Great Speckled Bird June 22, 1970 Vol3#25pg2
There may still be a few folks around who believe that the cops in the hip community are our friends who are trying as best they can to protect us. If you still believe that, look carefully at what happened this week- end.
On Friday night a group of kids had a good vibes gathering in the park. Some swam in the lake, others played drums. The gathering continued late into the night. Harkey Klinefelter, the “street minister” and Clarence Green the Mayor’s liaison man to hips, left at 3:30 a.m. About 4:30 a cop car came into the park, called for assistance, and began busting people. Eight freaks were busted for “creating a turmoil” and “use of profane language.”
Monday morning four of the eight showed up in Municipal Court. Two testified that they were leaving the park when a patrol car pulled up. They explained that they were on their way home. Cool. Then a few minutes later they were busted. Municipal Court Judge R. E. Jones found all four guilty and told them, “Y’all get this out of your system in the daytime.”
On Saturday night the management of Tom Jones’ Fish and Chips on the strip decided to give away free watermelon and stay open all night because of the kids in town for the Cosmic Carnival. A crowd of kids gathered inside the store and in front of it having a good time.
About 1:00 am Officer Snowden arrested High Pocket’s brother, Charley, for dancing in the store. That’s right — dancing. Last week the Fish & Chips folks asked for and received a permit for dancing. The permit itself hadn’t come in she mail yet, but the store manager had posted the minutes of the Police Alder- manic Committee showing the request on the wall next to the business license. When Charley was arrested manager John Wynn called the owner of the store Mr. Crenshaw. Crenshaw came and talked to Sgt. Bell who was in charge of the precinct station.
Bell refused to look at the minutes of the meeting posted on the wall. Although Charley was in jail, things seemed to have quieted down so Crenshaw went back home.
About 3:00 a.m. Snowden came back in with a number of cops and said that anyone dancing would be arrested. It looked like the shit was about to hit the fan so Wynn called Crenshaw again. Crenshaw came and was told to go to the precinct station to talk to Bell. The cops left but were back in ten minutes with a paddy wagon. Bongo was arrested. Charley who had just returned from the jail was arrested again. The store’s assistant manager, George Jones, was arrested in front where he had been picking up litter. Manager Wynn was arrested in the doorway of his store. A customer was arrested at the counter where he was buying a coke.. All the kids in front of the store were behind the line police had previously respected as the part of the side- walk kids could safely stand behind. In all, 21 arrests were made for loitering at 3:30 am on a deserted side- walk devoid of anyone who’s passage on the sidewalk could have possibly been blocked by the kids. One excuse of the cops was that the door to the store was blocked. No complaint was made by the management of Fish & Chips—on the contrary they were arrested.
The men were piled into one wagon, women in another. The door on the men’s wagon was shut and locked. Officer J.E. Witcher, badge number 2036, came up to the back window of the wagon and said, “Hey you motherfuckers, we’re going to really screw you.” He held up an aerosol can. Someone in the wagon said, “Is that a can of mace?” “No”, he replied, “I’ve got a nine foot dick full of piss,” and he emptied the entire can of mace into the wagon. The night before, the community patrol had complained to the precinct station that 2036 was harassing kids on the street. Capt. Baugh, head of the precinct, says that 2036 was assigned to paddy wagon duty in South Atlanta Saturday night. He promises an “investigation”. You bet!
In court Monday, Fish & Chips attorney, Stanley Nylen, defended all those arrested. The cops testified that they warned the kids that they would be arrested if they didn’t move. All the defendants agree that no such warning was given. One cop was asked by Nylen if he knew whether mace was used or not. He said he didn’t, that he had only heard some of the kids claim it had been sprayed. Those in the wagon remember that cop asking them as he leaned into the wagon at the precinct station to write the tickets, “What’s this that’s making my eyes water.”
