There have been numerous demonstrations against the war in Iraq in our region over the past four years. While some people support them, there are others who disagree and yell at the protesters, honk their car horns or give them the mid-finger salute. For the most part, the demonstrations have been orderly.

In May 1972, the war in Vietnam had been going on for a lot longer, and the demonstrations got a bit heated at times, with some people protesting the protesters.

Demonstrations had been graphic that spring. On April 19, if people were shopping at Bresee’s Department Store that afternoon, they encountered 17 anti-war protesters lying in front of the store, in death-like positions, being circled by the "specter of death," two black-cloaked figures, often pointing to the demonstrators as people passed by. This had been planned by the Oneonta Peace Center.

In May, several incidents took place in front of the Dibble block on Dietz Street, where today’s state Department of Labor office is found. At that time, the Labor Department was there, as well as Fairfield Apparel Inc., a dress manufacturer, The Outlet Barn, a retail store, and the U.S. Armed Forces recruiting office.

For the third day of sit-ins in four days by demonstrators in front of the Armed Forces office, there were about 60 people, mostly State University College at Oneonta students, on Saturday, May 13.

As in previous demonstrations, city police made no arrests and did not try to break up the group. Police made no effort to try to divert traffic around the sit-in, which had blocked Dietz Street.

Shortly after 10 a.m., a car driven by a local building contractor managed to get the car through the middle of the sit-in, but not without incident. The contractor had begun blowing the car horn, and as he moved slowly through, the car was damaged. Some of the protesters followed the car, as the contractor made his way to the police department to register a complaint about this encounter. There were no arrests.

Demonstrators were back Monday, May 15. Unlike the weekend, the sit-in was only on the sidewalk. Police had warned the demonstrators not to block the recruiting office, and at first they complied. But as the day wore on, they became more forceful in blocking the entrance. As a result, 14 demonstrators were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Thirteen went peacefully, but one, a SUCO professor, resisted. All were quickly released from jail, as a bail fund had been raised by the demonstrators.

Earlier that day, two women carrying handbags were finished shopping downtown and passed the area. They were vocal in their disgust with the protesters, calling them "a bunch of Commies," and began tearing down signs the demonstrators had placed on the walls of the building. A scuffle broke out, but there were no arrests.

On Tuesday, many demonstrators went to City Hall, with a resolution they wanted passed by the Common Council at its evening meeting. Essentially, the resolution asked for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Indochina.

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Mayor James Lettis at that meeting said, "What my president decides to do, I must follow. If I don’t agree with him, I can make that known at the next election." The resolution submitted that day was addressed at the next Common Council meeting. On June 6, it was unanimously rejected.

In July, a trial was set for August for what The Oneonta Star called the "Oneonta 14," those arrested May 15.

Thirteen were found guilty of disorderly conduct and fined $100 each. The SUCO professor was fined $250.

This series of protests touched off considerable unrest within the Oneonta Police Department that year regarding how the incidents were handled. Some within the ranks alleged that then-Police Chief Joseph DeSalvatore had neglected his duty. A controversial study of the police department followed later that year.

This weekend: A grand old theater opened and thrived in Norwich.

City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.