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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-11 Des Moines Register Article: ""A Tense Night at Iowa City"" Page 3

Iowa City police form a line on the Burlington Street Bridge as they prepare to move across the street to disperse protesters late Tuesday. A number of Iowa Highway patrolmen
ing the street. A few of those arre
dragged or carried away

be mostly U of I students- turned their backs on two factions eliciting support. 
First, the "Jesus people" appeared, preaching about the teachings of Christ. Then the remnants of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) showed up, urging a picket at the U of I administration building to protest the war. 

Threw Rocks
Finally, someone set up a makeshift loud speaker system at another corner of the Pentacrest giving other students a chance to speak. 
While the marchers trooped down a major downtown street, a couple of youths threw rocks at two store windows. Immediately, a chorus of "No, no violence !" rose from the crowd. The rock throwing immediately stopped. 
City and law enforcement officials Wednesday said that the bulk of the crowd was in a peaceful mood. And most everyone had nothing but praise for the restraint which police showed while handling the demonstrators during several tense situations. 
However, a few scattered incidents of violence marred the five hour demonstration. 
Two Iowa Highway Patrol officers - Gary Swanson of Sioux City and Kenneth Carter of Monticello - suffered minor injuries from rocks thrown at them. 

Camper Fire
There were two reported instances of molotov cocktails thrown at buildings, but no damage was reported. Another fire was set in the Burlington Street- Riverside Drive intersection early Wednesday morning. 
That incident involved a small pickup camper which was removed from the bed of the vehicle and set ablaze. One person was arrested in connection with the incident. 
Confrontations between the police (Iowa Highway patrolmen, Iowa City police officers and Johnson County sheriff's deputies numbering about 200) and the young people occurred twice, about two hours apart. 
Between 750 and 1,000 persons massed in the busy highway intersection, which is near the U of I men's dormitory and was the scene of largescale violence exactly one year ago this week, following the protest march. 
The rest of the people left or stood by watching while police ordered the group to disperse. After some negotiations the police moved in and arrested those who refused to go. 
The crowd began to shrink in size but continued to circle through the campus and downtown areas, engaging in brief street intersection sit-ins. By about 12:30 a.m., Wednesday, a group of about 200 had walked back to the Burlington-Riverside intersection.

Plead Guilty
They left immediately after the fire was set in the camper. A short time later all was reported quiet in the city. 
Those pleading guilty to disorderly conduct charges in Police Court Wednesday were: Lawrence Wimmer, 21, Iowa City; John F. Ryan, 20, a U of I from Norristown, Pa; Ronald A. Rodgers, 20, Iowa City; William Grimmer, 19, freshman, Pleasant Valley; William A. Borland, 19, Iowa City and John M. Bjornstad, 19, freshman, Spencer. 
Pleading innocent to disorderly conduct charges were:
Charles Eastham, 21, law student, Borger, Tex; Robert T. Yeager, 21, senior, Charles City, two counts; Thomas L. Hennings, 27. Iowa City; Willard G. Eggers, 22, freshman, Iowa City; Richard McGlaughlin, 24, Muscatine; Stephen Beck, 20, Iowa City; Benjamin Clark, 19, North Liberty; Kenneth D. May, 20, Iowa City (also charged with obstructing an officer); Clarke F. Rieck, 19, Iowa City; Gail Rodgers, 19, Iowa City; Roger Day, 21, Davenport; Ellen Rieck, 22, Iowa Cityl and John E. Van Blairsome, 19, Fairfield.
Douglas D. Peterson, 21, a junior from Davenport, was charged with malicious injury to a building and transferred to the county jail under $10,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for May 16. 
Charged with arson and held under $10,000 bond in connection with the camper fire incident was Mark D. Peters, 20 of North Liberty. His preliminary hearing is also set for May 16. 
Efforts to raise bail money for those arrested were being made by volunteers at the Iowa Memorial Union and the Pentacrest Wednesday afternoon. 
Other protests scheduled here this week include an early morning vigil today to coincide with the activation of the mines in North Vietnamese harbors and proposed caravans to Des Moines and Washington D.C. to join other protesters. 

