most depressing thing is that all this blood and disillusion constructive policy has ged. i the plus side, there was the endously pro-demonstrator ren of the media to Mayor y's Gestapo — and these words i from Nazi Germany are not reaction but were seriously ed by Pressmen and delegates because of the unparalleled lity, at least in front of the and TV cameras, used by e on protestors and reporters, because police-state sphere of the city itself. Security lutions bordered on the inble. There were more than • police, National Guardsmen, soldiers available. and hitheatre, as an NBC commenput it, was shrouded by boards rigged and everyone knew it, what tion. A policeman will no longer be doubtedly this will involve violence, treatment for tear gas. Troops with kind of choice was there. Even the thought of as the kindly officer who but if there is something more than fixed bayonets and rifles cocked, gesture of Allard Lowenstein, the man held responsible for McCarthy's gives directions, any more than the City Council can be thought of as rhetoric to fight for, if there is a chance of success, if it is clear that merciless, parently random baton charges — unprovoked, and apentrance into the campaign and having any credibility when it talks this action will have a meaningful these are becoming common represwidely regarded as a CIA fink, who of making the streets safe for effect, violence is easier to take, and sive tactics to use against demontried to redeem himself by an democracy. This change is by no faith has more meaning. strators. The reaction, too, attempt to adjourn the Convention means insignificant, but by leading common: by the demonstrators, who while police were beating up pro- people time and again to have their The "confrontation" was planned attack as best they are able with testers in the streets was totally heads broken, any movement which before Johnson retired from the rocks and bottles, by the police, who without effect. At least the liberals cannot offer more than a gesture race. After he made his speech on fully live up to the now universal intent on working with the system will wind up with its ranks filled March 31st, a big meeting of the American epithet of "pigs", and by proved what socialists have always only by those who have had their groups concerned, which included the administration, who praise the held: that they are not only power- canca ninhho Art of them, and Dellingor's Mobili. police for their restraint. What was less but dangerous because of the forces who had taken uncommon about Chicago was the false promises they offer. Few The National Mobilization Com- overall responsibility for the Penta- reaction of delegates: there has believe that McCarthy would be less mittee bears most of the blame for gon demonstration, and other New never been such an endorsement of of a hvocrite inside the White this situation. While they are con- Left groups, decided not to go the demonstrators in the streets and House than out, but when it comes gratulating themselves on their ahead, But three men Rennie such an attack on the city administo pinning faith on a Lowenstein or. legitimate successes — that the City Davis, Tom Hayden, Dave tration by a series of major political sad to say, a Julian Bond, the black overreacted to such an extent, that Dellinger decided a confrontation figures as occurred before and after leader of the Georgia challenging it was expensively tied up for a should take place. Their somewhat the nomination. That some delegates promise of the Credentials Com- that the coverage was so great-they delegation which accented the com- time, that delegates sided with them. arbitrary groups from taking part, notably action deterred manT sheets may be unprecedented, but joined the demonstrators in the Ho Thien of the Fourth Plains Unit wrote this down sixty days after New Year, After hearing the story from a woman of Dalat, on the High Plateau.
He was twelve years old, and I do not know his name.
The mercenaries took him and his father, whose name I do not know, one morning upon the High Plateau.
