DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Disorders As Seen From The 'Inside'""

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Disorders As Seen From The 'Inside'""

Disorders As Seen From The 'Inside'


 Editors  Note -- In this past week's periods of disorder, little has been said of the views of the demonstrators themselves, nor of what took place within the crowd itself. Press-citizen reporter Fred E. Karnes spent both Wednesday and Thursday nights with the demonstrators. This is his view on how it looked from the "Inside."
                           --------------
The usual silence resumed on the University of Iowa campus Friday nights, quietly ending a week during which the CIvic Center was bombed, 42 persons were arested and about 200 windows shattered by protesters' rocks.
   Wednesday and Thursday night's demonstrations also featured the occasional striking of protesters and bystanders by highway patrolmen, attacks by officers on newsmen and conflicts between militants and student monitors.
 Rumors spread, several vehicles nearly inflicted causalities on street sitters and, the people in the streets reacted in many ways to the call for "no business as usual" while the war in Indochina continues.
  But despite the national coverage afforded the protests, little has been written about the "freak"  occurrences which led to the outbursts of anger during the two nights.
  In addition, the outburst have over shadowed the lighter incidents, the numerous times when the tension was broken by the laughter of persons on both sides of the "lines."
  Yet amidst the human scene unfolding in downtown Iowa city this past week, the bombing early Friday of the civic center does not seem to fit.
  Before any damage had been done Wednesday night, a crowd of perhaps 300 found itself marching down Washington Street toward the Civic Center.  Leaders halted the crowd, pointing out the further movement could provoke police who were nervously watching from the sidelines. 
  But then the service truck from barney's DX, 122 South Linn street, squealed through the crowd.  The dull sound of bodies bouncing off the vehicle's fenders enraged the crowed, sparking the window breaking.
  About 190 broken windows later, highway patrolmen and local police swept through the downtown area with cries of "Move on or down you go."
  One student was hit repeatedly near the corner of Clinton street and Iowa Avenue Wednesday night shortly after the arrival of the patrol.  A drunk was struck down by a patrolman's flashlight after an hour later.
 The obvious anger of the authorities of the window breaking and the fury left by protesters who considered their peers were being clubbed  needlessly added to the "vibrations"  of hatred that night.
  Thursday evening appeared to be waning without incident when two law enforcement officers were discovered wearing wigs of the Pentacrest.   Again the crowd came alive, but this time in laughter as the two officers were surrounded and their wigs taken, then returned.
  When one of the officers was followed to the Burger Chef, two long-haired occupants of an upstairs apartment began shouting at the crowd.
  "What are you accomplishing?' they said . "You are just causing trouble and getting nothing done."
  The crowd, ironically, castigated its critics as apathetic "hippies."
 "Go back inside and smoke your dope," several people shouted at them.
  Again things began to subside when the crowd decided to march to the Johnson County jail to hail their "brothers and sisters" remaining in cells from the previous night's disturbances.
  An onrush of Johnson County deputies spraying smoke that first disappeared to be tear gas set up the ensuing confrontation along Clinton in front of the Pentacrest.
   William Hargrave, a black Johnson County deputy, was called an " Uncle Ton" and "capitalist pig" by at least one member of the crowd.
  The deputy approached the source of the shouting saying "Who said that. I'm not a capitalist and I'm not a pig."
 "Then what are you a cop for?" one of the protesters asked.
  "For $500 a month,"  Hargrave answered.
 " Why don't you get another job?" replied the protesters.
  "You have any suggestions?" the black lawman shot back.
  Then about 50 persons gathered around the deputy to hear his side. The "vibrations" again became less hostile.
  Even the county deputies, posed nervously between crowds on both sides of Clinton, joined in the laughter as protesters crossed the street cheering at every "walk" signal on traffic lights.
  Later highway patrolmen, county sheriff's deputies and local police scattered the  demonstrators who, at that point, seemed less willing to face the night sticks of the angry officers.
  But the police also suffered causalities.  Iowa city Patrolman Thomas P. Walden received a broken thumb while handcuffing a protester.  patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson was struck with a rock for  the second night in a row.
  Several officers on the Iowa City force, including Chief Patrick J. McCarney, went without sleep from about 5 a. m. Wednesday when a draft bus was blocked until about Friday noon. The wear was showing through bloodshot eyes and tired limbs.
  And then the bombing. Many demonstrators ---including some rock throwers ---interviewed Friday said they were as puzzled as the police about who planted the device.
  Little had been said---even during periods of angry rhetoric Wednesday and Thursday night--about any plans for destruction.  Disruption was the intent. Bring this to a halt, many said. 
  But a Bomb?
What happens now is anyone's guess.
  A meeting Friday night in the Memorial Union resulted in a call for a mass meeting Monday noon on the Pentacrest.  Several in that group say they have plans for a sit-in at an undesignated location following the rally.

