I was 14 years old and over 200 miles away at the time of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I say fortunately, because that meant I wasn't up there getting my head busted. Like most people, I was watching it on TV. I didn't have any reason at the time to sympathize too deeply with the protestors, (I did later) but I do remember thinking, "Gee, the police are sure beating the heck out of those hippies."
The Democrats once again held their convention in the Windy City in 1996, prompting some retrospective reports from the newsies. There is also a good links page at the web site of the Yippies, who need no prompting.