et SPARTAN DAILY 14) May 4, 1992 Vol. 98, No. 65 Published for San Jose State University since 1934 Monday,
The Rodney King verdict aftermath Holocaust Looking back, ahead: pages 4,5,6,7,8 SJPD/Citizen relations commission formed remembrance: The healing begins Photos of last week's violence, protests and vigils 'Never again' Learning from the past through stories of suffering
By Dorothy Klavins Daily staff wuter
The evening began with bowed heads and silence for the six million Jews of all ages killed in the Holocaust. "Yom HaShoah," the Holocaust Memorial Day Program at SJSU, was held Thursday in the A.S. council chambers. '... They The evening contin- ued with poetry, a sur- could have vivor's story and dia- us at logue with Glenn Earley, taken a member of the Nation- any time.' al Council of Christians and Jews. Fifty people room, many Lilly Sasson filled the Survivor of prison camp wearing buttons that said "Never again." Several students from a Los Gatos High School history class also attended. Lilly Sasson was 20 when she fled Yugoslavia for Italy. Sasson lived in camps in Southern Italy and in Albania until being liberated by American soldiers during the Allies invasion of Italy. Although the camps of the Italians were not death camps. Sasson's voice broke when she told of her fears. "There was a feeling of insecurity no rights they could have taken us at any time," she said paus- ing several times to gain control. Of the 75,000 Yugoslavian Jews, only 20,000 survived the Holo- caust. Sasson felt fortunate lobe in Italy, where she and her husband eventually were allowed to live in an apartment in an Italian village with no restrictions. Earley began his talk with several readings on morality and philosophy. He focused on studies done by the German government after the war in which ordinary soldiers were interviewed about the choices they made in connection with mass exterminations of Jews. Scott Sady Daily staff photographer Twenty percent of the soldiers said no to the killings, and were transferred to other duties. The A cross section of the population gathered in Plaza Park Saturday night in a vigil to promote unity after the verdict in the Rodney King case remaining 80 percent reported that the killings had became a matter of routine. "My job is to provoke thought," Earley said. He asked the audience to think about those ordinary people who helped to rescue and hide Jews. A moral Plaza Park glows obligation lobe intelligent and to assume responsi- bility for the government that rules us is pan of Ear- ley's philosophy. with civil-rights vigil See HOLOCAUST Page 4 By Angela Hill, Les Mahler for a permanent end to the resulting violence. and Smits Patel The group, organized by local clergy and SJSU Cinco de Mayo Duly staff writers human rights groups, also denounced the racism that underlies all the turmoil. celebrations, events Six-year-old Matthew Ilernandez cupped Marjorie Craig, SJSU counselor, spoke to his tiny hand around the candle flame to keep the racially mixed gathering. She said the to continue all week it from being extinguished by the breeze. His group was there "trying to overcome hatred face was serious. Though he did not fully and injustice." By Smita Patel understand why he was there, he knew it was Before leading the group in the spiritual, Daily staff writer important. "We Shall Overcome," Craig apologized for Matthew and his 9-year-old brother GaNial her singing in advance. Chicano/Latino students have planned a calendar Ruiz were among more than 60 people who "I don't sing in a church choir. But what I full of lectures, music and theater for this week to gathered at Plaza Park Saturday night in a can- sing comes from the heart," she said. The celebrate Cinco de Mayo. dlelight vigil. They were quietly protesting the Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by the Chicano verdict in the Rodney King case and pleading See VIGIL, Page 4 community in honor of the 1862 battle of the Pueblo in which the Mexican army defeated the French. Among the highlights of the celebrations will be performances by Dr. Loco's Rockin Jalapetio Band S,J. stays quiet Friday night and El Teatro Campesino, according to Chris Villa, director of Student Outreach and Recruitment. Dr. Loco, a professor at San Francisco State Uni- By Les Mahler After two days of sometimes peaceful, versity, has gained a wide following for his music, Duty staff wilier sometimes uncontrolled protests, rioting and according to Jesus Rios, one of the students organiz- breaking of windows in San Jose and SJSU, ing the events. On Friday around 11:30 p.m., couples the calm was pervasive Friday. "It's a unique type of music Mexican, rock strolled hand in band near the Pavilion shops Throughout Friday night and into early Sat- and roll, Tex-Mex all different," said Helen on Second Street. The night air was stirred urday morning the scene was completely dif- Ayala, director of public relations for the Hispanic only by police cruisers and a small handful of ferent from the two previous nights when hun- Business Association "His music does not attract minor "usual" disturbances. dreds of angry people, demonstrating