DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Bomb Blast Damages Iowa City Civic Center"" Page 4

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Bomb Blast Damages Iowa City Civic Center"" Page 4

Although he has been in touch with the city's insurance carrier. He deemed the bombing "one of those isolated incidents that could happen to any building at any time," and said business in the city offices would be "conducted as usual."

As long as you have free institutions you are vulnerable to this kind of thing," the city manager said. "I don't plan to build fences around the Civic Center or post guards."

Smiley said he was conferring with city councilmen today about possibly posting a reward for information on the bomber. Three councilmen already have expressed approval of the idea, he said. 

Mayor [Locen?] Hickerson this morning issued a statement calling the bombing "an act of madness."

"What does it prove, other than that bricks and mortar can be blown apart?" the mayor said.

"If a community were only bricks and mortar, you could destroy it in this way, but this kind of senselessness isn't going to weaken this city-university community. If anything, it will tend to strengthen it," said Hickerson.

Hickerson issued an earlier statement regarding last night's disorders and urging spectators and curiosity seekers not to join disruptive crowds.

To do so makes it difficult for authorities to distinguish between lawbreakers in crowds and bystanders, the mayor said.

Thursday night's disturbances were [illegible] off after two undercover agents, both wearing long-haired wigs, were discovered mingling with a crowd on the Pentacrest shortly after 8 p.m. The crowd was attending a rally to raise bail money for the 26 arrested in a window-breaking sweep through downtown and campus areas Wednesday night.

A wig was snatched from the head of one of the agents and the crowd chased the other undercover man into a restaurant where he was cornered for several minutes.

The crowd milled about simlessly at Washington and Clinton Streets for over an hour before a small group, carrying a red flag, led it south on Clinton Street about 10:30 p.m.

Shouting antiwar slogans, the crowd, numbering about 500, headed for the Courthouse, but was met at Court and Clinton Streets by the sheriff and 12 deputies, who charged at the marchers firing bursts from a smoke device.

The crowd, mistaking the smoke for tear gas, turned and fled north, pursued by deputies who used riot sticks to [illegible] stragglers along. The crowd was driven back to the Pentacrest, where now [illegible] to about 1,000, it faced off against the 12 deputies.

The deputies, aided by student monitors, held the crowd at bay for nearly two hours, until it dwindled to about 300 persons shortly after midnight. During that time, Schneider disregarded requests, including the one from Police Chief McCarney, to move away from the area.

Traffic was blocked at the intersection of Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue until about midnight, when deputies pushed the crowd back and allowed vehicles to use the streets.

It appeared as though the crowd was about to disperse when one youth came out of the group and attempted to snatch away a riot helmet Scherider was carrying under his arm. 

The sheriff quickly had the youth arrested and shouted, "Okay, that's it. Move 'em in." Within half an hour, highway patrolmen, the entire Iowa City Police force, Coralville police and deputies from Scott and Linn Counties converged on the area and ordered the dwindling crowd to disperse. The officers - numbering about 170 - lined up three deep at two points across Clinton Street, then broke ranks and charged at members of the crowd remaining at the scene.

Fourteen were arrested and placed in one of the four buses that brought the officers to the Pentacrest.

The streets were cleared by about 1:30 a.m.

Schneider said this morning that he had notified neither McCarney nor Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson before moving his men out to turn back the crowd near the Courthouse, although he had conferred with both men earlier in the evening.

"It was our intention that they would never square off in front of the Courthouse," the sheriff said. "We didn't have that many men."

Schneider said he did not have enough time to notify McCarney and Dickinson of his plans to move out to meet the marching crowd.

The sheriff said he refused to move back from the Pentacrest later in the evening because "if we had moved back, they would have taken off after us."

The [illegible] snatching incident led to Schneider's decision to call for more officers to help clear the streets, he said.

"It looked like they were trying to make an incident of some kind." the sheriff said.

Schneider said he would have his deputies on call tonight in case disturbances break out again.

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Although he has been in touch with the city's insurance carrier. He deemed the bombing "one of those isolated incidents that could happen to any building at any time," and said business in the city offices would be "conducted as usual." As long as you have free institutions you are vulnerable to this kind of thing," the city manager said. "I don't plan to build fences around the Civic Center or post guards." Smiley said he was conferring with city councilmen today about possibly posting a reward for information on the bomber. Three councilmen already have expressed approval of the idea, he said. Mayor [Locen?] Hickerson this morning issued a statement calling the bombing "an act of madness." "What does it prove, other than that bricks and mortar can be blown apart?" the mayor said. "If a community were only bricks and mortar, you could destroy it in this way, but this kind of senselessness isn't going to weaken this city-university community. If anything, it will tend to strengthen it," said Hickerson. Hickerson issued an earlier statement regarding last night's disorders and urging spectators and curiosity seekers not to join disruptive crowds. To do so makes it difficult for authorities to distinguish between lawbreakers in crowds and bystanders, the mayor said. Thursday night's disturbances were [illegible] off after two undercover agents, both wearing long-haired wigs, were discovered mingling with a crowd on the Pentacrest shortly after 8 p.m. The crowd was attending a rally to raise bail money for the 26 arrested in a window-breaking sweep through downtown and campus areas Wednesday night. A wig was snatched from the head of one of the agents and the crowd chased the other undercover man into a restaurant where he was cornered for several minutes. The crowd milled about simlessly at Washington and Clinton Streets for over an hour before a small group, carrying a red flag, led it south on Clinton Street about 10:30 p.m. Shouting antiwar slogans, the crowd, numbering about 500, headed for the Courthouse, but was met at Court and Clinton Streets by the sheriff and 12 deputies, who charged at the marchers firing bursts from a smoke device. The crowd, mistaking the smoke for tear gas, turned and fled north, pursued by deputies who used riot sticks to [illegible] stragglers along. The crowd was driven back to the Pentacrest, where now [illegible] to about 1,000, it faced off against the 12 deputies. The deputies, aided by student monitors, held the crowd at bay for nearly two hours, until it dwindled to about 300 persons shortly after midnight. During that time, Schneider disregarded requests, including the one from Police Chief McCarney, to move away from the area. Traffic was blocked at the intersection of Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue until about midnight, when deputies pushed the crowd back and allowed vehicles to use the streets. It appeared as though the crowd was about to disperse when one youth came out of the group and attempted to snatch away a riot helmet Scherider was carrying under his arm. The sheriff quickly had the youth arrested and shouted, "Okay, that's it. Move 'em in." Within half an hour, highway patrolmen, the entire Iowa City Police force, Coralville police and deputies from Scott and Linn Counties converged on the area and ordered the dwindling crowd to disperse. The officers - numbering about 170 - lined up three deep at two points across Clinton Street, then broke ranks and charged at members of the crowd remaining at the scene. Fourteen were arrested and placed in one of the four buses that brought the officers to the Pentacrest. The streets were cleared by about 1:30 a.m. Schneider said this morning that he had notified neither McCarney nor Highway Patrol Capt. Lyle Dickinson before moving his men out to turn back the crowd near the Courthouse, although he had conferred with both men earlier in the evening. "It was our intention that they would never square off in front of the Courthouse," the sheriff said. "We didn't have that many men." Schneider said he did not have enough time to notify McCarney and Dickinson of his plans to move out to meet the marching crowd. The sheriff said he refused to move back from the Pentacrest later in the evening because "if we had moved back, they would have taken off after us." The [illegible] snatching incident led to Schneider's decision to call for more officers to help clear the streets, he said. "It looked like they were trying to make an incident of some kind." the sheriff said. Schneider said he would have his deputies on call tonight in case disturbances break out again.