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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967

31858064848116_038

[handwritten]
11/28/67

-Faster Expresses Opposition - 

'In Jail to Arouse People'

By ROY PETTY
" I am here to express my moral opposition to the war (in Vietnam)." Pat Fishman wrote Friday, her handwriting noticeably shaky from weakness as she ended the third day of her fast.
   " I am 'sacrificing' five days because I think this kind of protest is now needed if we are doing to have any effect on the government."
   Mrs Fishman, G, Iowa City, the University rhetoric instructor who went without food for five days in the Johnson County Jail, explained the reasons for her fast in a letter to a Daily Iowan reporter. Mrs Fishman was released Monday morning. 
    She was convicted of disturbing the peace for her part in the Nov. 1 antiwar demonstration and chose to spend five days in jail in partial payment of her $50 fine. Fines may be worked off by spending time in jail at a rate of $5 a day. 
    It is no longer sufficient to sign a petition once a month or to write a letter to a congressman." Mrs Fishman wrote. 
Wants People To Have Opinions
   Her letter explained that she wanted people " to begin to have their own opinions to wield some control over their own lives, and to become responsible for action which will benefit the University, the community, the nation and the world." 
    " I am in jail to arouse more people."
   Mrs. Maynard E. Schneider, wife of the Johnson County sheriff said Monday that Mrs. Fishman had not broken her fast during her stay in jail except for one glass of tomato juice she drank Friday. Mrs. Schneider said that Mrs Fishman whose husband is a VISTA volunteer in Kentucky, seemed weak when she left jail Monday morning. 
    " I'm too hungry to sleep well," Mrs. Fishman wrote " Hunger and exhaustion are interfering with my work." She added that her back, legs and arms ached from lack of exercise, and she found it difficult to remain rational, but she continued her fast.
    She said that the Sheriff and his wife had treated her well and were doing as much as they could for all the prisoners, "given inadequate funds, facilities, manpower, etc."
    They continued to bring meals into her cell, she wrote, in accordance with state law but she drank only the coffee or tea and requested that the food be passed to the men's quarters.
    She said she was allowed no visitors, only notes brought up from the sheriff's office, except for the Thanksgiving Day visit of Philip G. Hubbard, dean of academic affairs, who she said " was sincerely concerned about our welfare." She added that she exchanged notes with Everett Frost, G, North Coventry, Conn. a jailed demonstrator who will be release Thursday and who wrote a poem dedicated to Mrs. Fishman.

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[handwritten] 11/28/67 -Faster Expresses Opposition - 'In Jail to Arouse People' By ROY PETTY " I am here to express my moral opposition to the war (in Vietnam)." Pat Fishman wrote Friday, her handwriting noticeably shaky from weakness as she ended the third day of her fast. " I am 'sacrificing' five days because I think this kind of protest is now needed if we are doing to have any effect on the government." Mrs Fishman, G, Iowa City, the University rhetoric instructor who went without food for five days in the Johnson County Jail, explained the reasons for her fast in a letter to a Daily Iowan reporter. Mrs Fishman was released Monday morning. She was convicted of disturbing the peace for her part in the Nov. 1 antiwar demonstration and chose to spend five days in jail in partial payment of her $50 fine. Fines may be worked off by spending time in jail at a rate of $5 a day. It is no longer sufficient to sign a petition once a month or to write a letter to a congressman." Mrs Fishman wrote. Wants People To Have Opinions Her letter explained that she wanted people " to begin to have their own opinions to wield some control over their own lives, and to become responsible for action which will benefit the University, the community, the nation and the world." " I am in jail to arouse more people." Mrs. Maynard E. Schneider, wife of the Johnson County sheriff said Monday that Mrs. Fishman had not broken her fast during her stay in jail except for one glass of tomato juice she drank Friday. Mrs. Schneider said that Mrs Fishman whose husband is a VISTA volunteer in Kentucky, seemed weak when she left jail Monday morning. " I'm too hungry to sleep well," Mrs. Fishman wrote " Hunger and exhaustion are interfering with my work." She added that her back, legs and arms ached from lack of exercise, and she found it difficult to remain rational, but she continued her fast. She said that the Sheriff and his wife had treated her well and were doing as much as they could for all the prisoners, "given inadequate funds, facilities, manpower, etc." They continued to bring meals into her cell, she wrote, in accordance with state law but she drank only the coffee or tea and requested that the food be passed to the men's quarters. She said she was allowed no visitors, only notes brought up from the sheriff's office, except for the Thanksgiving Day visit of Philip G. Hubbard, dean of academic affairs, who she said " was sincerely concerned about our welfare." She added that she exchanged notes with Everett Frost, G, North Coventry, Conn. a jailed demonstrator who will be release Thursday and who wrote a poem dedicated to Mrs. Fishman.