Fifth Estate 108, June 25-July 8, 1970 Add to the Bookbuilder

Fifth Estate #108, June 25-July 8, 1970, Vol. 5, No. 4, page 2

The Fifth Estate

Debby Brentz

David Gaynes

Carol George

Mike John

Keep on Truckin’ Co-op

Resa Jannett

Jim Kennedy

Lee Ann Kennedy

David Levison

Julie Medvecky

Nick Medvecky

Harvey Ovshinsky

Dave Riddle

Bill Rowe

Len Schafer

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CLEVELAND—The moderate sector of the anti-war movement met here over the weekend of June 19–21 to make plans for the next few months amidst raging factional battles. The over 1,400 delegates from across the country who attended the three day conference produced nothing that was not expected.

The major plans approved came from a joint proposal by Jim Lafferty of the Detroit Coalition to End the War and Jerry Gordon, Lafferty’s Cleveland counterpart. Demonstrations are to be called for Hiroshima Day demanding that nuclear weapons not be used in Indochina; support is urged for the Chicano Moratoriums against the war on the West Coast and continuing to bring in labor support for the anti-war movement.

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Caught in a gross miscarriage of justice, Assistant Prosecutor Avery Weiswaser agreed on June 9 to reverse Pigpen’s conviction and 90-day sentence on contempt of flag charges.

Pigpen, also called Alan Barber, was convicted on May 21 without benefit of a jury or a lawyer. He had been picked up on May 19 because a cop found a piece of red, white and blue bunting which had been folded up in his pocket for six months.

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July 1^st is called “International Freedom Day” on the Detroit River.

On the Mekong River, which runs through Cambodia, Laos and south Vietnam, it is international freedom day. While the United States and Canada celebrate the pollution of the Detroit River and the brotherhood of imperialist policy, we will celebrate and explore the real potential for international freedom.

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Alfred Hibbitt: acquitted.

Raphael Viera: acquitted.

Clarence “Chaka” Fuller: acquitted.

Kenneth Vern Cockrell: charges dismissed.

The New Bethel case is not over. But the recent acquittals of Raphael Viera and Clarence Fuller have put it at a new stage. Every one of those charged with a crime arising from the incident has been vindicated.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (The Daily World and LNS)—After the California Appellate Court had overturned the decision in the Huey Newton case, clearing the way for a new trial or freedom for the Black Panther Party Minister of Defense, all the press were clamoring for interviews.

Under this pressure, the authorities at California Men’s Colony—East temporarily let down the wall they had built to isolate Huey and his ideas from the public, and a stream of reporters filed through the bright, sunny visitor’s lounge on June 4.

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Following the lead of the literary success of Jerry’s and Abbie’s books, Random House will bring out a collection of writings by imprisoned John Sinclair this fall. Tentative title: Street Writings; Prison Writings. Also, Marquette Prison officials are trying to cut down on John’s incoming mail because they say it has “strained” the Mail office there. They have completely cut off his right to receive records....

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Look closely at the faces of the men on this page. Some of them look like average citizens; some have the look of black revolutionaries. They are all cops. These police officers work out of the First Precinct Larceny Squad and generally patrol the downtown department stores looking for shoplifters and pickpockets. That, however, is not the main problem.

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Draft boards are bracing themselves for a deluge of requests for conscientious objector to war status as a result of a recent Supreme Court decision which said you don’t have to be religious to qualify.

Col. Arthur Holmes, Michigan selective service director, said 632 men are presently awaiting processing on conscientious objector claims. He admitted they represent only part “of the large number who get turned down” under procedures the court questioned.

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a review of

Finally Got The News, A Film by Stuart Bird, Peter Gessner, Rene Lichtman and John Lewis, Jr. Produced by Black Star Productions

“Finally Got The News” is a one-hour film about the activities of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and its politics. It is an important film for all people concerned with changing the Detroit area to see and think about. In addition it is a film that raises the art of political propaganda to a new and significant level.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (LNS)—Anti-war GIs from around the country got together here over Memorial Day weekend to discuss ways of increasing nationwide cooperation in their struggle against the military machine.

Out of the conference came the GI Alliance, a national clearinghouse which is being set up in Washington, D.C., to provide GI organizations with support services—information, financial and legal assistance, material for political education—and to help coordinate activities and communications among various GI groups.

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NEW YORK (LNS)—An explosive device estimated by police to have the force of 10 to 15 sticks of TNT went off in a men’s toilet on the second floor of the New York City Police Headquarters at 6:57 p.m. June 10.

The explosion tore a hole in the wall between the men’s room and an adjacent office belonging to high-ranking police officials. Seven persons were injured, none of them seriously.

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As prematurely, but accurately reported in our last issue the Michigan House approved a bill June 19 lessening the penalties for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. There were only three dissenting votes on the bill that would make possession a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Possession of over two ounces or sales would continue to be a felony crime, but with lessened penalties. The maximum penalty under the new law would be ten years rather than the current 20 year minimum for sales. Legislators expect an increase in sales conviction as a result.

