DIY History | Transcribe | Social Justice | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-12-15 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Trial Date Set for 208 Protesters""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-12-15 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Trial Date Set for 208 Protesters""

12/13/70

Trial Date Set for 208 Protesters
By MARK F. ROHNER
Of the Press-Citizen
The cases of 208 persons arrested in a demonstration at the University of Iowa May 8 have been consolidated and set for trial here Jan. 4.
Police Judge Joseph Thornton, who will try the cases, said this morning that a list of 208 defendants, all charged with disorderly conduct, had been submitted by City Atty. Jay Honohan. The city plans to use an identical set of facts as evidence against each of the 208, but Thornton said there would not necessarily be a single verdict for the entire group.
Missing from the list of those to be tried Jan. 4 are the names of 13 other defendants, who will be tried separately. The city plans to use a different set of facts in prosecuting those 13, who were also charged with disorderly conduct in the May 8 demonstration, Thornton said. No trial dates have yet been set for the 13 defendants.
All defendants are free on $100 bond.
The Jan. 4 mass trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the courtroom (council chamber) at the Civic Center — although the chamber has seats for only about 130 persons. Thornton said a more suitable location might be found.
Thornton said the 208 cases were consolidated for "convenience for trial." Defense lawyears discussed consolidation with Thornton and Honohan in November, but no decision was reached at that time.
Since he took office early this fall, Thornton has advocated clearing the Police Court docket of the demonstration cases. Speculation that the city might drop charges ended with word from Honohan in early October that the city still intended to prosecute.
Honohan has indicated that the city plans to present testimony from university security officers, highway patrolmen, Iowa City police officers and city officials.
Highway patrolmen rounded up the 221 defendants as they sat on the east steps of Old Capitol to protest the American invasion of Cambodia and the killing of four students at Kent State University.
UI President Willard Boyd ordered the arrests, acting on information that demonstrators were occupying Old Capitol. The building was held for a short time by a handful of demonstrators, but was cleared about four hours before the arrests were made.
Boyd later admitted he ha acted on misinformation in calling for arrests. In a statement issued later May 8, Boyd called on the police judge (then Marion Neely) to "make a distinction between those who protested in a non-violent way and those who protested violently." That statement was endorsed this fall by the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce.
The arrests came at the height of a week of tension at UI and other campuses across the country, many of which were closed down by student strikes. A UI student strike resulted in an offer by Boyd to allow students to leave the campus without taking final examinations.
Also during the strike here, the city obtained an injunction aimed at militants at the university. That injunction remained in force until last Wednesday.

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12/13/70 Trial Date Set for 208 Protesters By MARK F. ROHNER Of the Press-Citizen The cases of 208 persons arrested in a demonstration at the University of Iowa May 8 have been consolidated and set for trial here Jan. 4. Police Judge Joseph Thornton, who will try the cases, said this morning that a list of 208 defendants, all charged with disorderly conduct, had been submitted by City Atty. Jay Honohan. The city plans to use an identical set of facts as evidence against each of the 208, but Thornton said there would not necessarily be a single verdict for the entire group. Missing from the list of those to be tried Jan. 4 are the names of 13 other defendants, who will be tried separately. The city plans to use a different set of facts in prosecuting those 13, who were also charged with disorderly conduct in the May 8 demonstration, Thornton said. No trial dates have yet been set for the 13 defendants. All defendants are free on $100 bond. The Jan. 4 mass trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the courtroom (council chamber) at the Civic Center — although the chamber has seats for only about 130 persons. Thornton said a more suitable location might be found. Thornton said the 208 cases were consolidated for "convenience for trial." Defense lawyears discussed consolidation with Thornton and Honohan in November, but no decision was reached at that time. Since he took office early this fall, Thornton has advocated clearing the Police Court docket of the demonstration cases. Speculation that the city might drop charges ended with word from Honohan in early October that the city still intended to prosecute. Honohan has indicated that the city plans to present testimony from university security officers, highway patrolmen, Iowa City police officers and city officials. Highway patrolmen rounded up the 221 defendants as they sat on the east steps of Old Capitol to protest the American invasion of Cambodia and the killing of four students at Kent State University. UI President Willard Boyd ordered the arrests, acting on information that demonstrators were occupying Old Capitol. The building was held for a short time by a handful of demonstrators, but was cleared about four hours before the arrests were made. Boyd later admitted he ha acted on misinformation in calling for arrests. In a statement issued later May 8, Boyd called on the police judge (then Marion Neely) to "make a distinction between those who protested in a non-violent way and those who protested violently." That statement was endorsed this fall by the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce. The arrests came at the height of a week of tension at UI and other campuses across the country, many of which were closed down by student strikes. A UI student strike resulted in an offer by Boyd to allow students to leave the campus without taking final examinations. Also during the strike here, the city obtained an injunction aimed at militants at the university. That injunction remained in force until last Wednesday.