Advertisement

Police Raid Sit-In at Dawn; 250 Arrested, Dozens Injured

Pusey Says Decision Reached at 10 p.m.

Police slowly cleared students from the rest of the yard. At 6 a.m., the State Police marched back to their buses and left.

During the raid, a number of the surburban police wore no badges. A Somerville police officer said that his men had been instructed to remove their badges during the period of the raid.

Robert Tonis, Chief of the University Police, circulated through the crowd of students apologizing for the police action and urging students not to try to confront the police.

"As far as University Police are concerned, we didn't want to do anything about it," Tonis said. "But they're way over our heads now."

While only suburban police remained in the building, Edward T. Wilcox secretary to the Gen Ed Committee, walked through University Hall. He said afterwards that "It was pretty messy, but there was no vandalism."

Advertisement

Bernard G. Bradley, a Massachusetts public defender, about five assistants, and about fifteen law students are defending the students who were arrested. About 200 demonstrators are being arraigned at the Third District Court of Middlesex County, and another 100 at the Superior Court across the street.

Almost all those arrested are being held on charges of criminal trespass, which carries a maximum fine of $25 and no imprisonment. Several demonstrators are being charged with assault and battery for reportedly injuring police. One student is charged with larceny of person. Witnesses said he had reached across police lines to retrieve his glasses when he was arrested.

Bradley is urging them all to plead not guilty, but some may plead nolo contendere if they want quick final action. They are all being arraigned as indigents to speed up the process.

Bradley said he is pressing for a two to three week continuance. He said he expected Harvard students to be released on their own recognizance. Demonstrators are being booked; then they will be interviewed by a probation officer who will check files for past criminal records; then papers will be typed up and arraignment will take place. Trial date, bond, and plea will be recorded at that time. The process will take several hours.

Between 5:30 and 7:45, nothing was done for the injured students who had been arrested. At 7:45, 15 were taken to hospitals on the urging of Charles R. Nesson, assistant professor of Law, who reportedly pleaded with authorities to do something for them.

At the University Health Service's emergency ward, 17 students sat for almost half an hour before receiving treatment from hospital officials. By 6:30 a.m., about 25 students had come to the emergency room, and most of them had been attended to.

The majority of injuries were scalp wounds and facial cuts and bruises. One Harvard student said he was maced in the face, but he left to find treatment elsewhere. Another Harvard student had a possible broken nose, and a girl from Brandeis was driven to Stillman with a possible broken leg.

None of the injured has as yet been admitted to Stillman Infirmary. At 6:30 three nurses, one doctor and a hospital attendant were on duty.

Over 700 students gathered on and in front of the steps of Widener Hall between 6 a.m. and 6:15 to discuss a possible student strike.

TODAY'S AGENDA:

10 a.m. -- HUC-SFAC-HRPC convocation in the Yard to discuss possible reactions to this mornings events.

10 a.m. -- SDS rally on the steps of Memorial Church. Students will march directly from the rally to the convocation in Memorial Hall.

11 a.m. -- Law School students will meet on the middle steps of Langdell Hall to consider the effects of the College demonstration on the Law School situation.

3 p.m. -- Divinity School students will meet in the Brown room at Andover Hall to consider resolution calling for closing classes until the protest is resolved.

Advertisement