DIY History | Transcribe | Social Justice | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1972-05-10 Daily Iowan Article: ""3,000 protest in streets""

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-10 Daily Iowan Article: ""3,000 protest in streets""

3,000 protests in streets -

A slogan-chanting crowd of anti-war demonstrators blocked intersections and marched peacefully through Iowa City for nearly four hours Tuesday night. But the protest ended with some violence which began after that majority of the demonstrators had dispersed.

The mostly-student crowd, which grew to nearly 3,000 persons, was sharply different from a much smaller group which trashed downtown Iowa City last Thursday.

The protestors blocked several intersections during the night and at least 26 persons were arrested for disorderly conduct. They were being held, without bail, at presstime.

Although nearly 250 lawmen (including High-way Patrolmen, local police, Coralville police and Johnson County Sheriff's deputies) were on duty during the night in Iowa City, only mild confrontations occurred. The crowd of protestors was one of the largest ever gathered for an anti-war demonstration at the UI.

In anticipation of possible violent demonstrations in response to President Nixon's latest escalation of the Vietnam war, Gov. Robert D. Ray ordered the Emergency Operations Board into control of all local law enforcement at 1 p.m Tuesday. 

Contingents of three officers - one highway patrolmen, a sheriff's deputy and a local policemen - patrolled near the Pentacrest.

The crowd regrouped at several intersections near the Pentacrest. There it lulled in inactivity under the watchful eyes of some 100 lawmen who were grouped on the Pentacrest itself.

Finally, the crowd-numbering 300 and shouting "to the armory" - marched back to the Riverside Drive - Burlington Street intersection, where a late model pickup camper on was in the middle of the street, and its driver helped the crows pull off the truck's camper section onto the street.

Then members of the crowd set the inside of the camper on fire, and the driver took off in the truck. A can of gasoline that was already inside the camper aided the blaze.

Minutes later, a brief rock throwing spree was prompted by the arrest of a crowd member by two undercover officers. As the officers pulled the suspect to a nearby highway patrol car, it was pelted with rocks.

Police said they were not sure if the camper was a stolen vehicle.

Then the riot-equipped lawmen cleared the intersection and chased the crowd into the Hillcrest - Rienow residence hall areas. Although the police were apparently authorized to use tear gas, near was employed.

At Daily Iowan press time, only a shouting match was still in progress in the Hillcrest area and most of the lawmen were being bussed away.

The protest began with about 1,000 persons gathered on the Pentacrest about 7:45. After a few speeches part of the demonstrators moved into the Iowa-Clinton Street intersection and about 300 sat in the street for about five minutes.

The crowd, constantly chanting anti-war slogans like "fuck Nixon," "one, two, three, four, we don't want your fuckin' war" and "peace now," then moved to the east side dormitories. As the size of the crowd swelled, it moved through downtown Iowa City on Dubuque Street.

A rock was thrown through a window in Penny's but several hundred persons shouted "no, no" and reportedly no more windows were broken.

On Burlington Street, the demonstrators marched from Dubuque Street to the Riverside Drive (Highway 218) intersection. At least 3,000 protestors of Nixon's latest escalation of the war chanted as they walked along the street. Highway patrolmen directed traffic to keep the road clear for the demonstrators.

About 500 demonstrators say in the intersection at about 9:45 p.m. Most of the protestors began to leave the intersection to move north oh Highway 218 about 10, but when a contingent of lawmen was seen heading toward the intersection from Grand Avenue, a large crowd again sat down.

Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson told the crowd that it had one minute to disperse but the protestors chanted "we're non-violent" and some demanded that UI Pres. Willard L. Boyd came to the intersection.

About 10:16 an estimated 200 lawmen moved in to disperse the demonstrators, who had just completed a chorus of the National Anthem. About 20 persons were arrested, a few resisted, and a small number were kicked and clubbed by lawmen.

The demonstrators moved north along Riverside to Iowa Avenue and were then forced east on Iowa toward the Pentacrest. About 700 protestors were present when lawmen opened the Iowa-Riverside intersection at 11 p.m. From there, the smaller crowd moved to Clinton Street near the Pentacrest.

In another demonstration Tuesday night, about 25 anti-war protestors were holding an all-night peace vigil at College Street Park.

Planned anti-war activities today include the weekly silent peace vigil on the Pentacrest at noon, and one newly-formed Iowa City peace coalition is sponsoring another silent vigil at the Post Office at 6 a.m. Thursday.

According to organizers, the vigil will be held in conjunction with the activation of the Haiphong harbor mines, and the group is asking all local churches to ring their bells at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. "to remind people what has happened." 

Iowa City Police Capt. Richard Lee drags away one of the 24 persons arrested during a protest of President Nixon's decision to mine North Vietnamese harbors. The unidentified person was arrested when law enforcement officials dispersed demonstrators at the intersection of Burlington Street and Riverside Drive.