against only Mexicans." On Fourth Street, the owner of Impact the acquittal of the officers in the Rodney King El Teatro Campesino is a theater group based in Cycles and Fitness sat outside his shop with beating me, had stormed downtown San Jose San Juan Bautista, and directed by Louis Valdez. some friends barbecuing hot dogs and ham- and the SJSU campus. Valdez, an SJSU alumnus, is best known as the burgers. They were protecting the shop in But Friday, a strong presence of San Jose director of the movies "Zoot Suit" and "La Bamba," Vetina N se Daily staff photographer expectation of a recurrence of the previous and transit police seemed to have a calming Villa said. night, when their windows had been broken effect on the downtown area. And at SJSU, The Teatro will be performing throughout the tidez, Matthew I lerna 6, sits in Plaza Park Saturday night listening and merchandise stolen. week at MU. The Tuesday performance is for to speeches on pc,ice in the aftermath of the Rodney King case But on Friday nothing happened. See FRIDAY, Page 4 SJSU students, staff and faculty. The performance Wednesday morning is pan of the outreach program for high school students and is closed to the public, according to Villa. Random vandalism hits Thursday after protest The Wednesday evening performance is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. The Thurs- By Anne Douquet, John Perez Although there were a few protesters according to protester Vincent Robbcn. SJSU student Juan Ilaro. day and Friday performances are also open to the and Jim Silva who were antagonizing police officers, the The crowd initially had only planned to After calls from the police to either dis- public. The charge for these two performances is $5, Daily staff writers majority of the crowd gathered peacefully march to the Federal Building, according to perse or be arrested, the still-peaceful S3 for students and seniors, and children under 12 at the station. Steven Williams, a protester at the rally. protesters poured down First Street and are free. Bea Locke guided her wheelchair to the While most of Thursday night's protest Instead, they moved to the police depart- stopped only once. near Taylor Street. to sit Twenty percent of the proceeds from the play front of the angry mob congregated outside was peaceful, by about 2 a.m., there had ment, where they stayed for about an hour, down co the Light Rail tracks. will go towards Chicano Commencement. the San Jose Police Department Thursday been 26 arrests made in the downtown and still peaceful and chanting, "The people "We're sitting peacefully for injustice," Chicano Commencement was started in 1970 night so she could see what was happening. SJSII areas after violent groups had broken united will never be defeated." Don Joleck, from Milpitas, said. when some students, angry at the lack of recogni- She saw approximately 60 police offi- off from the peaceful protest. The charges Students called for a meeting with After a few minutes, the protesters tion of their accomplishments, walked out of the cers dressed in riot gear in a stand-off with ranged from assault with a deadly weapon Police Chief Louis C',.,tiamiviaz. Several resumed their match down First Street, commencement ceremonies and decided to hold about 300 protesters, many of whom were to arson and looting, according to police. organizers met with the chief and agreed to singing spiritual songs, grasping each their own, Rios said. carrying signs crying out about the injustice Though a few of the protesters from the address the problems by forming a task other's hands and expressing unity. Chicano Commencement is an opportunity for of the Rodney King verdict. original group pushed over garbage cans, force which would include representatives When the group reached Julian Street Chicano/ Latino students to be individually recog- "You don't have to kick somebody in they were quickly discouraged by other from various minority groups. ('obarruviaz the protest appeared to be over as the group nized for their accomplishments in the presence of the eye to make them sec," proclaimed Jeff, protesters who, putting their arms around also agreed to publicly support the Justice began to break up and many of the peaceful friends and family. Rios said. an SJS11 student who was accompanying them, spoke to them and helped them pick Department's investigation of the situation, The events are organized by the various Latino I .ocke. up the cans and replace the garbage, according to reports from C'otxtrruviaz and See HIURSDAY, Page 4 See CINCO DE MAYO, Page 4 SJSU hotline for classes, event cancellations, housing info: Call 924-SJSU 2 Monday, May 4, 1992 San lose State University II SPARTAN DAILY FORUM OPINIONS EDITORIAL Hatred takes to streets in search of vengeance the time of this writing, it is taking all of Violence not the the LAPD and 6,000 National Guardsmen to quell it. answer; it won't These actions had nothing to do with the original intent of the protests, many of which were peaceful. change anything Beating up innocent bystanders will not take back the fact that Rodney King an we all get was brutally battered. The