Williamson County Democratic Party. Guest speaker Don Peterson was a key player in the notorious 1968 Democratic Convention, where Chicago police clashed with Vietnam War protestors. Peterson - who had already become a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, managing George McGovern's successful 1962 senatorial campaign - led the push for a "peace plank" in the Democrats' platform, an effort that was ultimately defeated after a raucous convention-floor fight with an opposition led by then Chicago mayor Richard Daley. Daley also did all he could to thwart antiwar protestors, ultimately amassing an army of 23,000 Chicago police and National Guardsman who unleashed a violent assault on the crowds, one of the darkest moments of a turbulent era. The next day, it was Peterson who led the march protesting the police brutality. Come break bread with Peterson, who's now a Nashvillian. Guests are invited to bring a dish, though it's not required; children are welcome. More info at www.wcdemocrats.com. — Jack Silverman