05/10/1971 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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""IIIl e S90 5/10/71 I Ii 11 ~l :1 h " 1: ., I: ,I by Lane County Police. Manager said someone had been dispatched to find out details. 'I I' Ii I, II Several persons in the audience objected to the arrests on Thursday night' and asked what the Council was doing to assure that justice was done. In response to another charge of police brutality and request for a hearing board to be set by the Councio, Manager rei teratedhis willingness to receive' any complaints, whether written or in person, and to answer any charges against the Qty Police Department. Several in the audience requested commitments from Councilmen concerning withdrawal from Vietnam by December 31, 1971. Mayor Ander~on explained that this had been debated at the last Council meeting. Lance Sparks said he had been a teacher at the University of Or>egon for five years. He complained that citizens did not listen to students and that, as a result, demonstrations would become even less peaceful. e The students asked for individual responses from Councilmen regarding their feeling about complete withdrawal from the War. Councilman Mohr explained his support of the McGovern Hatfield resolution, and that he had expected the war to be ended long before this. He has been against the war for years. He would vote for the referendu~May 20. I Councilman McDonald said he voted against sending" the referendum to the people, but he had voted for the resolution calling for a deadline for complete withdrawal from Vietnam. Mr. McDonald left the meeting. Councilwoman Campbell said she had sent telegrams to John Dellenback and had written him many letters~ and would continue to write to remind him that she would like a personal reply. She outlined her reasons for sitting on the Council and asked for support for low income housing and other issues that would better the community. Councilman Hershner said two weeks ago he had been in favor of referring 'this matter to the people, and he hoped they would all get behind it and vote. He intended to vote in favor of the referendum. Councilman Gribskov said he regretted he had been out of town at tne time the Council considered this matter, but he would have voted in favor of placing the referendum on the ballot and that on May 20 he would vote in favor of the referendum. Councilman Williams said he was probably as dedicated to the cause of world peace as anybody, but that he was not satisfied that unilateral withdrawal from Vietnam and withdrawal of our support, including material and ar>ms, from governments in Vietnam, would be a contribution toward peace. I Mayor Anderson said that a year ago he had sto9d on the courthouse steps with a number of student leaders and had uttered the words: "This war must end now," and had gone on to explain his reasons for that statement. He has sat with Mayor's from the largest cities in the country to discuss this question. He felt this country would not get support as long as it continued this military venture. He had supported the Hatfield-McGovern amendment and had done all he possibly could to speed the end of the war. He woul~ certainly support rhe measure on the ballot in May. He felt the community had a fine university and that the students were citizens of the community. He and the Council will listen to them to the best of their ability. As far as the events of the past week, everyone was concerned, but they were not going to try to come up with easy answers. It was simply an unfor- tunate happenstance. Whenever there is a situation of civil disobedience it has to be treated with extreme skill and good leadership. Somewhere along the line this broke down, perhaps on both sides. He hoped that as those in the audience went back to the campus, they would go back peacefully. e City Manager gave questioners in the audience the information he had received about the arrests in the Courthouse parking lot. He said two juveniles were lodged at Skipworth and one adult was lodged at the jail. The charge was assault with a deadly weapon. He explained that interested persons could probably obtain further information at the Sheriff's d~partment. Upon motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned to May 24, 1971. I e 5/10/71 - 9 ....