injustice that 4 4 along? Can most Americans feel will not be remedied by burning down buildings. All we stop of the broken bottles in the nation will making it not change the fact that the four officers horrible for the older people were found to be not guilty. After all the literal and figurative and the kids?" smoke has cleared around these areas, the So asked Rodney King, during his only changes will be that buildings will first public appearance since the verdict. no longer exist and shattered glass will King's words were simple, but said litter the streets and sidewalks. more than any Harvard Ph.D. could have We are angry that a lawless group of said in a thesis. hooligans is taking over the major cities, A simple longing for everybody to get not only in California, but all over along. America. We are angry that the people We denounce the violence. We rioting on the streets at night expect that denounce the looting. And we denounce their actions will improve the California it, not only because of the actions legal system. themselves, but because of the motivation Mob rule is just that rule and behind the actions. "justice" through a lawless group of The looting was not motivated by a in rioters, who are more interested Fred lr oilier! Spartan I /ally desire for racial equality. It was vengeance than actually learning the true motivated by the greed of selfish people facts of the case. And we demand that the who don't care anything about their law enforcement agencies take the nation community or the people in their out of the hands of the rioting crowds and community. restore them to order. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The violence, the beating to death of a Because, in the words of Rodney King truck driver in South Central Los regarding violence as an answer to got because, atter all, we got to keep them Obviously, it's trying to scare me. You Angeles, was not fueled by racial injustice, "It's not right. And it's not Justice only for some niggers down? see, I've never had a TV receiver. "Maybe if tension, but by a hatred so ugly that, at going to change anything" Editor, I would like to buy plane tickets to South you paid me more attention these things it's saying. I doubt it. I AM INCENSED. Africa for every single officer and the entire wouldn't happen," where the I remember when Iraqi 11/ smashed Perhaps I was mistaken, but I thought I jury. Since they apparently live TV, jealous and hun- lived in America land of the free, home white people in power are able to exert their Kuwaiti TV. American to kill Iraqi TV. of the brave, with liberty and justice for all. will by force and win, they might as well gry for viewers, sent us over live in another racist and unjust society My friends and I were flung halfway around CAMPUS Unless, of course, you are an African- where the blacks don't even have the right to the world to watch. American. vote. We beat it down again and again, a cou- I am so outraged that the four low-life Harvey Gotliffe Hell, we should rewrite the Constitution ple channels kept popping up. At least we VIEWPOINT Los Angeles police officers were found not- to read the land of the white and the home of put Kuwaiti TV back together. It'll show a felt guilty, I cannot speak clearly. I have not the white. When we pledge allegiance, we few of our programs for a while. Iraqi TV is anger of this magnitude since 1983, when now have proof there is liberty and justice still showing the same old stuff. Charles Rothenberg poured gasoline on his only for some. son David and willfully set him ablaze. The point is, one way or another people will be hyped to watch TV, no matter what This message brought to With liberty and justice for all ... How Lisa C. Thorn news it has to create, people it has to kill or many times does one have to watch the infa- Senior, journalism cities it must destroy. It grows more popular mous videotape to realize that all four offi- with each death. You can tell from all the you by (name goes here) cers were GUILTY AS SIN??? Did the jury "X" hats. Why not "Y" or "TV?" Malcolm see the same videotape I saw? Did the jury X was an unknowing servant of the boob insides and outsides of buses, and TV hypes violence March, SJSU's President's Task see a man, lying on the ground after being tube, just like I was and the rioters are. Form on Intercollegiate Athletics billboards alongside the roads. Radio and stunned by a taser gun, get kicked over and Editor, /n television programs are crammed with People need to stop the hype, throw away suggested that one way to raise over and over and over by four identifiable Evil, old TV claimed a few more lives commercials, and newspapers and their TV's and start thinking about what monies during these financially Los Angeles police officers? last night. I wouldn't have minded but the magazines are chock-full of they're being told. troubled times was to rename the Event Or did the predominantly white jury only demon bastard kept me up all night while it advertisements. Try to escape from a Center for a major corporate donor. see a black man who deserved everything he broke windows and set off car alarms. Rich