DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1971-02-12 Daily Iowan Article: ""Protesters Raid ROTC; One Arrest"" Page 2

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971

1971-02-12 Daily Iowan Article: ""Protesters Raid ROTC; One Arrest"" Page 2

2(of 4)

ROTC; One Arrest
noticed by the intramural basketball teams that were playing throughout the Field House, but they left shattered windows and scattered furniture in their wake as they moved into the inner court of Quadrangle Dormitory. 
Taunted by calls from dormitory windows, the marchers calmly regrouped in the court. 
A war-painted figure produced an American flag which was burned as the whine of a fire alarm started in the dormitory itself.
Panic seized the group. The demonstrators ended their rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and fled in all directions. 
The false alarm resulted in the only arrest of the evening ---- a person unidentified at Daily Iowan press time. 
Dormitory residents filed out into the slush and mingled wight the marchers in the street between Rienow I and Quadrangle 
Another fire alarm could be heard from Hillcrest as fire trucks arrived at Quadrangle.
The alarms were quieted and a mass of about 60 chanting people moved across the Burlington St. bridge, followed by a few snowball-hurling dormitory residents. 
The marchers paraded back to the Union seeking more supporters, there trudged up the hill to the temporary building that houses University Campus Security.
Stopping at Campus Security only long enough to throw a few snowballs, the chanting mass then marched with arms linked to the Iowa City Post Office.
In drum major fashion, the shouting leader of the group led them around corners, stopping traffic at several intersections. 
a small fraction of the protestors moved into the Post Office in an attempt to storm the Johnson County Draft Office located on the second floor. 
Their path was blocked by a high wire fence on the steps. Before a battering ram could be found, the Iowa City Police arrived to close the building.
The dwindling group of marchers, followed by an expanding group of spectators, turned toward the Navy Recruiting Office at 221 S. Linn.
A firecracker exploded, breaking a small hole in the glass door of the recruiting office. The hole widened as chunks of ice were thrown against the glass. 
The milling group, now numbering less than 40, trudged its way back to the Pentacrest and the steps of Old Capitol. 
A short debate over the accomplishments of the evening ended as the straggling group adjourned to the Union for coffee.

[rest of what was started on previous page but not readable]
Bank of America Recruiting Effor--
dents Hit Bank's War Investment
   At the rally, participants gave reasons for their protest, noting that a recent issue of a banking magazine said the Bank of America "serves as the reserve bank in Vietnam where U.S. military funds are deposited."
   The bank has interlocking directorships with such corporations as Lockheed Aircraft, Kaiser Industries and other corporations which hold large defense contracts; it has branches in 48 countries, including South Vietnam and Thailand and has a "history of direct dealings with racist South Africa including extending credit to that government. . ." according to the speakers.
   "This whole idea that Vietnam is a mistake is crazy -- it's not a mistake. They're there to make money," said one speaker, referring to the U.S. government and business corporations.
   "Do a little research -- I think the whole base of the war is economic," (last line unreadable-see page 4]
ticipant since he doesn't have answers" to the protesters' questions.
   About 50 people sat just down the hall from the Placement Office while members of the university's Triangle Club weaved through the group on their way downstairs from lunch.
   In his discussion with the people, Hubbard assured them that no students had been expelled from the university because of their opposition to the war. He justified the existence of ROTC on campus by saying that "it's there because a couple hundred students want it."
   One person asked Hubbard for $40,000 (the cost of the university's maintenance of ROTC, he said) to establish a "People's Liberation Army to train people for a revolution in this country."
   When Hubbard mentioned considerable outside support for ROTC's existence, one protester countered wiht "Attila the Hun had a lot of friends too. . ."
   Until about 2 p.m., the protesters discussed the problems of layoffs of campus workers and to effectively build a mass anti-imperialism movement. As most of the group dwindled away, several students moved downstairs to the Activities Center, where they discussed plans for an anti-ROTC rally Thursday night.

[partial photo]

Saving...

2(of 4) ROTC; One Arrest noticed by the intramural basketball teams that were playing throughout the Field House, but they left shattered windows and scattered furniture in their wake as they moved into the inner court of Quadrangle Dormitory. Taunted by calls from dormitory windows, the marchers calmly regrouped in the court. A war-painted figure produced an American flag which was burned as the whine of a fire alarm started in the dormitory itself. Panic seized the group. The demonstrators ended their rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and fled in all directions. The false alarm resulted in the only arrest of the evening ---- a person unidentified at Daily Iowan press time. Dormitory residents filed out into the slush and mingled wight the marchers in the street between Rienow I and Quadrangle Another fire alarm could be heard from Hillcrest as fire trucks arrived at Quadrangle. The alarms were quieted and a mass of about 60 chanting people moved across the Burlington St. bridge, followed by a few snowball-hurling dormitory residents. The marchers paraded back to the Union seeking more supporters, there trudged up the hill to the temporary building that houses University Campus Security. Stopping at Campus Security only long enough to throw a few snowballs, the chanting mass then marched with arms linked to the Iowa City Post Office. In drum major fashion, the shouting leader of the group led them around corners, stopping traffic at several intersections. a small fraction of the protestors moved into the Post Office in an attempt to storm the Johnson County Draft Office located on the second floor. Their path was blocked by a high wire fence on the steps. Before a battering ram could be found, the Iowa City Police arrived to close the building. The dwindling group of marchers, followed by an expanding group of spectators, turned toward the Navy Recruiting Office at 221 S. Linn. A firecracker exploded, breaking a small hole in the glass door of the recruiting office. The hole widened as chunks of ice were thrown against the glass. The milling group, now numbering less than 40, trudged its way back to the Pentacrest and the steps of Old Capitol. A short debate over the accomplishments of the evening ended as the straggling group adjourned to the Union for coffee. [rest of what was started on previous page but not readable] Bank of America Recruiting Effor-- dents Hit Bank's War Investment At the rally, participants gave reasons for their protest, noting that a recent issue of a banking magazine said the Bank of America "serves as the reserve bank in Vietnam where U.S. military funds are deposited." The bank has interlocking directorships with such corporations as Lockheed Aircraft, Kaiser Industries and other corporations which hold large defense contracts; it has branches in 48 countries, including South Vietnam and Thailand and has a "history of direct dealings with racist South Africa including extending credit to that government. . ." according to the speakers. "This whole idea that Vietnam is a mistake is crazy -- it's not a mistake. They're there to make money," said one speaker, referring to the U.S. government and business corporations. "Do a little research -- I think the whole base of the war is economic," (last line unreadable-see page 4] ticipant since he doesn't have answers" to the protesters' questions. About 50 people sat just down the hall from the Placement Office while members of the university's Triangle Club weaved through the group on their way downstairs from lunch. In his discussion with the people, Hubbard assured them that no students had been expelled from the university because of their opposition to the war. He justified the existence of ROTC on campus by saying that "it's there because a couple hundred students want it." One person asked Hubbard for $40,000 (the cost of the university's maintenance of ROTC, he said) to establish a "People's Liberation Army to train people for a revolution in this country." When Hubbard mentioned considerable outside support for ROTC's existence, one protester countered wiht "Attila the Hun had a lot of friends too. . ." Until about 2 p.m., the protesters discussed the problems of layoffs of campus workers and to effectively build a mass anti-imperialism movement. As most of the group dwindled away, several students moved downstairs to the Activities Center, where they discussed plans for an anti-ROTC rally Thursday night. [partial photo]