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United Campus Ministry papers, 1970-1972

1971-02-26 'Iowa Citians Protest in D.M.'

[photo]
55,000 Dead
300,000 Wounded
my SON
just
ONE

Just One...
The mother of an American killed in the Indochina war adds her protest to those of several thousand workers, farmer and other citizens against the war during Monday's Des Moines visit by President Nixon.
Photo by Diane Hypes

Iowa Citians Protest in D.M.
Iowa City had its share of anti-Nixon protesters in Des Moines Monday.
"Citizens for Peace," a group organized by local members of United Campus Ministry, formed a car pool that carried 40 to 50 Iowa City residents to Des Moines to protest Nixon's war policies, according to the Rev. Roger Simpson, Presbyterian campus minister.
Citizens for Peace planned its protest Sunday at Wesley House.  Among those attending were State Rep. Arthur Small (D-Iowa City), and Dee W. Norton, University of Iowa Faculty Senate Chairman and associate professor of psychology.
At the time the group was split over supporting anti-Nixon construction workers as well as the peace movement.
SDS also organized a caravan to bring an estimated 20 to 30 protesters to Des Moines.
Pat Martin, A1, who attended with an informal group estimated that there were at least 100 Iowa City residents protesting.  This included, he believed, carpenter's union local.
A member of the Carpenter's Local Union No. 1260 said Monday night that about 35 men from the local had gone to Des Moines unofficially.
Martin told the Daily Iowan that police told the crowd outside the Fort Des Moines Hotel that they would have to move back because Nixon didn't want to see demonstrators.
This prompted certain demonstrators to throw eggs and snowballs at the policemen, Martin said.
Police then "just charged in," according to Martin, pushing the group back half a block.

[handwritten]
2-26-71  Press-Citizen

Anti-War Protest at D.M. Urged by Minister Here

The president of the University of Iowa Campus Ministers Association today called for persons "who want to hasten the end of the war in Southeast Asia" to demonstrate in Des Moines where President Richard Nixon will visit Monday.
"An open invitation is issued to all citizens of the Iowa City area who want to hasten the end of the war in Southeast Asia to meet as 'Citizens for Peace' Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Wesley Foundation, 120 North Dubuque Street," said the Rev. Roger Simpson. 
"We will seek to sue the opportunity of President Nixon's visit to communicate our concern for an immediate end to the war," the Rev. Mr. Simpson added.  "Plans will be made Sunday to coordinate traffic to Des Moines and to cooperate with peace groups there."
Rev. Simpson said "word is being sent quickly" to religious, citizen and student groups in connection with the demonstration plans.
Two other demonstrations are planned for Nixon's arrival in Des Moines.
Linda Wainwright, chairman of the Des Moines Area Moratorium Committee, already has announced plans for an anti-war protest.
Meanwhile, the executive council of the Des Moines Building and Construction Trades Council has appealed to labor groups around the state to join in another demonstration.
That protest would be over Nixon's suspension earlier this week of a law requiring prevailing union wages to be paid to all federal construction projects.

THE DAILY IOWAN
Report U.S. funds go for 'tiger cages'
Special to The Daily Iowan
An exclusive interview with one-time News Dispatch International reporter Don Luce, now expelled from South Vietnam y the Thieu government, reveals that State Department funds are being used to build 368 new "tiger cages" for Vietnamese political prisoners.
Luce told Ted Sherritt of WAMC radio in Albany, N.Y., a $400,000 contract has been awarded to the construction firm of Raymond, Morris and Kuntson, Brown, Root and Jones to build the isolation cages.
The cages will be two square feet smaller than those Luce and two Congressman originally discovered in a Vietnamese prison camp over a year ago.  That discovery lead to a full-scale investigation of the Vietnamese prison system.
The original cells were 5 by 10 feet, and were used to hold 180 prisoners, several to a cell.  THe South Vietnames government had previously promised the Congressmen the use of the "tiger cages" would be phased out.
In a letter to Rev. Roger Simpson, an Iowa City campus minister, Skerritt said, "he (Luce) did not imply the store was being ignored or squelched nationally, but only that he had not been aware of any national coverage."
Skerritt, in a telephone interview with The Daily Iowan, said Luce told him, "the U.S. is now spending $30 million for this year on the Vietnamese police and police system."
This compares to $20.9 million spent last year Luce said.  He attributed funding directly to the CORDS operation - Civil Operation FOr Revolutionary Development Support - "regular funds for which are appropriated by the U.S. Congress."

