DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1972-05-13 Iowa City Press-Citizen Photo: ""New Highway Patrol Tactic Foils Friday Night Protest"" Page 2

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-13 Iowa City Press-Citizen Photo: ""New Highway Patrol Tactic Foils Friday Night Protest"" Page 2

A planned disturbance was cut short and seven people were arrested Friday night as helmeted highway patrol officers dispersed a crowd of about (200) protesters shortly after they formed on the Pentacrest. 
The protesters were dispersed about 9:20 p.m. after they were caught between two contingents of patrol officers on the west side of the Pentacrest. The group had planned to march to the men's dormitory across the Iowa River to recruit additional protesters. 
But as the group came off North Capitol Street onto Jefferson Street, about 50 patrolmen formed a line across the Jefferson and North Madison streets intersection. In a vain attempt to outmaneuver police, the demonstrators began running across the Pentacrest. The patrol immediately spread out across the west edge of the Pentacrest and rushed the protesters. 
Another patrol contingent behind the protesters on North Capitol Street closed a second side around the protesters. This group of officers came on the campus about 8:30 p.m. before the agitators actually formed. 
When the crowd began moving to the women's dorms to recruit additional people, 40 patrol officers marched behind the crowd. 
The sight of the gold helmeted patrolmen marching four abreast right behind the about 100 protesters led one observer to say: 
"If we had a band, this would be a parade." 
The patrol, moving right behind the crowd, also discouraged about half the people on the Pentacrest from following the crowd. About another 100 people though, followed the protesters and patrol on sidewalks. 
The crowd turned west off Clinton Street onto Bloomington Street and then turned south on Capitol Street. When the crowd reached the Pentacrest, the patrol moved in. The officers showed a lack of tolerance toward the protesters which was evident in earlier disturbances.
"Where's that commie?" one officer asked after one youth gave an officer some back talk after being told to move along. 
"Let me see your ID," the officer added. 
"Pick on a girl," another youth shouted. 
"Get him," a patrolman shouted. "Check his ID."
The clearing of the Pentacrest occurred in a strange mixture of some patrolmen rushing youths off the campus with others slowly pushing people along with night sticks. 
Once off the Pentacrest, about 100 people regrouped on the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets. Several protesters started to move the group north on Clinton Street about 9:30 p.m. to go to the men's dorms. 
But patrolmen quickly divided into squads and began breaking up any small groups of people on the downtown sidewalks. Another bus load of patrolmen were moved to the Burlington Street Bridge to keep agitators from crossing the river. Several protesters reached the bridge but were scattered. One youth jumped into the river to escape arrest. 
Patrolmen continued to clear sidewalks at intervals during the remainder of the evening. During a sweep, patrolmen would make everybody on the sidewalk move on, or cross the street. This kept large groups from forming until about midnight, when rain began. 
About 40 patrolmen also stayed on the Burlington Street Bridge until midnight. 
Friday night's activities reflected a change in highway patrol tactics. Unlike before, officers did not mingle with students on the campus before the scheduled protest. The only officers on the campus were University of Iowa campus security people. 
The security officers foreshadowed tougher police tactics when they told people in groups of five or more to move on. A group of six reporters were told to disperse into two groups of three. 
Although few people really obeyed the orders, their token dispersal gestures kept a large group from forming quickly. 
When the riot equipped patrolmen arrived on the Pentacrest and marched in front of Old Capitol, the protesters started to form into one large group of about 200 people. Several people played guitars and sang before someone yelled. "Let's go to the interstate." 
Protesters had planned another attempt to blockade I-80 Friday night. 
Another rally has been called for noon today on the Pentacrest.

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A planned disturbance was cut short and seven people were arrested Friday night as helmeted highway patrol officers dispersed a crowd of about (200) protesters shortly after they formed on the Pentacrest. The protesters were dispersed about 9:20 p.m. after they were caught between two contingents of patrol officers on the west side of the Pentacrest. The group had planned to march to the men's dormitory across the Iowa River to recruit additional protesters. But as the group came off North Capitol Street onto Jefferson Street, about 50 patrolmen formed a line across the Jefferson and North Madison streets intersection. In a vain attempt to outmaneuver police, the demonstrators began running across the Pentacrest. The patrol immediately spread out across the west edge of the Pentacrest and rushed the protesters. Another patrol contingent behind the protesters on North Capitol Street closed a second side around the protesters. This group of officers came on the campus about 8:30 p.m. before the agitators actually formed. When the crowd began moving to the women's dorms to recruit additional people, 40 patrol officers marched behind the crowd. The sight of the gold helmeted patrolmen marching four abreast right behind the about 100 protesters led one observer to say: "If we had a band, this would be a parade." The patrol, moving right behind the crowd, also discouraged about half the people on the Pentacrest from following the crowd. About another 100 people though, followed the protesters and patrol on sidewalks. The crowd turned west off Clinton Street onto Bloomington Street and then turned south on Capitol Street. When the crowd reached the Pentacrest, the patrol moved in. The officers showed a lack of tolerance toward the protesters which was evident in earlier disturbances. "Where's that commie?" one officer asked after one youth gave an officer some back talk after being told to move along. "Let me see your ID," the officer added. "Pick on a girl," another youth shouted. "Get him," a patrolman shouted. "Check his ID." The clearing of the Pentacrest occurred in a strange mixture of some patrolmen rushing youths off the campus with others slowly pushing people along with night sticks. Once off the Pentacrest, about 100 people regrouped on the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets. Several protesters started to move the group north on Clinton Street about 9:30 p.m. to go to the men's dorms. But patrolmen quickly divided into squads and began breaking up any small groups of people on the downtown sidewalks. Another bus load of patrolmen were moved to the Burlington Street Bridge to keep agitators from crossing the river. Several protesters reached the bridge but were scattered. One youth jumped into the river to escape arrest. Patrolmen continued to clear sidewalks at intervals during the remainder of the evening. During a sweep, patrolmen would make everybody on the sidewalk move on, or cross the street. This kept large groups from forming until about midnight, when rain began. About 40 patrolmen also stayed on the Burlington Street Bridge until midnight. Friday night's activities reflected a change in highway patrol tactics. Unlike before, officers did not mingle with students on the campus before the scheduled protest. The only officers on the campus were University of Iowa campus security people. The security officers foreshadowed tougher police tactics when they told people in groups of five or more to move on. A group of six reporters were told to disperse into two groups of three. Although few people really obeyed the orders, their token dispersal gestures kept a large group from forming quickly. When the riot equipped patrolmen arrived on the Pentacrest and marched in front of Old Capitol, the protesters started to form into one large group of about 200 people. Several people played guitars and sang before someone yelled. "Let's go to the interstate." Protesters had planned another attempt to blockade I-80 Friday night. Another rally has been called for noon today on the Pentacrest.