DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-11 Daily Iowan Article: ""Massive Bust, Tear Gassing, Rip Protesters""

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-11 Daily Iowan Article: ""Massive Bust, Tear Gassing, Rip Protesters""

Tuesday, May 11, 1971 DI 10 Cents a Copy
Massive Bust, Tear Gassing, Rip Protesters

Law enforcement officers charged a gathering of anti-war demonstrators downtown Monday night and made a large number of arrests. 

Using tear gas, for the first time in the week of demonstrations and flailing night sticks, Iowa City police. Highway Patrolmen, Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies and Campus Security charged a gathering of anti-war demonstrators downtown Monday night and made a large number of arrests.

At least one woman, unidentified at Daily Iowan press time, was injured and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

The charge began on Capitol City near the Campus Security Office, when policemen moved in on a group of about 200 gathered there. Most of the people in the crowd ran towards the Pentacrest area, and the police followed. 

The Pentacrest-downtown area became a melee of running students and onlookers and swinging night sticks. Many took refuge in downtown bars and restaurants. 

But the police cleared out the establishments and chased everyone down the streets tripping and arresting those who did not run fast enough. 

After the first charge the police began making the sweeps up and down the streets in the downtown area, clearing the streets of all persons and closing all the downtown bars and business establishments. The sweep continued for at least an hour afterwards. 

Announcements were made in dormitories that anyone found in the streets would be subject to arrest.

Demonstrators had been blocking traffic first at the Clinton and Burlington Streets. and later at Iowa Avenue and Clinton Streets, the crowd had been violent and there had not been violent and there had been no property damage up to the time of the police charge. 

After the charge, several injuries were reported.

Sweeps through the downtown district commenced long after the main crowds had broken up, as police continued to locate the small groups and them up. 

However, at 12:30 police noted that over the police radio that there was another group, "of about six girls, they're clean cut and everything" heading down Madison street, and apparently they were allowed to proceed. 

After the arrests were made, members of the press were not allowed to visit the police station to check the numbers of persons arrested. A call to University Hospital resulted in the answer that no one had been admitted to the emergency room, although one woman had been taken from downtown, apparently in shock, with a doctor in attendance in a University Hospital Ambulance.

Monday night's demonstration, although involving fewer people than two demonstrations last week, marked a definite escalation of violence by the police.

Iowa City Mayor Loren Hickerson told the Daily Iowan Monday night that the decision to clear the streets of all people "was made by the police themselves on the basis of the situation."

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Tuesday, May 11, 1971 DI 10 Cents a Copy Massive Bust, Tear Gassing, Rip Protesters Law enforcement officers charged a gathering of anti-war demonstrators downtown Monday night and made a large number of arrests. Using tear gas, for the first time in the week of demonstrations and flailing night sticks, Iowa City police. Highway Patrolmen, Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies and Campus Security charged a gathering of anti-war demonstrators downtown Monday night and made a large number of arrests. At least one woman, unidentified at Daily Iowan press time, was injured and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. The charge began on Capitol City near the Campus Security Office, when policemen moved in on a group of about 200 gathered there. Most of the people in the crowd ran towards the Pentacrest area, and the police followed. The Pentacrest-downtown area became a melee of running students and onlookers and swinging night sticks. Many took refuge in downtown bars and restaurants. But the police cleared out the establishments and chased everyone down the streets tripping and arresting those who did not run fast enough. After the first charge the police began making the sweeps up and down the streets in the downtown area, clearing the streets of all persons and closing all the downtown bars and business establishments. The sweep continued for at least an hour afterwards. Announcements were made in dormitories that anyone found in the streets would be subject to arrest. Demonstrators had been blocking traffic first at the Clinton and Burlington Streets. and later at Iowa Avenue and Clinton Streets, the crowd had been violent and there had not been violent and there had been no property damage up to the time of the police charge. After the charge, several injuries were reported. Sweeps through the downtown district commenced long after the main crowds had broken up, as police continued to locate the small groups and them up. However, at 12:30 police noted that over the police radio that there was another group, "of about six girls, they're clean cut and everything" heading down Madison street, and apparently they were allowed to proceed. After the arrests were made, members of the press were not allowed to visit the police station to check the numbers of persons arrested. A call to University Hospital resulted in the answer that no one had been admitted to the emergency room, although one woman had been taken from downtown, apparently in shock, with a doctor in attendance in a University Hospital Ambulance. Monday night's demonstration, although involving fewer people than two demonstrations last week, marked a definite escalation of violence by the police. Iowa City Mayor Loren Hickerson told the Daily Iowan Monday night that the decision to clear the streets of all people "was made by the police themselves on the basis of the situation."