 | The Cavalier daily Friday, May 5, 1972 |  |
Guerrilla Troupe Protests
For Emergency Moratorium
By G. D. ROTHENBERG
and BARBARA HAND
The Guerrilla Theater staged an
anti-war demonstration yesterday as part
of the National Emergency Moratorium.
Following a brief religious service
conducted by the United Ministry in
front of Old Cabell Hall at 11:45 p.m.,
about 100 demonstrators marched to
Maury Hall where they were met by 25
Naval ROTC cadets.
First-year cadet Paul Stock said the
cadets were assembled there "to protect
the building." A brief, peaceful discussion
ensued which was followed by a march to
the Judge Advocate General's School.
Colonel Ralph Pinto, deputy
commandant, said the demonstrators
were "a very orderly, reasonable group."
"No destruction took place as they
spent a very short period of time with
us," he said. Four students were allowed
to speak to Col. Pinto, who termed the
conversation "one-sided."
"The episode was conducted in a
horseplay context," he said. "The whole
subject was treated in a comic, burlesque
fashion. They weren't here long enough
to talk."
Student Council President Tom
Collier, who participated in the
demonstration, said it "wasn't as
productive" as the theater and mock war
downtown.
Col. Pinto said that no one was
alarmed and "everyone was curious."
Officers were gathered on the third-floor
patio, overlooking the demonstrations.
The final demonstration was held at
the U.S. Army Foreign Service and
Technology Center downtown at 1 p.m.
The Guerrilla Group staged a mock war
with yelling, screaming, and the shooting
of toy M16's.
After a few brief talks protesting the
Vietnam War, the assemblage broke into
small groups and returned to the
Grounds.
Michael Roche, known as "General
Westmoreland" in the Guerrilla Theater,
said further protests are planned for
Happy Day and for the Restoration Ball.
Howard "Flash" Gordon, of the
United Ministry, said, "What the Ministry
did was not connected with the Guerrilla
Theater. It was a worship service that the
University community could take part in
to show our concern about the
continuing military stance of our
country."
"I think the prophet Jeremiah,
who walked naked through the streets,
was a master of the Guerrilla Theater.
Michael Roche is thought to be crazy just
as Jeremiah was," Rev. Gordon said.
"The time for rational discourse has
come to an end. We must graphically
portray how bad and stupid the war
really is," he added.
Fourth-year student Chris Kerr, army
veteran and Guerrilla Theater member,
said there was "very little planning and
very little coordination" yet "maximum
participation" at the demonstrations.
| The Cavalier daily Friday, May 5, 1972 | |