Atlanta Constitution Sept
27, 1969 4A
ATLANTA - As an outcome of
the Piedmont Park hippie riot; I suspect there will be a rash of anti-police
letters flooding the newspaper. "Police brutality" was a favorite
charge of demonstrators, hippies and criminals across the country in 1968.
However, according to the
Dallas (Tex.) Morning News Òthe FBI's Uniform Crime Report indicates that last
year almost 16 of every 100 police officers nationally were assaulted in of
duty, an increase of 17 per cent over 1968, substantially above the annual
average of 51 from 1960 to 1967.Ó
While many point in
accusation that the words Òlaw and orderÓ is a Òcode phrase,Ó it appears, most
definitely that "police brutality" is more a Òbattle cryÓ than a
genuine wail of anguish. If we are
to weaken the policing of our city to placate the muggers, the rapists, the
murderers, the rioters, just what sort of a chaotic city would Atlanta be to
live in.Ó
If there are some police who
overstep by unrestraint, rid the police department of these men. But, because
of a few Éthe entire police force should not be condemned, nor weakened to
appease the awful whose constant, and sly, battle cry of police brutality is
becoming tedious, ridiculous and meaningless with every arrest!
C.M. OÕDonnell
ATLANTA---the suit filed in
Federal Court asking that Police Chief Herbert Jenkins be removed from office
is like biting the hand that feeds you. Chief Jenkins has been far more liberal
than many Atlanta residents would like for him to be.
While I am not a fan of Chief Jenkins, I feel that his
statement was fair and correct.
This seems to be just another attempt for a complete breakdown in law
and order by some, blacks and civil rights leaders.
I am with you, Chief Jenkins,
and I support the Atlanta Police Department, along with many other black and
white citizens.
WILLIAM L. TYSON.
Gainesville- Your coverage of
the September 21 music festival/riot made a deep impression on me. Only a few years ago I spent Sunday
afternoon in the green swings of Piedmont Park rocking my baby and admiring the
maple trees at the edge of the lake.
The police may or may not
have been brutal and the hippies may or may not have been there because they
have music, but in any case the park has become useless to quiet private people
like me.
Some seek "law and
order" while others seek ÒfreedomÓ and in the meantime I feel very much
like IÕm going to be the loser.
Patricia A. French
Atlanta Ð Typically, and as
could be expected, Ivan Allen is punishing a detective and a policeman foe
performing their duty in Piedmont Park last Sunday. This action is symptomatic
of the political sickness destroying law and order not only in this country but
in the ÒcivilizedÓ world. Leadership is at the lowest level since the dark
ages.
The hippies, who pay no
taxes, claim ownership of Piedmont Park, which is tax supported, and apparently
our leaderless city sanctions the claim. This kind of incredible sickness will
prevail until the trampled, apathetic, tax-paying, law-abiding, middle-class
citizens work on enough spirit and courage to do something about it. As
conditions stand, how much longer will we be able to find anybody worth his
salt willing to be a policeman?
Rudy Simpson
Atlanta Ð I was amazed and
shocked at the tactics of our Atlanta police in the Piedmont Park ÒriotÓ
Sunday, as reported by the press and television. It would appear that this was
as much a police riot as a ÒhippieÓ riot; that the police over-reacted in a
most provocative manner; and that the police were, in fact, equally guilty of
instigating this most unfortunate episode.
It was particularly revolting
to see, on national television news, an Atlanta policeman hit a young man in
the face with his club after the youngster was already in their custody and
under physical control.
I donÕt care personally for
the appearance and mode of life of the hippies, but that is their privilege in
this free country and is no reason to persecute them. We do not need, nor
should we condone, police state tactics.
Name Withheld
Atlanta Ð You know police are
subject to police brutality, too Ð that is when they are not backed up by their
superiors in cases where force has to be used to protect their lives and the
general public. It is really a wonder that dedicated men remain on the force
considering the abuse they take from law breakers and ordinary citizens who
have not really thought the situation through. This is not to defend the unjustified use of force but letÕs
examine each case on its merits and not through deliberately provoked mob
hysteria.
Boyd Phillips
Atlanta- As I noted in my
telephone conversation with you this morning, I deeply resent your use of the
phrase ÒAtlantans have tolerated the hippie community thus far, choking back
deep disgustÓ as included in your editorial entitled ÒSunday in the ParkÓ on
Sept. 23, 1969.
If you wish to attribute this
incredibly stupid statement to the editors of The Atlanta Constitution please
do so, but do not attribute it to me! I happen to be an Atlantan and I am happy
we have a ÒhippieÓ community. I feel affection, concern and a sense of identity
with these people. I can put you in touch with many, many other Atlantans (property
owning, children raising and law and order with justice-seeking Atlantans) who
do not share your editorial opinion Ð in case you have lost touch with this
segment of our community.
Finally let me remind you,
and I hope ringingly, the hippies are Atlantans, too.
Mrs. Glenn E. Duncan
Atlanta Ð The Atlanta Police
have too much to do to be harassing and antagonizing young people in Piedmont
Park. If we really look into this, I believe we would find that so called
ÒraidsÓ of this kind are initiated by those Òhigher upÓ with whom have gotten
messages from the ÒEstablishmentÓ to Òclean outÓ that bunch at 10th
Street and Piedmont ParkÓ.
Poking into a beehive to see
what you can stir up makes as much sense as what those policemen were doing in
that crowd of people. It would seem that young George Nikas was only trying to
protect his friends, for that the police got him first.
Let the police go with
warrants - one at a time to suspected pushers of narcotics Ð but not to a
public gathering. LetÕs check out the opera crowd at the Civic Center next year
and see what we can turn up.
Why not open up a line of
communication between City Hall and these young people and work out something
in a decent and humane way. We must be terribly afraid to act as we have. They
deserve a better action from us.
Carolyn Bechnell Mann