  As one demonstrator said Thursday night, " We're not sure what is effective. We have to try as hard as we can to end the war. But how we do that after this many years of trying is difficult to decide."

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Disorders As Seen From The 'Inside' Editors Note -- In this past week's periods of disorder, little has been said of the views of the demonstrators themselves, nor of what took place within the crowd itself. Press-citizen reporter Fred E. Karnes spent both Wednesday and Thursday nights with the demonstrators. This is his view on how it looked from the "Inside." -------------- The usual silence resumed on the University of Iowa campus Friday nights, quietly ending a week during which the CIvic Center was bombed, 42 persons were arested and about 200 windows shattered by protesters' rocks. Wednesday and Thursday night's demonstrations also featured the occasional striking of protesters and bystanders by highway patrolmen, attacks by officers on newsmen and conflicts between militants and student monitors. Rumors spread, several vehicles nearly inflicted causalities on street sitters and, the people in the streets reacted in many ways to the call for "no business as usual" while the war in Indochina continues. But despite the national coverage afforded the protests, little has been written about the "freak" occurrences which led to the outbursts of anger during the two nights. In addition, the outburst have over shadowed the lighter incidents, the numerous times when the tension was broken by the laughter of persons on both sides of the "lines." Yet amidst the human scene unfolding in downtown Iowa city this past week, the bombing early Friday of the civic center does not seem to fit. Before any damage had been done Wednesday night, a crowd of perhaps 300 found itself marching down Washington Street toward the Civic Center. Leaders halted the crowd, pointing out the further movement could provoke police who were nervously watching from the sidelines. But then the service truck from barney's DX, 122 South Linn street, squealed through the crowd. The dull sound of bodies bouncing off the vehicle's fenders enraged the crowed, sparking the window breaking. About 190 broken windows later, highway patrolmen and local police swept through the downtown area with cries of "Move on or down you go." One student was hit repeatedly near the corner of Clinton street and Iowa Avenue Wednesday night shortly after the arrival of the patrol. A drunk was struck down by a patrolman's flashlight after an hour later. The obvious anger of the authorities of the window breaking and the fury left by protesters who considered their peers were being clubbed needlessly added to the "vibrations" of hatred that night. Thursday evening appeared to be waning without incident when two law enforcement officers were discovered wearing wigs of the Pentacrest. Again the crowd came alive, but this time in laughter as the two officers were surrounded and their wigs taken, then returned. When one of the officers was followed to the Burger Chef, two long-haired occupants of an upstairs apartment began shouting at the crowd. "What are you accomplishing?' they said . "You are just causing trouble and getting nothing done." The crowd, ironically, castigated its critics as apathetic "hippies." "Go back inside and smoke your dope," several people shouted at them. Again things began to subside when the crowd decided to march to the Johnson County jail to hail their "brothers and sisters" remaining in cells from the previous night's disturbances. An onrush of Johnson County deputies spraying smoke that first disappeared to be tear gas set up the ensuing confrontation along Clinton in front of the Pentacrest. William Hargrave, a black Johnson County deputy, was called an " Uncle Ton" and "capitalist pig" by at least one member of the crowd. The deputy approached the source of the shouting saying "Who said that. I'm not a capitalist and I'm not a pig." "Then what are you a cop for?" one of the protesters asked. "For $500 a month," Hargrave answered. " Why don't you get another job?" replied the protesters. "You have any suggestions?" the black lawman shot back. Then about 50 persons gathered around the deputy to hear his side. The "vibrations" again became less hostile. Even the county deputies, posed nervously between crowds on both sides of Clinton, joined in the laughter as protesters crossed the street cheering at every "walk" signal on traffic lights. Later highway patrolmen, county sheriff's deputies and local police scattered the demonstrators who, at that point, seemed less willing to face the night sticks of the angry officers. But the police also suffered causalities. Iowa city Patrolman Thomas P. Walden received a broken thumb while handcuffing a protester. patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson was struck with a rock for the second night in a row. Several officers on the Iowa City force, including Chief Patrick J. McCarney, went without sleep from about 5 a. m. Wednesday when a draft bus was blocked until about Friday noon. The wear was showing through bloodshot eyes and tired limbs. And then the bombing. Many demonstrators ---including some rock throwers ---interviewed Friday said they were as puzzled as the police about who planted the device. Little had been said---even during periods of angry rhetoric Wednesday and Thursday night--about any plans for destruction. Disruption was the intent. Bring this to a halt, many said. But a Bomb? What happens now is anyone's guess. A meeting Friday night in the Memorial Union resulted in a call for a mass meeting Monday noon on the Pentacrest. Several in that group say they have plans for a sit-in at an undesignated location following the rally. As one demonstrator said Thursday night, " We're not sure what is effective. We have to try as hard as we can to end the war. But how we do that after this many years of trying is difficult to decide."