DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-12 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Civil Liberties Union Has Observers at Demonstration""

Transcribe
Translate

Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-12 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Civil Liberties Union Has Observers at Demonstration""

                                         P-C 5/12/71

Civil Liberties Union Has Observers at Demonstration
 By THE ASSOSICATED PRESS
A representative of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union was on hand at the Daily Iowan today to receive written complaints about the way law enforcement officers have handled disturbances here this week.
  The ICLU sent eight observers here Tuesday night to report on activity here by demonstrators and law enforcement officers, as part of a program to help clam the atmosphere and prevent future violence. 
  "The ICLU hopes that the knowledge that trained observers getting the facts about actions and counter-actions will help produce a calmer atmosphere at Iowa city and that there will be less likelihood of any trouble on the university campus or on the streets of the city," the ICLU said in a statement issued today.
The organization said it will set up a board of inquiry "at which an opportunity will b given to individuals and officials to give their version of what happened in recent disorders at Iowa City."
  The findings of the board will be made public, the ICLU said, along with recommendations for policy concerning demonstrations.
  "The information obtained at these hearings," the ICLU said , "should make it possible to understand better the reasons for the incidents  involving violence and how they might be prevented."
  The ICLU said the observers in Iowa City Tuesday night were four University of Iowa college of Law students and four ICLU cooperating attorneys.
  The group said observers will be sent to Iowa city "on other occasions when this seems desirable" and that arrangements were made in full cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Iowa City.
  of the observers, the ICLU said: "they will not act as police officers to preserve order or as legal defenders of individuals who are subject to police action during the time they are serving as observers.
  "They will observe and objectively report on the conduct of demonstrators, if there are demonstrations, and the conduct of law enforcement officers, if they take action against students and demonstrators in connection with disorderly conduct or vandalism," the ICLU statement said.

Saving...

P-C 5/12/71 Civil Liberties Union Has Observers at Demonstration By THE ASSOSICATED PRESS A representative of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union was on hand at the Daily Iowan today to receive written complaints about the way law enforcement officers have handled disturbances here this week. The ICLU sent eight observers here Tuesday night to report on activity here by demonstrators and law enforcement officers, as part of a program to help clam the atmosphere and prevent future violence. "The ICLU hopes that the knowledge that trained observers getting the facts about actions and counter-actions will help produce a calmer atmosphere at Iowa city and that there will be less likelihood of any trouble on the university campus or on the streets of the city," the ICLU said in a statement issued today. The organization said it will set up a board of inquiry "at which an opportunity will b given to individuals and officials to give their version of what happened in recent disorders at Iowa City." The findings of the board will be made public, the ICLU said, along with recommendations for policy concerning demonstrations. "The information obtained at these hearings," the ICLU said , "should make it possible to understand better the reasons for the incidents involving violence and how they might be prevented." The ICLU said the observers in Iowa City Tuesday night were four University of Iowa college of Law students and four ICLU cooperating attorneys. The group said observers will be sent to Iowa city "on other occasions when this seems desirable" and that arrangements were made in full cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Iowa City. of the observers, the ICLU said: "they will not act as police officers to preserve order or as legal defenders of individuals who are subject to police action during the time they are serving as observers. "They will observe and objectively report on the conduct of demonstrators, if there are demonstrations, and the conduct of law enforcement officers, if they take action against students and demonstrators in connection with disorderly conduct or vandalism," the ICLU statement said.