DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1994-11-10 Daily Iowan Article: ""Clashes recalled in Vietnam retrospect""

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

1994-11-10 Daily Iowan Article: ""Clashes recalled in Vietnam retrospect""

11/10/94

PANEL DISCUSSION HELD

Clashes recalled in Vietnam retrospect
Karl Hejlik
The Daily Iowan 

Broken windows, injured police officers and lawbreaking protesters were among the remembrances of Iowa City during the anti-Vietnam war protests shared in a panel discussion Wednesday night at the Union. 
A group of eight panelists, ranging from a former UI student and a Vietnam war protester to former law enforcement officials and UI faculty, discussed issues faced by the Iowa City community and the UI during the war. About 60 people attended the discussion. 
Speakers focused heavily on the conflict between factions such as protesters, UI administrators and police. 
"It was a time of enormous polarization of rage," said Ron Osborne, a former UI campus minister. "It was like a war."
The actions of law enforcement were called into question by some panelists. 
"Police beat protesters and arrested indiscriminately," said Mori Costantino, former president of the Iowa City chapter of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. "Clearly the police had no understanding of the citizen's right to protest or the press's right to be there." 
Costantino's comments drew noises of both agreement and disagreement from the audience and a response from the law enforcement panelists. 
"For us it was a job," said Jon Wilson, a major from the Iowa Highway Patrol who was stationed in Iowa City during the protests. "We did the best we could. When someone breaks the law, they are arrested. That's our job."
In his closing comments, David Grant, mediator of the panel and former UI student protester, said the conflict was more complicated than police vs. protesters. 
"It's been brooded that it was an 'us vs. them mentality,' but there were many different sides," he said. 
"There were heroes on all sides. It's difficult to paint a black-and-white picture."
Other speakers focused on the time period's impact on their personal lives. 
"Before that period, being a citizen meant getting up in the morning and voting Democratic every few years." said James McCue, UI professor of religion. "Starting with the civil rights movement and continuing through the Vietnam protests. I found myself challenged in a way that I never had been before. It forced on me a broader notion of responsibility to act publicly to change the world."
Dan Clark, a former UI student who made a special trip from Chicago to attend the discussion as an audience member, said his experiences during that time have influenced most of his career choices. 
"I've had a number of jobs in what I call the 'peace industry' he said. "I started my own independent consulting firm in international relations. I endeavor to put all militaries - ours and other countries - out of business. "
The discussion was sponsored by the UI Global Studies Program and the Iowa City Public Library.

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11/10/94 PANEL DISCUSSION HELD Clashes recalled in Vietnam retrospect Karl Hejlik The Daily Iowan Broken windows, injured police officers and lawbreaking protesters were among the remembrances of Iowa City during the anti-Vietnam war protests shared in a panel discussion Wednesday night at the Union. A group of eight panelists, ranging from a former UI student and a Vietnam war protester to former law enforcement officials and UI faculty, discussed issues faced by the Iowa City community and the UI during the war. About 60 people attended the discussion. Speakers focused heavily on the conflict between factions such as protesters, UI administrators and police. "It was a time of enormous polarization of rage," said Ron Osborne, a former UI campus minister. "It was like a war." The actions of law enforcement were called into question by some panelists. "Police beat protesters and arrested indiscriminately," said Mori Costantino, former president of the Iowa City chapter of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. "Clearly the police had no understanding of the citizen's right to protest or the press's right to be there." Costantino's comments drew noises of both agreement and disagreement from the audience and a response from the law enforcement panelists. "For us it was a job," said Jon Wilson, a major from the Iowa Highway Patrol who was stationed in Iowa City during the protests. "We did the best we could. When someone breaks the law, they are arrested. That's our job." In his closing comments, David Grant, mediator of the panel and former UI student protester, said the conflict was more complicated than police vs. protesters. "It's been brooded that it was an 'us vs. them mentality,' but there were many different sides," he said. "There were heroes on all sides. It's difficult to paint a black-and-white picture." Other speakers focused on the time period's impact on their personal lives. "Before that period, being a citizen meant getting up in the morning and voting Democratic every few years." said James McCue, UI professor of religion. "Starting with the civil rights movement and continuing through the Vietnam protests. I found myself challenged in a way that I never had been before. It forced on me a broader notion of responsibility to act publicly to change the world." Dan Clark, a former UI student who made a special trip from Chicago to attend the discussion as an audience member, said his experiences during that time have influenced most of his career choices. "I've had a number of jobs in what I call the 'peace industry' he said. "I started my own independent consulting firm in international relations. I endeavor to put all militaries - ours and other countries - out of business. " The discussion was sponsored by the UI Global Studies Program and the Iowa City Public Library.