DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1971-03-05 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Charges 'Contemplated' After Anti-ROTC Protest""

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

1971-03-05 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Charges 'Contemplated' After Anti-ROTC Protest""

P-C 3/5/71

Charges 'Contemplated' After Anti-ROTC Protest

University of Iowa officials are contemplating charges against participants in a protest Thursday that developed into a brief shoving match between students and campus security officers. 
"I foresee charges being filed assuming the witnesses will stand up and the evidence stands up," said Capt. William Binney, director of the UI Campus security force. 
Blinney said his men also are trying to "track down" the driver of a red Mustang which roared through a small crowd of demonstrators nearly striking several of them. 
The protest - aimed at Reserved Officers Training Corps programs on the UI campus - began Thursday afternoon witha  march from the Pentacrest to the Recreation Building where ROTC activities had been scheduled. 
The approximately 50 marchers joined with a smaller number of students already inside the Recreation Building around 4 p.m. to await an ROTC awards ceremony scheduled at 6:30 p.m.
However, the facility was closed at 6 p.m., forcing the protesters outside where they sighted an Army ROTC drill squad marching toward the Recreation Building. Several of the students then paraded through the ROTC ranks, temporarily disrupting the march. 
Campus Security Lt. Kenneth Saylor apprehended and handcuffed a young woman who had become involved in a shoving match with the cadets. Another protester attempted to free her and also was detained. 
But before Saylor and the rest of the campus security force could remove the pair, about 40 of the protesters jammed around them chanting, "All or none."
The two were released without being arrested following a brief conference between Saylor, Binney and UI officials on the scene. 
The small crowd shouted angrily at officers minutes later when an unidentified person drove his car rapidly down the street adjacent to the protest scene. 
Several of the demonstrators claimed ROTC cadets had swung their rifle butts at them, striking one man on the forearm and another in the face. Two of the demonstrators said they were thrown to the floor when they attempted to enter the Recreation Building after 6 p.m.
Binney said he saw no rifle butts being swing but did say two students were denied entrance to the building when it was closed prior to the awards ceremony. 
Charges will be filed against one student who, he said, tried to knock down a campus security officer. Students on the scene said Sgt. Donald Wilson attempted to apprehend one of the protesters but was cracked on the head with a book. 
The protest - sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society in conjunction with several other anti-war groups - was held on the first anniversary of the burning of an ROTC building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 
SDS members have charged the university with "complicity" with the war effort by harboring ROTC on campus, conducting war research and permitting military recruiters to interview students. 
The presence of ROTC on campus has been a heated topic at the university since last May when the UI Faculty Senate voted to remove the programs. The State Board of Regents later did not accept the Senate's recommendation. 
The anti-military drive culminated Dec. 9 in a sit-in outside the UI placement office that forced a recruiter from the Defense Intelligence Agency to cancel interviews and return to the Pentagon. 
A number of students were charged in connection with the incident. A recommendation on a verdict is expected to be filed by hearing officer. Theodore Garfield in the near future following a hearing last month. 
The movement against ROTC reached a peak Feb. 11 when protesters raided Army ROTC headquarters at the Fieldhouse and smashed windows at a number of local military establishments. Three persons have been charged in connection with the raid and the burning of an American flag. 
Binney said this morning that officials may file further charges over the DIA sit-in and raid.

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P-C 3/5/71 Charges 'Contemplated' After Anti-ROTC Protest University of Iowa officials are contemplating charges against participants in a protest Thursday that developed into a brief shoving match between students and campus security officers. "I foresee charges being filed assuming the witnesses will stand up and the evidence stands up," said Capt. William Binney, director of the UI Campus security force. Blinney said his men also are trying to "track down" the driver of a red Mustang which roared through a small crowd of demonstrators nearly striking several of them. The protest - aimed at Reserved Officers Training Corps programs on the UI campus - began Thursday afternoon witha march from the Pentacrest to the Recreation Building where ROTC activities had been scheduled. The approximately 50 marchers joined with a smaller number of students already inside the Recreation Building around 4 p.m. to await an ROTC awards ceremony scheduled at 6:30 p.m. However, the facility was closed at 6 p.m., forcing the protesters outside where they sighted an Army ROTC drill squad marching toward the Recreation Building. Several of the students then paraded through the ROTC ranks, temporarily disrupting the march. Campus Security Lt. Kenneth Saylor apprehended and handcuffed a young woman who had become involved in a shoving match with the cadets. Another protester attempted to free her and also was detained. But before Saylor and the rest of the campus security force could remove the pair, about 40 of the protesters jammed around them chanting, "All or none." The two were released without being arrested following a brief conference between Saylor, Binney and UI officials on the scene. The small crowd shouted angrily at officers minutes later when an unidentified person drove his car rapidly down the street adjacent to the protest scene. Several of the demonstrators claimed ROTC cadets had swung their rifle butts at them, striking one man on the forearm and another in the face. Two of the demonstrators said they were thrown to the floor when they attempted to enter the Recreation Building after 6 p.m. Binney said he saw no rifle butts being swing but did say two students were denied entrance to the building when it was closed prior to the awards ceremony. Charges will be filed against one student who, he said, tried to knock down a campus security officer. Students on the scene said Sgt. Donald Wilson attempted to apprehend one of the protesters but was cracked on the head with a book. The protest - sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society in conjunction with several other anti-war groups - was held on the first anniversary of the burning of an ROTC building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. SDS members have charged the university with "complicity" with the war effort by harboring ROTC on campus, conducting war research and permitting military recruiters to interview students. The presence of ROTC on campus has been a heated topic at the university since last May when the UI Faculty Senate voted to remove the programs. The State Board of Regents later did not accept the Senate's recommendation. The anti-military drive culminated Dec. 9 in a sit-in outside the UI placement office that forced a recruiter from the Defense Intelligence Agency to cancel interviews and return to the Pentagon. A number of students were charged in connection with the incident. A recommendation on a verdict is expected to be filed by hearing officer. Theodore Garfield in the near future following a hearing last month. The movement against ROTC reached a peak Feb. 11 when protesters raided Army ROTC headquarters at the Fieldhouse and smashed windows at a number of local military establishments. Three persons have been charged in connection with the raid and the burning of an American flag. Binney said this morning that officials may file further charges over the DIA sit-in and raid.