U.S.A: ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS RAID CHICAGO DRAFT OFFICE.

Record ID: 1079137

  • Title: U.S.A: ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS RAID CHICAGO DRAFT OFFICE.
  • Date: 27th May 1969
  • Summary: 1. GV EXT: FILES STREWN ABOUT YARD. 0.06 2. GV FILES. 0.10 3. STV MAN CARRIES BOX OF RECORDS. 0.14 4. SV PAN: MAN PICKING CHARREDFILES. 0.17 5. MV CHARRED FILES INTO BOX. 0.24 6. GV STAFF INSIDE RANSACKED OFFICE. 0.28 7. MV GIRL CLERK CLEARING UP PAPERS. 0.36 8. CU WOMAN CLEANING FILES. 0.52 Initials MJS/V/JF/SC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th June 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: CHICAGO, U.S.A.
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVACIXAB2NOZWOZX03JZAUOXSUA
  • Story Text:STAFF FROM THE MAIN CHICAGO SELECTIVE SERVICE OFFICE HAD THEIR SUNDAY (MAY 25) AFTERNOON LEISURE RUDELY INTERRUPTED BY THE CALL 'COME IN AND CLEAN UP' AFTER ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS HAD BROKEN INTO AND RANSACKED THE OFFICE EARLIER IN THE DAY.

    THE OFFICE KEEPS FILES ON THE MILITARY STATUS OF ALL YOUNG MEN IN THE AREA OF THEIR JURISDICTION.

    EIGHTEEN PROTESTERS, WHO INCLUDED THREE CLERGYMEN AND THREE WOMEN, POURED RED PAINT OVER DESKS AND FILING CABINETS, AND SPREAD TAR AROUND THE OFFICE. THEN THEY CARRIED THE DRAFT FILES INTO THE YARD BEHIND THE BUILDING AND BURNED THE RECORDS, KEEPING THE FLAMES FIERCE WITH SIX FIVE-GALLON CANS OF INFLAMMABLE FLUID.

    WHEN FIREMEN ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THE PROTESTERS DANCING ROUND THE BONFIRE SINGING A FAVOURITE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SONG -- "WE SHALL OVERCOME'. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, AND ARRESTED THEM. THE CHARGES INCLUDE ARSON, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND BURGLARY. IT IS PROBABLE THAT FEDERAL CHARGES OF DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY WILL BE ADDED TO THESE.

    WHY DID THE PROTESTERS DO IT? A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EIGHTEEN SAID: 'WE STILL HAVE A DREAM OF BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THIS SOCIETY. BUT WE CAN NO LONGER CONFINE OUR PEACE-MAKING EFFORTS TO THE ORDINARY CHANNELS OF POLITE DISCOURSE. FOR WE ARE CONFRONTING AN EXTREMELY URGENT SITUATION IN WHICH THE TWIN EVILS OF AMERICAN MILITARISM AND RACISM ARE MONSTROUSLY INTERCONNECTED.'
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