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[photo] 55,000 Dead 300,000 Wounded my SON just ONE Just One... The mother of an American killed in the Indochina war adds her protest to those of several thousand workers, farmer and other citizens against the war during Monday's Des Moines visit by President Nixon. Photo by Diane Hypes Iowa Citians Protest in D.M. Iowa City had its share of anti-Nixon protesters in Des Moines Monday. "Citizens for Peace," a group organized by local members of United Campus Ministry, formed a car pool that carried 40 to 50 Iowa City residents to Des Moines to protest Nixon's war policies, according to the Rev. Roger Simpson, Presbyterian campus minister. Citizens for Peace planned its protest Sunday at Wesley House. Among those attending were State Rep. Arthur Small (D-Iowa City), and Dee W. Norton, University of Iowa Faculty Senate Chairman and associate professor of psychology. At the time the group was split over supporting anti-Nixon construction workers as well as the peace movement. SDS also organized a caravan to bring an estimated 20 to 30 protesters to Des Moines. Pat Martin, A1, who attended with an informal group estimated that there were at least 100 Iowa City residents protesting. This included, he believed, carpenter's union local. A member of the Carpenter's Local Union No. 1260 said Monday night that about 35 men from the local had gone to Des Moines unofficially. Martin told the Daily Iowan that police told the crowd outside the Fort Des Moines Hotel that they would have to move back because Nixon didn't want to see demonstrators. This prompted certain demonstrators to throw eggs and snowballs at the policemen, Martin said. Police then "just charged in," according to Martin, pushing the group back half a block. [handwritten] 2-26-71 Press-Citizen Anti-War Protest at D.M. Urged by Minister Here The president of the University of Iowa Campus Ministers Association today called for persons "who want to hasten the end of the war in Southeast Asia" to demonstrate in Des Moines where President Richard Nixon will visit Monday. "An open invitation is issued to all citizens of the Iowa City area who want to hasten the end of the war in Southeast Asia to meet as 'Citizens for Peace' Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Wesley Foundation, 120 North Dubuque Street," said the Rev. Roger Simpson. "We will seek to sue the opportunity of President Nixon's visit to communicate our concern for an immediate end to the war," the Rev. Mr. Simpson added. "Plans will be made Sunday to coordinate traffic to Des Moines and to cooperate with peace groups there." Rev. Simpson said "word is being sent quickly" to religious, citizen and student groups in connection with the demonstration plans. Two other demonstrations are planned for Nixon's arrival in Des Moines. Linda Wainwright, chairman of the Des Moines Area Moratorium Committee, already has announced plans for an anti-war protest. Meanwhile, the executive council of the Des Moines Building and Construction Trades Council has appealed to labor groups around the state to join in another demonstration. That protest would be over Nixon's suspension earlier this week of a law requiring prevailing union wages to be paid to all federal construction projects. THE DAILY IOWAN Report U.S. funds go for 'tiger cages' Special to The Daily Iowan An exclusive interview with one-time News Dispatch International reporter Don Luce, now expelled from South Vietnam y the Thieu government, reveals that State Department funds are being used to build 368 new "tiger cages" for Vietnamese political prisoners. Luce told Ted Sherritt of WAMC radio in Albany, N.Y., a $400,000 contract has been awarded to the construction firm of Raymond, Morris and Kuntson, Brown, Root and Jones to build the isolation cages. The cages will be two square feet smaller than those Luce and two Congressman originally discovered in a Vietnamese prison camp over a year ago. That discovery lead to a full-scale investigation of the Vietnamese prison system. The original cells were 5 by 10 feet, and were used to hold 180 prisoners, several to a cell. THe South Vietnames government had previously promised the Congressmen the use of the "tiger cages" would be phased out. In a letter to Rev. Roger Simpson, an Iowa City campus minister, Skerritt said, "he (Luce) did not imply the store was being ignored or squelched nationally, but only that he had not been aware of any national coverage." Skerritt, in a telephone interview with The Daily Iowan, said Luce told him, "the U.S. is now spending $30 million for this year on the Vietnamese police and police system." This compares to $20.9 million spent last year Luce said. He attributed funding directly to the CORDS operation - Civil Operation FOr Revolutionary Development Support - "regular funds for which are appropriated by the U.S. Congress."