Peaceful Rally Protests Racism, Violence
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MONDAY • MaY·4 • 199 2 Peaceful rally protests racism, violence By Linda Tarr and Jennifer Graves sity. Staff Writers tired of this bulls**t," shouted WSU African American Association President Kipchoge As violence sparked by the Rodney King decision Kirkland, referring to people's continual raged in cities throughout the nation, WSU students and emphasis on talk rather than action. faculty gathered for a peaceful but animated protest on "The change starts in you - it's in your the CUB mall Friday afternoon. hearts 'and your minds," continued Kirkland, Participants battled noise from nearby construction to also the' chair of the Council of Minority Stu- denounce the Simi Valley, Calif., jury's verdict and the dent Presidents. subsequent rioting as well as the nation's political and WSU student Jim Froembling said the key "'- justice systems. to change is playing a more active role in the WSU Presi.dent Sam Smith and Interim Police Chief political system. Michael Kenny both were drawn into the hour-and-a-half- To this end, many protesters wrote State long gathering. Attorney General Ken Eikenberry requesting Speakers in the circle formed by protesters expressed a civil rights investigation into the King case dissatisfaction with the quality of the nation's diversity after a woman ran to the SBC and returned and education and criticized prevalent social attitudes and Staff photo by David Field with boxes of pens, notepads and envelopes. beliefs. Concerned citizens gathered on the CUB mall Friday to Other protesters like Lamar Kinney and They also emphasized more voter participation and protest the King verdict and address letters to Washington Dean Davis also urged more people to influ- political activism at the grass-roots level. Attorney General Ken Eikenberry. ence the political system by voting. The gathering started with about 20 protesters, some blind." The crowd swelled to nearly 350 people an hour holding signs with slogans such as . 'The evils of the gov- later. As the numbers increased, so did the group's inten- See RALLY on page 6 Teen guilty Officials condemn verdict of King case arms April 30 to protest the verdict. She said that if the police officers had By Jennifer Graves Barbara Aston. student counselor at the received a guilty verdict, minorities would of assault Staff Writer Center for Native American Students, said have faith in the justice system and see it as The first man charged in an WSU minority leaders have expressed dis- she feels justice was not done. a place to initiate positive change. alleged February gang-rape appointment and sadness over the verdict in "This is 'a very frightening situation. I'm Louie and Alan Thompson. a counselor at pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. the Rodney King trial and disapproval of the sure those people have lived under lots of the African American Student Center. also while two brothers pleaded inno- resulting rioting in Los Angeles and other cit- prejudice and discrimination. "she said. cent to separate drug charges. ies. said they do not support the violence. Esther Louie. advisor in the Asian/Pacific Eighteen-year-old Daniel Thompson encouraged people to work "J'rn very. very disappointed in the ver- American Counseling Center, agreed that the Riggs' charge of second-degree together rather than blame others. dict." said Director of Minority Affairs Ste- verdict was "scary." rap; was dropped in exchange Felicia Gaskins, interim assistant to the phen Sneed. "It sends a very negative mes- "You like to believe that the system works provost' for diversity, said the rioting brought for a guilty plea to third-degree sage to African Americans." and this casts serious doubts." she said. back many memories of the civil rights pro- assault and help in prosecution of Sneed said the verdict shows the United While the minority leaders said they under- tests and the protests against the Vietnam the other six men involved in the States has a dual system of justice that does stand the frustration that has caused the riot- War. case Thursday. according to not serve African Americans. ing. they condemned the violence. "But this is a somewhat different issue," reports. Manuel Acevedo. student counselor at the Sneed said the loss of life and property is she said: "This issue - race - is one we'd Riggs. who was 17 at the time Chicano/Hispanic Student Center. said the unfortunate. like to think is resolved but really isn't." of h~i~ charging. will remain verdict is a regression. "I can't condone it (the violence), of Gaskins said she hopes nationally there is a under the jurisdiction of juvenile "This proves the system is fai ling