DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Officials Show Strain From Long Week"" Page 2

Transcribe
Translate

University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Officials Show Strain From Long Week"" Page 2

IOWA CITY PRESS
2 Sections — Section A   Iowa City, Iowa, Friday, May 8, 1970
P-C May 8, 1970
2 (of 4)
Officials Show Strain Fro
Was There Request To Drop Charges?
Signs of strain were beginning to appear today among exhausted public officials most directly concerned with containing disturbances among University of Iowa students.
There were these indications of developing differences:
-The University of Iowa administration is reported to have asked that charges against 227 persons arrested early today be dropped, a request city officials are said to have rejected. UI president Williard L. Boyd said he had conferred with city officials about the charges, but declined to say specifically that he had asked that charges be dropped.
City officials refused to comment at all. A university spokesman said the report might have stemmed from misinterpreting a UI suggestion that leniency would be in order.
-City Manager Frank R. Smiley several times told demonstrators Thursday night and early today that he considered their protest in general to be an orderly onel Yet, Boyd ordered that the Pentacrest be cleared and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson carried out the order, arresting more than 200 persons.
-Smiley asked that no cash bond be required of arrested protesters, but Police Judge Marion R. Neely rejected this request.
-And County Sheriff Maynard Schneider has said several times that he believes National Guardsmen are required to quell the disturbances here.
"I thought we did have things pretty much under control," Smioley said through reddened eyes this morning. "I didn't think they (the demonstrators) were disruptive at all."
Smiley said he left the Old Capitol steps before 2 a.m. to confer with Highway Patrol officers and sheriff's deputies "massed" at the Civic Center.
Smiley said he disputed their assessment that "things were getting out of hand," and at one point refused to send city police in with the other law enforcement officers. But the call from Boyd settled that dispute and all proceeded to the Old Capitol where the arrests were made.
The city manager said some members of the city police are angry at him for his decision to release the three men arrested inside the Old Capitol.
"The guys were pretty ticked off," he said, explaining that police officers traditionally resent releasing suspects.
When the police arrived at Old Capitol, some 25 protesters had re-entered, Smiley said. He praised Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson for his handling of the arrests, but maintained his contention the arrests were unnecessary. 
"I didn't think they had to do it," he stressed. "But nobody got worked over."
Smiley was especially upset
CAMPUS   Turn to Page 2A

Boyd Ordered Area Cleared—
More Than 200 Arrested
More than 200 protesters were arrested early today on the east approach to Old Capitol, ending a demonstration that had begun more than 30 hours earlier. All were charged with disorderly conduct.
Those arrested were whisked away in a University of Iowa bus. They were taken to the Iowa City Civic Center and the Johnson County Courthouse in four loads. They were held until $100 bond was posted, and most were released on bail by early afternoon.
The arrests followed announcements by UI Provost Ray Heffner and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson that University President Willard L. Boyd had ordered the clearing of the Pentacrest.
Dickinson said his men, more than 100 Highway Patrolmen, Iowa City police, Johnson and Linn County Deputy Sheriffs, would use whatever force might be necessary to clear the Pentacrest. As it turned out, the 227 were arrested with no force at all being needed and the center of the Pentacrest was cleared quickly and peacefully.
The arrests followed what had been a generally quiet night except for forays by a few into Old Capitol and Jesup Hall. Reports of those incursions and a false fire report are believed to have been a major factor in Boyd's decision to ask officers to clear the Pentacrest.
Damage in the buildings was minor and the only structural damage, according to the UI physical plant this morning, were two broken window panes and a dent in a Senate Chamber door. A portrait and a ceramic crock in the Capitol and a bulletin board on which paper had been burned, two arm chairs and a small lectern thrown from an upper floor window of Jesup also were damaged or destroyed. Standards with Iowa and U.S. flags are not accounted for.
The damage was estimated at $800-$900.
After the earlier entries in the buildings in which three persons were placed under arrest, then released, the demonstration was marked principally by speeches, some of them inflammatory, a few, conciliatory.
Among the speakers was City Manager Frank R. Smiley who urged calm upon the demonstrators and who remained on the steps of the building's east approach until the arrests came. Smiley told the crowd he did not consider them to be disruptive.
George Forell, director of the School of Religion (among those arrested) told the crowd that a strike advocated by some speakers would damage only students.
Shortly before 1 a.m., the crowd had dwindled to 300-400 from an early peak of perhaps 1,500. It was then that the first reports of the decision to clear the Pentacrest went through the crowd.
Then tension began to mount, and the drift away from the Old Capitol area halted and was reversed.
Smiley confirmed the report, noting that he had argued against the order to clear the area, but had lost. Forell again urged calm.
Amid hoots and shouted obscenities, UI Provost Ray Heffner told the crowd the area would be cleared, by officers if necessary.
Demonstrators intending to invite arrest were called to come in close to the steps and others were asked to back away from the area. Advice on legal rights, caution about resisting arrest and suggestions on avoiding injury were offered over the bullhorn.
At 1:55 a.m. Capt. Dickinson took the horn to announce that he was in command of the of-
ARRESTS   Turn to Page 2A

Saving...