DMR May 11, 1972 p.3 (of 3)

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Iowa City police form a line on the Burlington Street Bridge as they prepare to move across the street to disperse protesters late Tuesday. A number of Iowa Highway patrolmen ing the street. A few of those arre dragged or carried away be mostly U of I students- turned their backs on two factions eliciting support. First, the "Jesus people" appeared, preaching about the teachings of Christ. Then the remnants of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) showed up, urging a picket at the U of I administration building to protest the war. Threw Rocks Finally, someone set up a makeshift loud speaker system at another corner of the Pentacrest giving other students a chance to speak. While the marchers trooped down a major downtown street, a couple of youths threw rocks at two store windows. Immediately, a chorus of "No, no violence !" rose from the crowd. The rock throwing immediately stopped. City and law enforcement officials Wednesday said that the bulk of the crowd was in a peaceful mood. And most everyone had nothing but praise for the restraint which police showed while handling the demonstrators during several tense situations. However, a few scattered incidents of violence marred the five hour demonstration. Two Iowa Highway Patrol officers - Gary Swanson of Sioux City and Kenneth Carter of Monticello - suffered minor injuries from rocks thrown at them. Camper Fire There were two reported instances of molotov cocktails thrown at buildings, but no damage was reported. Another fire was set in the Burlington Street- Riverside Drive intersection early Wednesday morning. That incident involved a small pickup camper which was removed from the bed of the vehicle and set ablaze. One person was arrested in connection with the incident. Confrontations between the police (Iowa Highway patrolmen, Iowa City police officers and Johnson County sheriff's deputies numbering about 200) and the young people occurred twice, about two hours apart. Between 750 and 1,000 persons massed in the busy highway intersection, which is near the U of I men's dormitory and was the scene of largescale violence exactly one year ago this week, following the protest march. The rest of the people left or stood by watching while police ordered the group to disperse. After some negotiations the police moved in and arrested those who refused to go. The crowd began to shrink in size but continued to circle through the campus and downtown areas, engaging in brief street intersection sit-ins. By about 12:30 a.m., Wednesday, a group of about 200 had walked back to the Burlington-Riverside intersection. Plead Guilty They left immediately after the fire was set in the camper. A short time later all was reported quiet in the city. Those pleading guilty to disorderly conduct charges in Police Court Wednesday were: Lawrence Wimmer, 21, Iowa City; John F. Ryan, 20, a U of I from Norristown, Pa; Ronald A. Rodgers, 20, Iowa City; William Grimmer, 19, freshman, Pleasant Valley; William A. Borland, 19, Iowa City and John M. Bjornstad, 19, freshman, Spencer. Pleading innocent to disorderly conduct charges were: Charles Eastham, 21, law student, Borger, Tex; Robert T. Yeager, 21, senior, Charles City, two counts; Thomas L. Hennings, 27. Iowa City; Willard G. Eggers, 22, freshman, Iowa City; Richard McGlaughlin, 24, Muscatine; Stephen Beck, 20, Iowa City; Benjamin Clark, 19, North Liberty; Kenneth D. May, 20, Iowa City (also charged with obstructing an officer); Clarke F. Rieck, 19, Iowa City; Gail Rodgers, 19, Iowa City; Roger Day, 21, Davenport; Ellen Rieck, 22, Iowa Cityl and John E. Van Blairsome, 19, Fairfield. Douglas D. Peterson, 21, a junior from Davenport, was charged with malicious injury to a building and transferred to the county jail under $10,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for May 16. Charged with arson and held under $10,000 bond in connection with the camper fire incident was Mark D. Peters, 20 of North Liberty. His preliminary hearing is also set for May 16. Efforts to raise bail money for those arrested were being made by volunteers at the Iowa Memorial Union and the Pentacrest Wednesday afternoon. Other protests scheduled here this week include an early morning vigil today to coincide with the activation of the mines in North Vietnamese harbors and proposed caravans to Des Moines and Washington D.C. to join other protesters. DMR May 11, 1972 p.3 (of 3)