DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1972-05-12 Des Moines Register Article: ""U of I Rally Broken Up By Police""

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-12 Des Moines Register Article: ""U of I Rally Broken Up By Police""

Iowa City, IA - Law officers used "pepper smoke" Thursday night to break up a march by about 400 protesting young people apparently intent on blocking traffic on busy interstate 80 north of here.
A contingent of Iowa Highway Patrolmen, sheriff's deputies and city police dispersed the procession at the Park Road bridge about one mile south of the four-lane interstate highway shortly before 10 pm. 
The "pepper smoke" used by the officers is a mildly irritating smoke sprayed from a fogging machine which does not have as strong an effect as tear gas.
The march had started an hour earlier at the Pentacrest on the central campus of the University of Iowa and wound its way past the men's dormitories on the west side of the Iowa River, back through downtown Iowa City and eastward to the womens dormitories.
At the Old Capitol Building, one student mounted the steps of the building and shouted "If Nixon can blockade for war, we can blockade for peace".
Then the group marched north along Clinton Street to the President's Mansion shouting for an appearance by the U of I President Dr. Willard Boyd. They abandoned this when some students in the procession pointed out that the President Boyd does not live in the mansion but resides in another section of Iowa City.
After a few minutes in front of the mansion, the crowd moved north again along Dubuque Street toward the interstate before running into the police lines. 
Some students meanwhile were busy organizing a "Caravan for Peace" from Iowa city to Washington D.C, to join in a massive antiwar protest in the nations capitol May 20. 
A number of student leaders are working to raise funds to charter buses which will leave here May 18 in time to join the Washington rally.
Kristine S. Theiker, a member of the five person student body group called The Cooperative, said that students interested in joining the "Caravan for Peace" should get in touch with the U of I student senate office in Iowa Memorial Union.
Since the scheduled Washington rally falls in the middle of final examinations at the university, U of I president urged students to make arrangements in advance before heading eastward. 
"I can readily understand the desire to speak personally to one's representatives in the congress on an issue as pressing and as frustrating as this nation's military posture in Vietnam" Boyd said. 
"It is important however for the benefit of all students that we adhere to the published calendar for the remainder of the academic year, including the final examinations schedule, and this the university will do", he added.
Some student leaders had hoped that Boyd would postpone final exams at least for those who went to Washington. Instead, Boyd said those students who do elect to leave should consult with their college offices to determine the feasibility of taking "incomplete" grades or make up examinations. 
Earlier Thursday, about 180 students and community residents stood in silent vigil in from of the U.S. Post Office here at 6 a.m.- the announced time that the mines in North Vietnamese ports were to be activated by the U.S. military.
After the two-hour vigil many local persons joined a 25 car caravan to Des Moines to attend a peace rally at the Federal Building.

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Iowa City, IA - Law officers used "pepper smoke" Thursday night to break up a march by about 400 protesting young people apparently intent on blocking traffic on busy interstate 80 north of here. A contingent of Iowa Highway Patrolmen, sheriff's deputies and city police dispersed the procession at the Park Road bridge about one mile south of the four-lane interstate highway shortly before 10 pm. The "pepper smoke" used by the officers is a mildly irritating smoke sprayed from a fogging machine which does not have as strong an effect as tear gas. The march had started an hour earlier at the Pentacrest on the central campus of the University of Iowa and wound its way past the men's dormitories on the west side of the Iowa River, back through downtown Iowa City and eastward to the womens dormitories. At the Old Capitol Building, one student mounted the steps of the building and shouted "If Nixon can blockade for war, we can blockade for peace". Then the group marched north along Clinton Street to the President's Mansion shouting for an appearance by the U of I President Dr. Willard Boyd. They abandoned this when some students in the procession pointed out that the President Boyd does not live in the mansion but resides in another section of Iowa City. After a few minutes in front of the mansion, the crowd moved north again along Dubuque Street toward the interstate before running into the police lines. Some students meanwhile were busy organizing a "Caravan for Peace" from Iowa city to Washington D.C, to join in a massive antiwar protest in the nations capitol May 20. A number of student leaders are working to raise funds to charter buses which will leave here May 18 in time to join the Washington rally. Kristine S. Theiker, a member of the five person student body group called The Cooperative, said that students interested in joining the "Caravan for Peace" should get in touch with the U of I student senate office in Iowa Memorial Union. Since the scheduled Washington rally falls in the middle of final examinations at the university, U of I president urged students to make arrangements in advance before heading eastward. "I can readily understand the desire to speak personally to one's representatives in the congress on an issue as pressing and as frustrating as this nation's military posture in Vietnam" Boyd said. "It is important however for the benefit of all students that we adhere to the published calendar for the remainder of the academic year, including the final examinations schedule, and this the university will do", he added. Some student leaders had hoped that Boyd would postpone final exams at least for those who went to Washington. Instead, Boyd said those students who do elect to leave should consult with their college offices to determine the feasibility of taking "incomplete" grades or make up examinations. Earlier Thursday, about 180 students and community residents stood in silent vigil in from of the U.S. Post Office here at 6 a.m.- the announced time that the mines in North Vietnamese ports were to be activated by the U.S. military. After the two-hour vigil many local persons joined a 25 car caravan to Des Moines to attend a peace rally at the Federal Building.