IOWA CITY PRESS 2 Sections — Section A Iowa City, Iowa, Friday, May 8, 1970 P-C May 8, 1970 2 (of 4) Officials Show Strain Fro Was There Request To Drop Charges? Signs of strain were beginning to appear today among exhausted public officials most directly concerned with containing disturbances among University of Iowa students. There were these indications of developing differences: -The University of Iowa administration is reported to have asked that charges against 227 persons arrested early today be dropped, a request city officials are said to have rejected. UI president Williard L. Boyd said he had conferred with city officials about the charges, but declined to say specifically that he had asked that charges be dropped. City officials refused to comment at all. A university spokesman said the report might have stemmed from misinterpreting a UI suggestion that leniency would be in order. -City Manager Frank R. Smiley several times told demonstrators Thursday night and early today that he considered their protest in general to be an orderly onel Yet, Boyd ordered that the Pentacrest be cleared and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson carried out the order, arresting more than 200 persons. -Smiley asked that no cash bond be required of arrested protesters, but Police Judge Marion R. Neely rejected this request. -And County Sheriff Maynard Schneider has said several times that he believes National Guardsmen are required to quell the disturbances here. "I thought we did have things pretty much under control," Smioley said through reddened eyes this morning. "I didn't think they (the demonstrators) were disruptive at all." Smiley said he left the Old Capitol steps before 2 a.m. to confer with Highway Patrol officers and sheriff's deputies "massed" at the Civic Center. Smiley said he disputed their assessment that "things were getting out of hand," and at one point refused to send city police in with the other law enforcement officers. But the call from Boyd settled that dispute and all proceeded to the Old Capitol where the arrests were made. The city manager said some members of the city police are angry at him for his decision to release the three men arrested inside the Old Capitol. "The guys were pretty ticked off," he said, explaining that police officers traditionally resent releasing suspects. When the police arrived at Old Capitol, some 25 protesters had re-entered, Smiley said. He praised Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson for his handling of the arrests, but maintained his contention the arrests were unnecessary. "I didn't think they had to do it," he stressed. "But nobody got worked over." Smiley was especially upset CAMPUS Turn to Page 2A Boyd Ordered Area Cleared— More Than 200 Arrested More than 200 protesters were arrested early today on the east approach to Old Capitol, ending a demonstration that had begun more than 30 hours earlier. All were charged with disorderly conduct. Those arrested were whisked away in a University of Iowa bus. They were taken to the Iowa City Civic Center and the Johnson County Courthouse in four loads. They were held until $100 bond was posted, and most were released on bail by early afternoon. The arrests followed announcements by UI Provost Ray Heffner and Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle H. Dickinson that University President Willard L. Boyd had ordered the clearing of the Pentacrest. Dickinson said his men, more than 100 Highway Patrolmen, Iowa City police, Johnson and Linn County Deputy Sheriffs, would use whatever force might be necessary to clear the Pentacrest. As it turned out, the 227 were arrested with no force at all being needed and the center of the Pentacrest was cleared quickly and peacefully. The arrests followed what had been a generally quiet night except for forays by a few into Old Capitol and Jesup Hall. Reports of those incursions and a false fire report are believed to have been a major factor in Boyd's decision to ask officers to clear the Pentacrest. Damage in the buildings was minor and the only structural damage, according to the UI physical plant this morning, were two broken window panes and a dent in a Senate Chamber door. A portrait and a ceramic crock in the Capitol and a bulletin board on which paper had been burned, two arm chairs and a small lectern thrown from an upper floor window of Jesup also were damaged or destroyed. Standards with Iowa and U.S. flags are not accounted for. The damage was estimated at $800-$900. After the earlier entries in the buildings in which three persons were placed under arrest, then released, the demonstration was marked principally by speeches, some of them inflammatory, a few, conciliatory. Among the speakers was City Manager Frank R. Smiley who urged calm upon the demonstrators and who remained on the steps of the building's east approach until the arrests came. Smiley told the crowd he did not consider them to be disruptive. George Forell, director of the School of Religion (among those arrested) told the crowd that a strike advocated by some speakers would damage only students. Shortly before 1 a.m., the crowd had dwindled to 300-400 from an early peak of perhaps 1,500. It was then that the first reports of the decision to clear the Pentacrest went through the crowd. Then tension began to mount, and the drift away from the Old Capitol area halted and was reversed. Smiley confirmed the report, noting that he had argued against the order to clear the area, but had lost. Forell again urged calm. Amid hoots and shouted obscenities, UI Provost Ray Heffner told the crowd the area would be cleared, by officers if necessary. Demonstrators intending to invite arrest were called to come in close to the steps and others were asked to back away from the area. Advice on legal rights, caution about resisting arrest and suggestions on avoiding injury were offered over the bullhorn. At 1:55 a.m. Capt. Dickinson took the horn to announce that he was in command of the of- ARRESTS Turn to Page 2A