Green Beret looked down on the frail boy with the eyes of a hurt animal and thought, good fright will make him talk. TENANTS DEMONSTRA Meet WEST SMITHFIELD ner Giltspur Street Lane. E0.1 (nearest Aidersgate), at 2.45 p.m, 3 off at about 3.30 p.m. to TRAFALGAR SOUARI
the House than There Were than to pinning faith police, National Guardsmen, sad to say, i Dell oldiers avallable the leader of the Georgia challenging up for a should take place theatre, as an NBC commen- delegation which accepted the com- time, that delegates sided with them, arbitrary at it, was shrouded by boards promise of the Credentials Com that the coverage was so great-they groups from taking notablyi mittee when it was passed by the carry a heavy responsibility for all SDS: had already legates seeing the ghettoes, Humphrey forces, then we know that happened. Confrontation is a said they weren't joining in. This ped with barbed wire to stop times are not a'changing. perfectly legitimate and indeed fragmentation goes far towards exho lived behind those boards necessary action. But leading people plaining the great disparity between i tried to climb the wire, but etting at the delegates. No events of this week were hopefully "A new polarisation" was how the without strategy, any form of protection or retaliation coordination, or Ine varied numbers between prophesied, 100,000 and which als of American democracy described by the previously apoli- to certain slaughter is unforgiveable. million, and those who showed up. "ding on its barbs." To get tical. The Democratic Party tore The National Mobilization say that about 5,000. Nevertheless, considerle Amphitheatre f passes, gaily colour-coded. required itself publicly apart in Humphrey's own camp, regards - no one, even everyone was free to do thinking. that by forcing their own Mayor ing that the gence forces knew all this, government's intelli- their had to stuck into a him as capable of winning against Daley to reveal the true nature of hysterical reaction → the troops, e permitting entrance only if Nixon in November • and ideas his system they have had a dramatic police, and literally countless FBI light flashed. One security about a new, radical party were propagandising effect. But not only men, who were often seen indulging ard would give a green light. amonstrated how an ordinary once That in full view of the nation more being bandied a hout are they so bereft of ideas down and singing. "God Bless -sitting as beating men held down by police in the most blatant savagery, such ticket machines were only "democracy" revealed itself to mean America" in front of the police was over the face and head with revolvers it. The delegates were herded a closed and blatantly repressive one of them-that nobody, suppos- -was surprising. ep. No one was allowed to Convention and the cracking of ing he were "radicalised", could rom one level of the hall to heads in the streets is supposed by look to them for guidance: they are About the brutality: it proves how and security guards roamed many liberals to have a radicalising fatally hung-up on the power of dangerous it is to be deceived into ere making spot-checks: one effect, But considering the inefficacy faith. In common with many non- believing that the police are reI by a policeman when he from Now York we C of those who organised this so-called confrontation, I see no way in which violent movements they sacrifice, not directly to change a rely on srained in front of the Press and TV cameras. I have never before to submit to yet another this radicalisation can materialise in situation, but to build a faith that seen a uniformed policeman ride ion, an incident that brought effective political terms. Moreover I will in some mystical way erode it. his official motorcycle deliberately, cops onto the floor, do not believe that radicalisation This faith is worthless unless it is repeatedly, and at speed into a precedented in Convention grows from the end of a policeman's allied, not necessarily to a pro- crowd with no escape route, even what was going on inside was irrelevant to political truncheon. It is frightening, sicken- ing, horrifying, and a great surprise that are realistic-those that involve gramme, but to political objectives pursuing them subway. down a pedestrian to many people, but by itself all that the occupation liberation, or de- Europe, but not MACE, or chlorinThe deals and the rhetoric empty challenges were all it achieves, this fascistic aspects of the system, is an revelation struction, adjunct of the system in such a of some institutional ated pain, nausea, temporary blindness, gasses which cause extreme force. When the whole the may be umprecedented, but boing English I remember the bers of Members of Parliament who joined the Aldermaston marches and who are as silent as nuns on dis armament, dissent, policy.
The escalation of atrocity remains of minimal political importance unless it allows the participants to engage in something more constructive, as the events in Berkeley's Telegraph Avenue, or the campuses of Columbia, Nanterre, Turin did. There, alternative forms of political and social organisation were posited and National Mobilization would not and could not provide this. The yippies, the adherents of a revolution through ridicule, are not inclined to. For some demonstrators the possibility of a third or fourth political party possibility, but the history parties is universally political mobilization of those Tear gas is common in came to Chicago and got what they expected, combined with those who were amazed by it, was and is possible. Nobody, however, seems to be sorning upon the High Plateau.
looked down on the frail boy the eyes of a hurt animal and thought, fright will make him talk.
commanded, and the father was taken away the forest's green wall.
kid tell us where they are, where or your father eyes now bright and filled with terror slight boy said nothing• got one minute kid', said Green Beret, "tell us where or we kill father', thrust his wrist-watch against a face all second-hand turning, jerking on its way.
ten seconds to tell us where they are.
last instant the silver hand shattered the sky and the forest of trees.
the old guy', roared Green Beret shots hammered out the forest's green wall and trees and soldiers stood in silence, and the boy cried out. in silence, as the boy crouched down shook with tears, children do when their father dies.
oidn't know a damn thing said one mercenary to Green killed the old guy for nothing', so they al! went away, Beret and his mercenaries.
Auderegate), off at about 3.00 p.m. to TRAFALGAR SQUARE, Hally Trafalgar Square 4 pa Arter the raily in Trafaigar bys we to marching down Wauseh to DOWNING SINCEr.
Organised by GLC Toni Action Committee.
HORNSEY RE-OPENS?
Students from Hornsey College Art want as many supporters sympathisers to commemorate tart of their new term ! 9 am. Hornsey (nearest tube Archw and then 41 bus).
SUNDAY
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EVENT SUNDAY 22 September
the black groups ha gth of its approach "to stop
MONDAY 23 September