The Cavalier daily :: Friday, May 8, 1970 :: University of Virginia Library

When the air cleared in University Hall
Wednesday night, and Jerry Rubin left
the stage, and all the Frisbees were
grounded, William Kunstler walked
through the labyrinth in the basement on
U. Hall and held a small press conference.

Up close and under the glare of bright
lights set up for the television cameras,
William Kunstler looks like a very intense,
but very tired man. The night before he
had spoken at Columbia, and that
afternoon he had been in court in
Plainfield, New Jersey. As he sat in front of the
cameras and microphones, he was discussion his
plans for the next day: breakfast at 7 a.m. with
some of the leaders of the organization which
had invited him here, and then a flight back to
New Jersey and the courtroom.

Talks To Shannon

Before he spoke, Mr. Kunstler had a
telephone conversation with President Shannon.
Mr. Shannon said that the thought the
situation was "very tense."

Mr. Kunstler's reply was something like,
"Edgar don't worry, everything's under control
... Edgar just tell me one thing - where
are the high schools in this town? Because after
I shut down this University. I'm going to go shut
down those high schools too!"

At the press conference, Mr. Kunstler was
more subdued than when he was on stage. If
you've never been to a press conference it can
be really freaky. Every time you open your
mouth to ask a question the people from radio
and television stick a bunch of microphones in
your face, and then stick them into the face of
whomever you are asking something.

This process went on through the whole
conference, but Mr. Kunstler, hardened by
many such conferences didn't even notice.
Probably after dealing for so long with people
like Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, Rap Brown, and
Julius Hoffman, nothing could freak him.

After talking for a minute with someone
about a mutual friend in California, and after
Jerry Rubin, who is just as active off-stage as
on, rushed in to ask him something, Mr.
Kunstler began answering questions.

Text Of Conference

After seeing the response here, how would
you compare the University with the response
you've seen at other schools?

The response is much the same at every
university. It hasn't crystallized yet, and I'm not
sure when it will.

Do you plan to take action against the
National Guardsmen at Kent State?

We have been contacted, but we haven't
taken any action yet. I still work for the Law
Center for Constitutional Rights, and I'll take
action if they take action. I don't work for
money anymore.

Do you think the Moratorium march on
Washington had any effect?

I think it had an enormous effect in
Washington, but not enough. Shutting down
the universities will have more effect, and if it
doesn't the time may come when we have to
burn down all the universities. The time of
peaceful marches is over.

What do you think will happen to the
National Guardsmen who shot the students at
Kent State?

Nothing. The same thing that happens
every time the police murder someone.

Are you in favor of violence?

I am against mass violence. All violence will
come from the National Guard, the police, and
court injunctions. Where it always comes from.

Do you think Rap Brown is still alive?

Yes, I think Rap is still alive.

When did you last see him?

I spoke to him on February 26, but I
haven't seen or heard from him since.

Do you know where he is?

No, I don't. No one will believe when I say
"I don't know," but I honestly don't.

Do you think a black man can get a fair trial
in this country?

No, I don't, but you have to take this case
by case. I'm sure that black people get fair trials
in some cases like accidents and divorces, but
no controversial blacks get fair trials.

Who are some controversial blacks?

Rap Brown, Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver,
any of the Panthers, and any of the people
connected with the black man's liberation. J.
Edgar Hoover just made Rap Brown number
eleven on the F.B.I.'s most wanted list. He'd
never miss a chance like that. Poor people can't
get fair trials either.

You said people have a right to resist a
court?

You have the right to resist a courtroom
when it becomes oppressive. Chicago was
oppressive.

You said you are against capitalism, what
type of system do you advocate to replace it?

I'm not sure. I'm still not against private
property, but I'm coming very close to that
idea.

Then Bruce Wine, a leader of the strike
movement, dashed in, dodged between the
cameras and light stands and asked Mr. Kunstler
to come to help lead the march to Carr's Hill.
Mr. Kunstler thanked us and walked back
through the underground cement catacombs of
University Hall to the main hall to speak to the
strikers.

"Where can we cat?" he said.

"The Boar's Head," someone shouted, and
several people booed and laughed.

"The White Spot," shouted someone else,
and more people laughed.