DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Articles: ""Three Fined For Blocking Draft Bus"" ""Unlawful Assembly Charged Here""

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Articles: ""Three Fined For Blocking Draft Bus"" ""Unlawful Assembly Charged Here""

P-C 5/8/71

Three Fined For Blocking Draft Bus

Two University of Iowa students and a UI professor were fined $55 Friday afternoon by Police Judge Joseph Thornton in connection with the blocking of a draft bus in front of the Police Office during the early morning hours of April 20. 
Another student charged in a similar protest two weeks earlier had his trial postponed because the arresting officer who was to appear was home in bed after two days of disturbances in the downtown ares. 
Convicted of disorderly conduct Friday were Connie Vogel and Richard Smith both students, and Donald Spencer, associate professor of mechanical engineering. 
Shortly after the trial, the Iowa Peace Action Committee which sponsored the bus blockings - began a fast. Several of the pacifist group erected a tent in front of the Post Office to carry on their three-day fast and vigil. 
Meanwhile, Friday Thornton told Alan Garfield a UI senior, 
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that his trial on charged of "disobeying a police officer" would be deferred because Capt. Richard Lee who arrested Garfield and Ray Rohrbaugh April 6 was asleep at home. 
The city has changed the charge against Garfield from "obstructing by lounging" to "disorderly conduct" to "disobeying a police officer." Rohrbaugh, defending himself successfully against disorderly conduct charges, was found innocent by Thornton April 23. 
Patrolman Ronald R. Fort who arrested the other three April 20, testified "all three of them said they had made up their minds to be arrested."
The defendants argued that the bus - loaded with young men headed for pre-induction physical examinations in Des Moines - was waiting for a doctor when they were stationed in front of the vehicle. 
"If we were obstructing the bus, it seems to me that after we left, the bus would have moved on," said Smith, who added that the bus remained at the Post Office for a few minutes following their arrest. 
"If the bus would have attempted to move, I assume we would have tried to get out of the way," he added. 
Spencer, a Quaker said the action was aimed at a "sequence of activities that are extremely dangerous to the pace of the world."
Instead of attempting disruption, the professor continued the bus blockers were "trying to achieve some kind of order where there is presently no order."
Miss Vogel said simply that she was innocent of disorderly conduct.
"I did not engage in anything that is mentioned in the statute," she noted. 
But Thornton termed the action a "wilful deliberate, premeditated violation of this ordinance to infringe on the rights of others." The judge said the protest was indeed "offensive to this court."
Thornton conducted the trial in the conference room in the Civic Center while the traditional courtroom was being repaired following a bombing early Friday morning. Some 15 onlookers were forced to sit outside the room when Thornton ruled that all spectators must be seated in a chair. 

P-C 5/8/71

Unlawful Assembly Charged Here

An additional charge of unlawful assembly has been filed in connection with disturbance in downtown Iowa City late Thursday. 
Charged is Thomas R Dingfelder, 21, 905 East Washington Street. His arrest brings to 15 the number of persons charged in the Thursday outburst. 
Another 28 were arrested in a disturbance Wednesday that involved window breaking downtown and on the University of Iowa campus.

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P-C 5/8/71 Three Fined For Blocking Draft Bus Two University of Iowa students and a UI professor were fined $55 Friday afternoon by Police Judge Joseph Thornton in connection with the blocking of a draft bus in front of the Police Office during the early morning hours of April 20. Another student charged in a similar protest two weeks earlier had his trial postponed because the arresting officer who was to appear was home in bed after two days of disturbances in the downtown ares. Convicted of disorderly conduct Friday were Connie Vogel and Richard Smith both students, and Donald Spencer, associate professor of mechanical engineering. Shortly after the trial, the Iowa Peace Action Committee which sponsored the bus blockings - began a fast. Several of the pacifist group erected a tent in front of the Post Office to carry on their three-day fast and vigil. Meanwhile, Friday Thornton told Alan Garfield a UI senior, COURT Turn to Page 2A Court From Page 1A that his trial on charged of "disobeying a police officer" would be deferred because Capt. Richard Lee who arrested Garfield and Ray Rohrbaugh April 6 was asleep at home. The city has changed the charge against Garfield from "obstructing by lounging" to "disorderly conduct" to "disobeying a police officer." Rohrbaugh, defending himself successfully against disorderly conduct charges, was found innocent by Thornton April 23. Patrolman Ronald R. Fort who arrested the other three April 20, testified "all three of them said they had made up their minds to be arrested." The defendants argued that the bus - loaded with young men headed for pre-induction physical examinations in Des Moines - was waiting for a doctor when they were stationed in front of the vehicle. "If we were obstructing the bus, it seems to me that after we left, the bus would have moved on," said Smith, who added that the bus remained at the Post Office for a few minutes following their arrest. "If the bus would have attempted to move, I assume we would have tried to get out of the way," he added. Spencer, a Quaker said the action was aimed at a "sequence of activities that are extremely dangerous to the pace of the world." Instead of attempting disruption, the professor continued the bus blockers were "trying to achieve some kind of order where there is presently no order." Miss Vogel said simply that she was innocent of disorderly conduct. "I did not engage in anything that is mentioned in the statute," she noted. But Thornton termed the action a "wilful deliberate, premeditated violation of this ordinance to infringe on the rights of others." The judge said the protest was indeed "offensive to this court." Thornton conducted the trial in the conference room in the Civic Center while the traditional courtroom was being repaired following a bombing early Friday morning. Some 15 onlookers were forced to sit outside the room when Thornton ruled that all spectators must be seated in a chair. P-C 5/8/71 Unlawful Assembly Charged Here An additional charge of unlawful assembly has been filed in connection with disturbance in downtown Iowa City late Thursday. Charged is Thomas R Dingfelder, 21, 905 East Washington Street. His arrest brings to 15 the number of persons charged in the Thursday outburst. Another 28 were arrested in a disturbance Wednesday that involved window breaking downtown and on the University of Iowa campus.