Bodo word from our sponsors by running to the But why stop there when a wealth of Junior, computer engineering movies, and you're exposed to an opportunities exist for slightly altering unwanted preface of commercials. the names of campus buildings to capture corporate sponsors. The most logical Reality tells us that advertising gives choices would be the new Tower Records us free radio and television and a Hall, Clark Bar Library, International remarkably reduced rate for our Business Machines (IBM) Tower, Hoover newspapers and magazines, but at what CAMPUS VIEWPOINT Amos Fabian Vacuum Cleaner Hall, Joe Western price? Appliance !fall, Rolls Royce Hall, oft-quoted study says that each Philip Student Union Carbide and the Anof us is exposed to some 700 Morris Dailey Auditorium. selling messages a day. While we With education comes tolerance peace Innovative professors could raise all too readily accept that inundation in funds by having their lectures sponsored the media, shouldn't we be a bit more I come from, most of country. Naturally, I took a history class: Indian reservations. I had not heard much and beginning class sessions with, wary when commercialism comes into Wherethe population is white. This the history of the U.S. from 1864. What I about slavery. But then, how many "Chemistry 101 is brought to you today the classroom? is not a source of shame, nor learned was, again, from an all white Americans studied or heard about the by Dow Chemical," or "Constitutional Whittle Communications "Channel of pride. Just a fact. perspective, about the white American. Holocaust? made possible by Frank, Earnest Law is One" is now in 10,000 high school Where I come from, the United States Obviously, I didn't know this was wrong. This is not a justification. We must all or "This Journalism & Sutch, Attorneys," classrooms, presenting 10 minutes of is admired as the leader of the free world, I know better now. learn about other cultures and realize we through the Class comes to you "free" news and current events, along where problems are few and far between But, this knowledge was gradual. It did all suffered from tragedies. It doesn't generosity of the Mercury News." The with two minutes of commercials to a and justice exists for all. not stem from classes, but from matter who suffered more. What matters, possibilities are unlimited, and in these captive, student audience. Sadly, students Do you think these two facts are dISCUSSICIDS with friends and from reading is what are we going to do about all this may and future times outside donations have a better recollection of the sponsor's related? No doubt. We get our world counter-hegemonic books. I have learned together so nothing will be of university become a necessary way messages than the news aspect of the coverage mainly from the news media. a lot. nevertheless, I was caught repeated. life. programming. What we see on television in the United completely unprepared for the acquittal of We live in a global community. This life male the four officers down in Simi Valley. means Advertising, itself, is a way of So, if any of your professors begins a States is mostly from a white, we all have to beware, be aware billion dollars understand others were not surprised and with an estimated $125 lecture with This class is being brought perspective. How could I expect to see and make sure that EVERYBODY is in a lot to being spent annually in the various to you by ...", protest immediately and anything different at home? actually expected it. I still have peace. Only then can we work together, you image. I learn. united media. In this era of inundation, loudly, or at the new IBM/MAC/HP/PAC Nevertheless, that is the toward a better world for everyone. After a heard about can't escape the selling messages. BELL Event Center, you might be arrived in the U.S. to study at Foothill In Israel, I had not filled with camps, neither in the Amos Fabian is a junior with a double long day, I find my mailbox singing new stanzas to "America the Community College. I wanted to know Japanese internment unsolicited mail, history of this U.S., nor in Canada. I had not heard about major in journalism and political unwanted circulars and Beautiful": something about the and my answering machine is loaded science. with a telemarketing sales pitch that "Trans America, Trans America, Shed hurriedly and repeatedly asks me to call a Your Miller Life on Me And at Crown long-distance phone number now if I Books we'll Sell, From Doubleday and want to win a free trip. Dell From Sea to Michael Jordan's CLARIFICATION Nike." Supermarket shopping carts boast of advertisements, as do the sides of Harvey Godiffe is an SJSU journalism The photo caption on page one of Friday's edition may have been protesters, some of whom were pictured, did encourage violent garbage cans, the backs of benches, the professor. misleading. It was not intended to suggest that everyone in the top action. However, many in the picture were indeed peaceful protesters. portion of the photo was calling for violence, but that many of the We regret the confusion.
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