DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-06-03 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Reporter's Case Appealed"" 1971-06-04 ""'Unlawful Assembly' Case Off""

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-06-03 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Reporter's Case Appealed"" 1971-06-04 ""'Unlawful Assembly' Case Off""

P-C 6/3/71

Reporter's Case Appealed

The Police Court conviction of Thomas C. Walsh, 20, who was charged while working as a reporter for the Press-Citizen during downtown disturbances May 6, has been appealed. 
Walsh as found guilty by Police Judge Joseph Thornton May 17 of a charge of failing to comply with the lawful order of a police officer. The charge was changed just before Walsh's trial from a disorderly conduct count filed initially.
An appeal bond of $150 was filed by attorneys for Walsh last Friday. Police Court clerks said the appeal would be forwarded today to Johnson County District Court. A new trial will be scheduled there. 
Walsh was arrested and charged while on assignment reporting disruptions the night of May 5-6 in downtown Iowa City. He was the only one of three newsmen charged who was found guilty. Charges against the other two were dropped by the city before they came to trial. 
A fine of $100 was imposed against Walsh by Thornton. 

Kenneth E. Greene, Press-Citizen publisher, pointed out that the newspaper is assisting with the appeal of Walsh.. 
"In the most narrow sense - as indicated by the appeal - we believe that the Police Court erred in finding Walsh guilty," said Greene. "We believe that a review of the evidence in District Court will sustain Walsh's contention that he did obey the officer's instruction, a contention supported by other witnesses in Police Court. 
" A broader issue also is involved, we believe. It is that of 'the people's right to know' a basic precept of free American government, guaranteed by both the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions. 
"If newsmen can be barred from the scene of news events by arrest ir the threat of arrest because an officer would prefer they not be present, the people are deprived of their right to know what is happening as reported by trained professional journalists. Citizens then become dependent for their knowledge of events upon the accounts of those directly involved as participants, thus making any balanced presentation most difficult if not impossible. 
"We believe our readers and citizens are entitled to something better."

P-C 6/4/71

'Unlawful Assembly' Case Off

An unlawful assembly charge filed against a University of Iowa student as campus tension wound down last month was dismissed in Police Court this morning. 

The student, Allen Katz, was charged by highway patrolmen with disturbing the peace after he allegedly "was trying to get kids on the Pentacrest to confront the police," patrolmen reported. The charge later was changed to one of unlawful assembly. 

Katz was arrested May 14, two days after the last student police confrontation on the campus. 

Also in Police Court this morning, trials of two other persons charged with unlawful assembly in the disturbances had their cases continued. They are Joel Sayre and William Eliason, both charged by University Security.

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P-C 6/3/71 Reporter's Case Appealed The Police Court conviction of Thomas C. Walsh, 20, who was charged while working as a reporter for the Press-Citizen during downtown disturbances May 6, has been appealed. Walsh as found guilty by Police Judge Joseph Thornton May 17 of a charge of failing to comply with the lawful order of a police officer. The charge was changed just before Walsh's trial from a disorderly conduct count filed initially. An appeal bond of $150 was filed by attorneys for Walsh last Friday. Police Court clerks said the appeal would be forwarded today to Johnson County District Court. A new trial will be scheduled there. Walsh was arrested and charged while on assignment reporting disruptions the night of May 5-6 in downtown Iowa City. He was the only one of three newsmen charged who was found guilty. Charges against the other two were dropped by the city before they came to trial. A fine of $100 was imposed against Walsh by Thornton. Kenneth E. Greene, Press-Citizen publisher, pointed out that the newspaper is assisting with the appeal of Walsh.. "In the most narrow sense - as indicated by the appeal - we believe that the Police Court erred in finding Walsh guilty," said Greene. "We believe that a review of the evidence in District Court will sustain Walsh's contention that he did obey the officer's instruction, a contention supported by other witnesses in Police Court. " A broader issue also is involved, we believe. It is that of 'the people's right to know' a basic precept of free American government, guaranteed by both the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions. "If newsmen can be barred from the scene of news events by arrest ir the threat of arrest because an officer would prefer they not be present, the people are deprived of their right to know what is happening as reported by trained professional journalists. Citizens then become dependent for their knowledge of events upon the accounts of those directly involved as participants, thus making any balanced presentation most difficult if not impossible. "We believe our readers and citizens are entitled to something better." P-C 6/4/71 'Unlawful Assembly' Case Off An unlawful assembly charge filed against a University of Iowa student as campus tension wound down last month was dismissed in Police Court this morning. The student, Allen Katz, was charged by highway patrolmen with disturbing the peace after he allegedly "was trying to get kids on the Pentacrest to confront the police," patrolmen reported. The charge later was changed to one of unlawful assembly. Katz was arrested May 14, two days after the last student police confrontation on the campus. Also in Police Court this morning, trials of two other persons charged with unlawful assembly in the disturbances had their cases continued. They are Joel Sayre and William Eliason, both charged by University Security.