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3,000 protests in streets - A slogan-chanting crowd of anti-war demonstrators blocked intersections and marched peacefully through Iowa City for nearly four hours Tuesday night. But the protest ended with some violence which began after that majority of the demonstrators had dispersed. The mostly-student crowd, which grew to nearly 3,000 persons, was sharply different from a much smaller group which trashed downtown Iowa City last Thursday. The protestors blocked several intersections during the night and at least 26 persons were arrested for disorderly conduct. They were being held, without bail, at presstime. Although nearly 250 lawmen (including High-way Patrolmen, local police, Coralville police and Johnson County Sheriff's deputies) were on duty during the night in Iowa City, only mild confrontations occurred. The crowd of protestors was one of the largest ever gathered for an anti-war demonstration at the UI. In anticipation of possible violent demonstrations in response to President Nixon's latest escalation of the Vietnam war, Gov. Robert D. Ray ordered the Emergency Operations Board into control of all local law enforcement at 1 p.m Tuesday. Contingents of three officers - one highway patrolmen, a sheriff's deputy and a local policemen - patrolled near the Pentacrest. The crowd regrouped at several intersections near the Pentacrest. There it lulled in inactivity under the watchful eyes of some 100 lawmen who were grouped on the Pentacrest itself. Finally, the crowd-numbering 300 and shouting "to the armory" - marched back to the Riverside Drive - Burlington Street intersection, where a late model pickup camper on was in the middle of the street, and its driver helped the crows pull off the truck's camper section onto the street. Then members of the crowd set the inside of the camper on fire, and the driver took off in the truck. A can of gasoline that was already inside the camper aided the blaze. Minutes later, a brief rock throwing spree was prompted by the arrest of a crowd member by two undercover officers. As the officers pulled the suspect to a nearby highway patrol car, it was pelted with rocks. Police said they were not sure if the camper was a stolen vehicle. Then the riot-equipped lawmen cleared the intersection and chased the crowd into the Hillcrest - Rienow residence hall areas. Although the police were apparently authorized to use tear gas, near was employed. At Daily Iowan press time, only a shouting match was still in progress in the Hillcrest area and most of the lawmen were being bussed away. The protest began with about 1,000 persons gathered on the Pentacrest about 7:45. After a few speeches part of the demonstrators moved into the Iowa-Clinton Street intersection and about 300 sat in the street for about five minutes. The crowd, constantly chanting anti-war slogans like "fuck Nixon," "one, two, three, four, we don't want your fuckin' war" and "peace now," then moved to the east side dormitories. As the size of the crowd swelled, it moved through downtown Iowa City on Dubuque Street. A rock was thrown through a window in Penny's but several hundred persons shouted "no, no" and reportedly no more windows were broken. On Burlington Street, the demonstrators marched from Dubuque Street to the Riverside Drive (Highway 218) intersection. At least 3,000 protestors of Nixon's latest escalation of the war chanted as they walked along the street. Highway patrolmen directed traffic to keep the road clear for the demonstrators. About 500 demonstrators say in the intersection at about 9:45 p.m. Most of the protestors began to leave the intersection to move north oh Highway 218 about 10, but when a contingent of lawmen was seen heading toward the intersection from Grand Avenue, a large crowd again sat down. Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson told the crowd that it had one minute to disperse but the protestors chanted "we're non-violent" and some demanded that UI Pres. Willard L. Boyd came to the intersection. About 10:16 an estimated 200 lawmen moved in to disperse the demonstrators, who had just completed a chorus of the National Anthem. About 20 persons were arrested, a few resisted, and a small number were kicked and clubbed by lawmen. The demonstrators moved north along Riverside to Iowa Avenue and were then forced east on Iowa toward the Pentacrest. About 700 protestors were present when lawmen opened the Iowa-Riverside intersection at 11 p.m. From there, the smaller crowd moved to Clinton Street near the Pentacrest. In another demonstration Tuesday night, about 25 anti-war protestors were holding an all-night peace vigil at College Street Park. Planned anti-war activities today include the weekly silent peace vigil on the Pentacrest at noon, and one newly-formed Iowa City peace coalition is sponsoring another silent vigil at the Post Office at 6 a.m. Thursday. According to organizers, the vigil will be held in conjunction with the activation of the Haiphong harbor mines, and the group is asking all local churches to ring their bells at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. "to remind people what has happened." Iowa City Police Capt. Richard Lee drags away one of the 24 persons arrested during a protest of President Nixon's decision to mine North Vietnamese harbors. The unidentified person was arrested when law enforcement officials dispersed demonstrators at the intersection of Burlington Street and Riverside Drive.