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.