AN ARRESTING PARALLEL

Yesterday

We began to chant, and to sway back and forth. "Smash ROTC, No Expansion: Smash ROTC. No Expansion." The noise on the steps increased. Suddenly it swelled and I saw a surging tidal wave of baby blue helmets, and baby-blue jackets criss-crossed wildly by thick brown clubs. The cops were rushing into the landing way behind the steps, smashing their clubs down on the kids who were waiting helpless. They weren't looking where they were hitting, just holding their clubs up and bringing them down as quickly and in as many directions as they could. I heard moans, and saw a boy run from two cops holding his bleeding head as they swung at him. A furious rage came into me and my mood changed with the crack of one of the monstrous clubs. The sight of this--the fact of this--I would protest and protest with my presence. I hated what they were doing--and I hated Harvard for allowing--or for asking--them to do it, as much as I could hate anything.

--Jody R. Adams '69 on the bust at University Hall, April 10, 1969 at approximately 5 a.m.

Today

It was pretty low key. The policemen were pretty nice in general. I didn't resist arrest by going limp or anything. It seemed that the police were rough on those that did by sort of throwing them into the wagon. Other than that it was low key.

--Alexandra H. T. Edsall '89 on the arrests at the Fogg Art Museum, November 21, 1986 at approximately 6 p.m.