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The Phantom of comic strip fame is more symbolic of America than Uncle Sam. In fact, the Purple Pig, as he’s known in some circles, should be depicted on the Great Seal of the United States. No one has served the honko cause better.

As a youth, he gave up the comforts of the Skull Cave in order to be educated in an American university. He was, of course, brilliant in every subject, but athletics were his forte. It didn’t take long for word to spread. People came from all over to watch the super jock work out.

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(Women’s News Co-op) Ladies—are you ready for the Midi? The designers say women are bored and need a change to a more feminine look. The fashion world has announced that this Fall women will be wearing their skirts at mid-calf length, ready or not.

The exploitive and repressive world of women’s fashions has long been with us—or more correctly, against us. While women have little control over the clothing industry, economics and politics exert major pressure in the fashion world. The exploitive economics of capitalism, based on the continuing need for rising profits, seeks constantly to create a demand for new products.

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A couple of weeks ago, sixty-three graduating seniors at Oak Park High School responded to Representative William S. Broomfield’s plea to “love their country and respect their flag” by holding a burn-in under the flag pole outside their school.

Copies of the “American Creed” and color pictures of himself, both of which are sent to all graduating seniors of Oak Park High by Republican Broomfield at the taxpayer’s expense, were set to flame by the students.

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Out of control riot pigs attacked a crowd of East Detroit youths who were attending a graduation party in early June. Neighboring residents characterized the police action as “unprovoked and unwarranted brutality.”

Many of the residents of East Detroit’s Lincoln Street, where the incident occurred, say they intend to file complaints with their City Council about the repressive anti-youth conduct of the pigs.

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Summer is coming on strong in Detroit. We’ve had good weather, lots of free concerts, and young people hanging out together all over the Motor City. But already it’s become real obvious that the mood is tense. Things are not completely together and there are a lot of contradictions.

Too many of our brothers and sisters are being busted on bullshit charges and, in general, the harassment seems to have greatly increased.

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“June 11 was a hot day,” a 17-year-old girl from Birmingham said. “Everyone was hot.”

A girl with long blonde hair in a white bathing suit walked up to one of the TMU riot cops who was clearing the beach at Cass Lake. She petted his German Shepherd. The dog whimpered and wagged his tail. “Goddamit get out of here,” the cop said. And he kicked the dog.

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A lot of people who went to the Cincinnati Rock Festival on Saturday, June 13^th, got a lot more than they thought they would for their $6.50.

At least four people got broken arms, three got broken legs; at least ten got head or body wounds requiring stitches. One girl was in the hospital with a brain concussion; another guy has a broken back. All at the hands of the Queen City police.

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Specially designed “Kill Cong” badges were awarded by a U.S. Army battalion to soldiers who could prove they killed a soldier of the National Liberation Front (NLF) last year, according to statements by returned servicemen.

“One way to prove your claim to a badge was to bring back an enemy ear,” former Sgt. Frank Shepard, 23, of Plymouth told the Detroit Free Press. “They kept a string of ears at headquarters, which I saw. The ears were rotting and they smelled pretty bad. It turned my stomach. It was like we were on a hunting trip or something.

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From the Ann Arbor Argus:

“Rock promoter Russ Gibb made one of his rare public appearances two weeks ago when he stopped at South U for a while to pass out circulars advertising his and Mike Quatro’s pop festival in Cincinnati. The circulars were full of bullshit hypes like: “14 BIG ACTS IN 12 HOURS” and claimed that the Cincinnati Pop would be “as groovy as Woodstock but without the hassles.”

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Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld speaking at Community Arts Auditorium, May 28, 1969 at a benefit for Open City. Photo: Alan Gotkin.

QUESTION: Can any harm come from making love in the bathtub? Hopefully not. Cleanie.

ANSWER: My research team plunged into action, after reflecting on the habits of whales and dolphins. Brace yourself for the answer: contusions and abrasions if the tub is empty, seasickness, drowning, or scalding if it’s not and your inhibitions go down the drain.

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Dear Fifth Estate:

We’ve stumbled upon your paper at the right time. Our heads have been infiltrated with “lifer” propaganda. We’re becoming radical and have developed a leftist attitude. It’s hard to accomplish in the Army but we continue to get our point across.

We’re more open minded in discussing the conflicts in our society today. We’re gaining power in our unit, we’re gaining freedom.

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In cooperation with Detroit Adventure

Thurs. June 25

KINETIC ART FILM PROGRAM. Prize winning flics shown at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Detroit Institute of Arts.

OPEN CITY FREE MEDICAL CLINIC. Sign up at 5:30 p.m. Clinic hours are from 6:30–8:30 p.m. 4225 Second at Canfield.

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Meadow Brook. Solo pianist is Gary Graffman. 8:30 p.m. It’s at Oakland University (take I-75 to Oakland U. Drive).

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