University of Virginia Library

Week Of Lawlessness

The Commonwealth's Attorney listed several reasons
for not prosecuting the charges.

"First, the arrests in these cases were made because it
seemed, to the University officials and the police officials
concerned, to be the only way to stop what had become a
week-long period of lawlessness on the part of University
students and others who had joined them. The arrests
apparently accomplished, or helped to accomplish that
purpose, since no further violence occurred.

"Second, there is the fact that the futures of the
young men charged, most of whom were University
students, would be irreparably damaged by a criminal
conviction.

"Third, while I believe I could convict most, if not all,
of those charged, it is important to the University and to
Charlottesville that the University and the City do all we
reasonably can to maintain good relations between us.