DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-20 Des Moines Register Article: ""Police Harassment of Newsmen"" ICPC Article: ""Eight Cases In Protests Dismissed""

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-20 Des Moines Register Article: ""Police Harassment of Newsmen"" ICPC Article: ""Eight Cases In Protests Dismissed""

DMR 5/20/71

Police Harassment of Newsmen

The handling of the case of a news reporter who was arrested while gathering information during student disorders at the University of Iowa last week raises questions about the administration of law and order in Iowa City

The reporter, Thomas C. Walsh of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, was found guilty of disobeying a police officer by Police Judge Joseph Thornton. Walsh was fined $100 and court costs. He has appealed the decision. Rick Larson, a free lance photographer arrested with Walsh, has yet to stand trial.

About a dozen other reporters who were standing with or near Walsh and Larson the night of the incident were not arrested. The newsmen had gathered near the side of a bus which police were loading with persons arrested during the campus disorders. The newsmen, according to several accounts, were told by police to "move along" Walsh and Larson were arrested when they apparently didn't move fast enough to suit the police. 

Judge Thornton contended that "police had a duty to clear the streets" during the disturbances. He said that anyone found on the streets was subject to arrest. If that is so, why were only two arrested and not the others? Were Walsh and Larson meant to be examples to the other newsmen? Were the others to feel intimidated as a result?
If martial law had been declared in Iowa City, there might have been reason to authorize the police to "clear the streets." But martial law was not imposed. So there was no valid reason for police to interfere with any person who was not engaged i the disorders. 
Newsmen have a right to gather information about such things as campus disorders. But the Iowa City police apparently don't think so. Would the police, we wonder, have arrested a doctor or nurse who might have approached the bus that night to tend to anyone injured in the scuffling? Would a lawyer have been arrested if they had come to the scene where police were loading the bus?
Walsh's arrest (on a charge of disorderly conduct which was later changed to disobeying a police officer) smacks of police harassment of reporters who were watching how the police treated the campus demonstrators. That view takes on credence from the judgment and penalty set for the reporter. 

P-C
Tuesday, May 25, 1971

Eight Cases In Protests Dismissed

Charges against eight of 14 persons arrested in recent disorders were dismissed Monday in Police Court. Two persons were fined $105, three found not guilty and two cases will be continued with different charges. 
Charges against David and Nancy Pearson, 103 1/2 South Clinton Street, were changed from disorderly conduct to disobedience to a police officer. Trial date has been set for June 4. 
All persons tried Monday were arrested during disturbances on May 10, except for Mark Nudelman who was arrested May 5.
Fined $105 were Anthony Borg of rural Iowa City and Carl Couch, sociology professor at the University of Iowa, both charged with disobedience to a police officer. 
Disorderly conduct charges were dropped for Thomas Christiansen, 1211 Second Street, Coralville, John Cord, 20 West Court Street; Dennis Parker, transient; Thomas Rudd, 21, West Court Street; Kenneth Dykema, Calvin Franklin and James Gilford of Hillcrest dormitory; and Max Jones, 313 South Dubuque Street.
Found not guilty of disorderly conduct were Marlene McAllister, Carolann Apartments; Barbara Miller, 449 North Riverside Drive; and Nudelman.

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DMR 5/20/71 Police Harassment of Newsmen The handling of the case of a news reporter who was arrested while gathering information during student disorders at the University of Iowa last week raises questions about the administration of law and order in Iowa City The reporter, Thomas C. Walsh of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, was found guilty of disobeying a police officer by Police Judge Joseph Thornton. Walsh was fined $100 and court costs. He has appealed the decision. Rick Larson, a free lance photographer arrested with Walsh, has yet to stand trial. About a dozen other reporters who were standing with or near Walsh and Larson the night of the incident were not arrested. The newsmen had gathered near the side of a bus which police were loading with persons arrested during the campus disorders. The newsmen, according to several accounts, were told by police to "move along" Walsh and Larson were arrested when they apparently didn't move fast enough to suit the police. Judge Thornton contended that "police had a duty to clear the streets" during the disturbances. He said that anyone found on the streets was subject to arrest. If that is so, why were only two arrested and not the others? Were Walsh and Larson meant to be examples to the other newsmen? Were the others to feel intimidated as a result? If martial law had been declared in Iowa City, there might have been reason to authorize the police to "clear the streets." But martial law was not imposed. So there was no valid reason for police to interfere with any person who was not engaged i the disorders. Newsmen have a right to gather information about such things as campus disorders. But the Iowa City police apparently don't think so. Would the police, we wonder, have arrested a doctor or nurse who might have approached the bus that night to tend to anyone injured in the scuffling? Would a lawyer have been arrested if they had come to the scene where police were loading the bus? Walsh's arrest (on a charge of disorderly conduct which was later changed to disobeying a police officer) smacks of police harassment of reporters who were watching how the police treated the campus demonstrators. That view takes on credence from the judgment and penalty set for the reporter. P-C Tuesday, May 25, 1971 Eight Cases In Protests Dismissed Charges against eight of 14 persons arrested in recent disorders were dismissed Monday in Police Court. Two persons were fined $105, three found not guilty and two cases will be continued with different charges. Charges against David and Nancy Pearson, 103 1/2 South Clinton Street, were changed from disorderly conduct to disobedience to a police officer. Trial date has been set for June 4. All persons tried Monday were arrested during disturbances on May 10, except for Mark Nudelman who was arrested May 5. Fined $105 were Anthony Borg of rural Iowa City and Carl Couch, sociology professor at the University of Iowa, both charged with disobedience to a police officer. Disorderly conduct charges were dropped for Thomas Christiansen, 1211 Second Street, Coralville, John Cord, 20 West Court Street; Dennis Parker, transient; Thomas Rudd, 21, West Court Street; Kenneth Dykema, Calvin Franklin and James Gilford of Hillcrest dormitory; and Max Jones, 313 South Dubuque Street. Found not guilty of disorderly conduct were Marlene McAllister, Carolann Apartments; Barbara Miller, 449 North Riverside Drive; and Nudelman.