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118564804
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Issue Papers - Demonstrations
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118564804
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Issue Papers - Demonstrations
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Ronald Reagan's Governor's Papers of the Press Unit
Issue Files
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1975-12-31
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1967-01-01
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1967
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Reagan, Ronald: Gubernatorial Papers,
1966-74: Press Unit
Folder Title: Issue Papers - Demonstrations
Box: P30
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
State of California
Memorandum
To
:
Date
:
Governor Reagan
October 24, 1967
ful
Subject:
Oakland Anti-Draft
Incidents
From :
Ed Meese
Since you may receive questions at the Press Conference today
concerning the police handling of illegal activities in connection
with the anti-draft demonstrations in Oakland last week, the fol-
lowing information is provided:
On Monday, October 16, approximately 1,500 persons picketed the
Armed Forces Induction Station at 15th and Clay Streets in Oak-
land. A group of these demonstrators, who were identified with
arm bands, "packed in" the doors of the station, and by sitting
in the entry way, prevented anyone from entering or leaving this
facility. It was necessary for the police to clear the doorway
so that employees, inductees, and other persons using the induc-
tion station could obtain entrance and exit. Approximately 119
persons were arrested for this illegal activity.
On Tuesday, October 17, approximately 4,000 persons took over
the streets in the vicinity of the induction station. These
persons totally occupied the sidewalk and street area for two
full blocks and the adjacent intersections. By this action the
group denied access to any of the buildings in this area, including
the induction station and several stores, hotels, and office
buildings. Police officers made several requests over a public
address system for the demonstrators to clear the streets and
move up on the sidewalk. When the demonstrators refused to do
this, the police commanding officer declared an unlawful assembly,
and ordered all persons to leave the area (pursuant to 5726 of
the Penal Code). This order was given three times over a period
of at least 20 minutes. When a large mob still remained in the
streets, the police formed a tactical wedge formation, and cleared
the streets, dispersing the law violators. This reopened the
streets to traffic, and another cordon of police officers then
escorted the buses carrying civilian employees of the station
and those men appearing for draft examinations and induction to
come into the area. The employees and others were then able to
enter the induction station.
While the police were attempting to clear the street, the law
violators threw bottles, chunks of concrete, rocks, garbage can
lids, burning rags and paper, a magnesium flare, and cyanide
bomb at them. The demonstrators also struck the officers with
heavy wooden sign boards and sticks.
Governor Reagan
-2-
October 24, 1967
Because of the very militant and defiant attitude of the mob, it
was necessary for the officers to use reasonable force to disperse
the crowd and clear the streets. The amount of force used was
proportionate to the requirements of the situation and was not
excessive. This is shown by the fact that although approximately
500 police officers successfully dispersed 4,000 law violators,
no major injuries were suffered. Only about 24 persons were
treated at local hospitals, even for minor injuries. The most
serious injury was a broken ankle received by a highway patrolman
who was stomped by a demonstrator.
Some newsmen came into physical contact with the police because
they remained at the scene of the unlawful assembly, and did not
move out of the area when ordered to do so by the police. In
addition to the numerous warnings given to the entire crowd, a
special warning was given to the press, requesting them to leave
the area. Many members or the press remained in the mob among
the demonstrators, and when the police lines moved to clear the
area, they were caught up in the sweep of the streets. Many news
media personnel have admitted to me privately that those newsmen
who came into physical contact with the police should not have
been there, and any injuries they received were their own fault.
On Wednesday, October 18, the demonstrators again resorted to
picketing the induction center and did not mass in the streets.
A number of arrests were made of those who persisted in sitting
in around the entrances and interfered with access to the station.
On Thursday, October 19, the "Stop the Draft Week" committee had
scheduled no activity at the induction station, although some
pickets did nex appear. On this date a large rally was held on
the Berkeley Campus of the University of California to generate
support for another attack against the induction station on Friday.
On Friday, October 20, more than 5,000 persons again took over
the street and sidewalk area surrounding the induction center
and closed this area to traffic or to citizens attempting to enter
the adjacent buildings. The police warned them several times to
clear the streets and then declared an unlawful assembly, order-
ing all persons to clear the area. When the demonstrators refused
to leave the scene of the unlawful assembly, the police again
formed tactical formations and cleared the streets. The demon-
strators moved ahead of the police lines avoiding physical
contact in most cases. However, by prearranged plans, the law-
breakers would then take over intersections and streets ahead of
the police lines. The mob then moved cars from the curb into
the center of the street, let the air out of tires and slashed
the tires on these vehicles so that they could not be moved, and
moved benches, flower pots, newspaper racks, and other objects
into the streets as barricades. While being dispersed, the crowd
Governor Reagan
-3-
October 24, 1967
again threw bottles, cans, rocks, magnesium flares, and other ob-
jects at the police, and struck the officers with sticks and
boards. Persons in the crowd also painted crude signs on build-
ings and on the street and smashed several windows in stores and
office buildings. The demonstrators stopped moving vehicles in
the middle of the street and then let the air out of the tires
to further impede traffic.
California
At this time police reinforcements arrived from the/Highway Patrol
and surrounding police departments, and the law violators were
finally cleared from the streets.
The police action was conducted by the Oakland Police Department,
assisted by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, and the
California Highway Patrol. On October 20, reinforcements were
received from local police departments in Alameda County, San
Francisco, Marin County, San Mateo County and Contra Costa County,
pursuant to Mutual Aid agreement.
The California Highway Patrol was utilized in this instance pur-
suant to sections of the Military and Veterans Code, under which
the Governor is authorized to use any department of state govern-
ment for the mitigation of an emergency beyond the control of
legal resources. The Highway Patrol was utilized in a manner
consistent with their traffic duties, the clearing of law vio-
lators from the streets. The Commissioner of the Highway Patrol
and the Finance Department are now working on methods by which
state emergency funds (rather than gas tax funds) can be used
to pay highway patrol expenses incurred during such emergencies.
The issue in these incidents was not the war in Viet Nam, or the
draft, but rather whether or not a mob could take over a section
of the city and prevent its use by peaceful citizens who were
entitled to safe passage to and from their places of business.
The police exercised their responsibilities in a disciplined and
trained manner, and demonstrated great professional skill in
restoring order and preserving the peace.
EM:fr
cc: W. Clark
L. Nofziger
P. Beck