DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1971-03-23 Iowa City Press-Citizen: ""Sies 'Innocent' as Court Completes Protest Cases""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971

1971-03-23 Iowa City Press-Citizen: ""Sies 'Innocent' as Court Completes Protest Cases""

P-C  3/23/71

Sies 'Innocent as Court Completes Protest Cases

Jerry Sies, 29, a well-known local radical, was found innocent of disorderly conduct charges Monday afternoon as Police Judge Joseph Thornton wrapped up the trials of 39 persons charged in connection with a May 5 disturbance here.
In handing down Sies' acquittal, Thornton told City Atty. Jay Honohan, "I don't know if your interpretation of disorderly conduct is standing on the sidewalk, but it certainly isn't mine."
The city's witnesses had testified that Sies remained standing on the sidewalk at Washington and Gilbert Streets after police had ordered the intersection cleared because of disturbances in the area.
In asking for a conviction, Honohan cited New York cases in which persons were convicted of disorderly conduct for remaining on a sidewalk.
"If it's a crime in New York, it's probably a crime in Iowa City," Honohan told the judge.
"Not in this court," Thornton replied.
After finding Sies innocent, Thornton dismissed a similar charge against Christine Wemmer, whose arrest, Honohan said, was for the same reasons as Sies'. 
In the final trial Monday afternoon, Thornton took under advisement a disorderly conduct charge against Howard Weinberg, executive director of the Iowa City Crisis Center.
Weinberg testified that he was arrested at College and Dubuque Streets after he gave a negative reply when an officer asked him if he were going to comply with an order to clear the area.
Weinberg said he had just arrived at the intersection to find out what was taking place when he heard an order for the approximately 50 persons present to clear the area.
Weinberg said he indicated he would not leave the area because "I did not feel I was doing anything wrong." He said there were "15 to 30 seconds" between the order to leave and his arrest, although the demonstrators present were told they had a minute to clear the area.
Sies, Weinberg and Miss Wemmer were among 51 arrested May 5 and early May 6 during a demonstration in downtown Iowa City in which windows were broken, intersections blocked and lines of protestors faced off with lines of helmeted policemen.
Trials for 41 of those arrested were set for Monday, but 31 of the cases were dismissed because the city could no longer identify the defendants as having been involved in any wrongdoing.
Besides Sies, three other persons were acquitted. Thornton handed down the innocent judgments after hearing the city's testimony, which, Thornton said did not indicate that the four defendants had committed any crime during the demonstration.
One defendant, Regina Kaiser, a University of Iowa student, was found guilty of disorderly conduct and ordered to pay a $100 fine. She was the only black brought to trial.
The cases of two remaining defendants have been continued. 
Also under advisement is the case of Patricia Farrell, who was arrested at College and Dubuque, but maintained in testimony that she had complied with the order to leave the area.
Thornton had not ruled on either of the cases under advisement by late this morning.

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P-C 3/23/71 Sies 'Innocent as Court Completes Protest Cases Jerry Sies, 29, a well-known local radical, was found innocent of disorderly conduct charges Monday afternoon as Police Judge Joseph Thornton wrapped up the trials of 39 persons charged in connection with a May 5 disturbance here. In handing down Sies' acquittal, Thornton told City Atty. Jay Honohan, "I don't know if your interpretation of disorderly conduct is standing on the sidewalk, but it certainly isn't mine." The city's witnesses had testified that Sies remained standing on the sidewalk at Washington and Gilbert Streets after police had ordered the intersection cleared because of disturbances in the area. In asking for a conviction, Honohan cited New York cases in which persons were convicted of disorderly conduct for remaining on a sidewalk. "If it's a crime in New York, it's probably a crime in Iowa City," Honohan told the judge. "Not in this court," Thornton replied. After finding Sies innocent, Thornton dismissed a similar charge against Christine Wemmer, whose arrest, Honohan said, was for the same reasons as Sies'. In the final trial Monday afternoon, Thornton took under advisement a disorderly conduct charge against Howard Weinberg, executive director of the Iowa City Crisis Center. Weinberg testified that he was arrested at College and Dubuque Streets after he gave a negative reply when an officer asked him if he were going to comply with an order to clear the area. Weinberg said he had just arrived at the intersection to find out what was taking place when he heard an order for the approximately 50 persons present to clear the area. Weinberg said he indicated he would not leave the area because "I did not feel I was doing anything wrong." He said there were "15 to 30 seconds" between the order to leave and his arrest, although the demonstrators present were told they had a minute to clear the area. Sies, Weinberg and Miss Wemmer were among 51 arrested May 5 and early May 6 during a demonstration in downtown Iowa City in which windows were broken, intersections blocked and lines of protestors faced off with lines of helmeted policemen. Trials for 41 of those arrested were set for Monday, but 31 of the cases were dismissed because the city could no longer identify the defendants as having been involved in any wrongdoing. Besides Sies, three other persons were acquitted. Thornton handed down the innocent judgments after hearing the city's testimony, which, Thornton said did not indicate that the four defendants had committed any crime during the demonstration. One defendant, Regina Kaiser, a University of Iowa student, was found guilty of disorderly conduct and ordered to pay a $100 fine. She was the only black brought to trial. The cases of two remaining defendants have been continued. Also under advisement is the case of Patricia Farrell, who was arrested at College and Dubuque, but maintained in testimony that she had complied with the order to leave the area. Thornton had not ruled on either of the cases under advisement by late this morning.