minori- course. but 1 think I can understand why it's positive response to what has happened. court. Charges have not been ties." he said. being done." filed aaainst the other men. all "I hope something good will come of this . "Violence is not the answer," Acevedo She said the trial has given WSU the .adults. ~accused of raping a 21- Hopefully people will be more sensitive to said. "Unfortunately the violence was started opportunity to discuss racial issues and be year-old Provo. Utah. woman in more urgent in resolving problems. the reality of what's going on in this coun- by police (during the King incident}." a Pullman residence. try ... he said. Aston said that while the violent reaction is "I hope we can face up to and confront In a separate case. two broth- Acevedo said at least 10 Chicano students not surprising. "nothing justifies that kind of our feelings about race and resolve problems ers pleaded innocent to drug on campus wore black arm bands on their left destruction. " rather than just talk," she said. charges in Whitman County Superior Court Friday. Raymond LaPlante. 24. pleaded innocent to three counts of delivery of cocaine and two counts of delivery of marijuana. Robert LaPlante. 25. pleaded innocent to one count of posses- sion of cocaine and one count of possession of less than 40 grams of marijuana. The two men. who live in Pullman. had their home raided and were arrested April 9 follow- ing a six-month joint investiza- ti;n by local authorities. acco~'d- ing to the reports. Trial has been set for July J 3. Possession of 40 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor. while all other counts are felo- nies. The third-degree assault charge against Riggs is considered a class C felony. carrying a maxi- mum penalty of 30 days in juve- nile detention. according to reports. Prosecutor Ron Shirley said he has kept in contact with the woman throughout the investiga- tion. He also said she under- stands the proceedings. Riggs was charged before he turned 18 because Shirley said he was afraid the defense attorney would claim he intentionally waited until Riggs was 18 to Staff photo by Brett Larson charge him. WSU Veterinary Clinic Professor Erik Stauber talks ~o Connie Anderson-Chalker of Moscow about hIS peregrine falcon at the RenaIssance Fair In Moscow Sunday afternoon. See GUlL TV on page 6 2 The Evergreen Monday, May 4,1992 WSU, Pullman, Wash. Local man jailed for last year's burglary A Pullman man was sentenced dow parked behind his A Street the high school was extin- counseled by police not to drive throwing beer bottles off of third to two months in jail Friday on residence; reporting form given guished. cars home. floor deck into dumpster; were charges of second-degree bur- to victim. 22: 15. A woman reported 16:50. A man was transported missing regularly, causing break- glary. 2:31. A group of juveniles there were two vehicles parked in to Pullman Memorial Hospital age on Campus Commons North James D. Haralson, 29, were issued citations for drinking lot of Gladdish School and said after a bicycle accident on S.E. parking lot; subjects contacted pleaded guilty to the charge on at Nendels Motor Inn; three men there possibly could have a fight High Street. and agreed to clean up mess. March 29, after being arrested were issued minor in possession and damage to building; officer 9:33. A fire was reported on a 19:22. A two-car, non injury for breaking into a Pullman tickets, while two juvenile girls contacted subjects, no damage to private plane at the end of run- accident was reported on S. W, apartment last year, according to were released to custody of par- property. way 5 at the Pullman/Moscow . Kimball Streer.: minor damage. reports. ents. Alcohol ic beverages taken 19: 19. A man was arrested for Airport: fire crew dispatched and 18:59. A landlord-tenant dis- While in Whitman County from a room were placed into driving while intoxicated follow- fire extinguished. pute was mediated on N.E. Lake Jail, Haralson will be allowed to property for disposal. ing a two-car, injury accident on 1:31. A possible fight was Street. attend alcohol treatment and 0:56. A large group of people N.E. Campus Street; one subject reported at the Cougar Cottage: 9:49. A woman living on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. were reported in Reaney Park, was transported to Pullman subjects gone on arrival. Whitman Street told police half He is also required to pay screaming and banging on things; Memorial Hospital: damage 0:3~. A Pullman man, Randy of her apartment was without $520 in fines and court costs. five people contacted and identi- reports unavailable. D. Brown, was arrested for power and she heard a sizzling MAY 3 - 4:00. A man fied, no damage found; group 19: 14.