Lunch time approached and only store manager Wynn had been able to testify for the defense. Judge Jones said that if all the defendants were going to testify he would postpone the case until the next day. With 21 people involved and knowing what the verdict would be anyway. Attorney Nylen felt he could not wait. Jones declared a recess to talk with Nylen and the cops. In recess Jones talked to the cops who said that Wynn and Jones had encouraged the kids in the store. In court they had said that they didn’t know Wynn and Jones were store employees. More lies. Jones came back and found everybody guilty. He suspended the fine of all except Wynn, Jones, Bongo, High Pockets (who’s black), Charley, and Fang. Fang was charged with four offenses. The cops tried to blame the whole thing on Fang, who protested the arrests. Nylen and the Fish & Chips people are appealing the convictions of Wynn, Jones and Fang.
According to Crenshaw, the Fish & Chips has been harassed by the police since it opened April 2. At various times of the day four or five cops will come in and hang around. There has never been trouble at the Fish & Chips, and they’ve never had to call the cops. Crenshaw charges the police with conspiring to put him out of business. At a press conference Tuesday, Crenshaw announced that he is filing suit against the city for interfering with his right to operate a business. Wynn and Jones intend to file criminal charges against Witcher for the assault with the mace.
Sunday night I was in the Fish & Chips talking With Bongo about the previous night’s big bust. After a while I left. A little later a girl came up to Bongo and said that five cops had been hassling her with talk like, “Where did you get those clothes?” and “Why don’t you wear a bra?” Bongo picked up his pad and pencil and said, “Let’s go get their badge numbers.” They first found Officer W. D. Osborne, who was standing in front of the Metro skin flick. Bongo went over and wrote down the badge number. Bongo said, “It’s people like you, brother, who give us trouble down here. I’ve got a press conference tomorrow, and I’d like to tell them about this and tell Mr. Green.” Gilbert Hinson, owner of the skin flick and head of the 10th Street Businessmen’s Association, was out front and he demanded that Bongo get off his private sidewalk property. Bongo left and went to take another cop’s badge number. Osborne came up and said very softly, “Don’t let me catch you off the strip.” Bongo, who has a way of remaining cooled out, said, “Did you hear that, people? He told me, ‘Don’t let me catch you off the strip.” Then Osborne motioned for Bongo to come over to him. That brought Bongo over the property line of the skin flick Henson shouted, “Arrest him for creating a turmoil.” Osborne grabbed Bongo and took him away through the theater. As they left Bongo shouted, “They’re arresting me for carrying a concealed weapon and it’s only a Boy Scout knife.” Apparently the cops found that the Scout knife was too short to be covered by that ordinance so they charged him with Hinson’s “creating turmoil.” At the jail. Bongo paid a collateral bond and was out of jail but still in the station. A call came saying “Hold Jenkins (Bongo) for additional charge; ” The additional charge was “criminal defamation, a state charge and Bongo spent Sunday night and Monday in jail.
In court Bongo told his story of what had happened. Father Gregory Santos of the runaway program, who was with Bongo, testified and corroborated his story. But the cops and Hinson testified that Bongo had accused Osborne of making improper remarks to a woman and had threatened him with, “We have ways of taking care of people like you.” The judge, Jones again, ignored the testimony of Santos and that of Bongo. Accusing Bongo of “attempting to intimidate, the officer and threatening him,” Jones found him guilty on the turmoil charge and bound him over to state court on the defamation charge. Jones said that Bongo should have made a complaint about the cop to the police and the city instead of exposing the cop to “hate and ridicule.” Attorney Al Horn pointed out that that was precisely what Bongo was trying to do in getting the badge numbers, but Jones would not listen.
Three harassment busts, three sets of convictions in municipal court where simple justice is never found. Cop 2036 will at most be simply suspended from the force for a few days and I’ll lay bets even that won’t happen.
Nobody’s talking peace and love on the strip anymore. No one should. Instead kids are trying to figure out ways to protect themselves from the cops. Apparently somebody began on Friday night. According to rumors on the strip (I was unable to locate any eyewitnesses), a couple of guys were stopped for a grass bust. Apparently one shouted to some passersby, “Hey, can’t you help a brother?” Some did and in the next few minutes one cop was knocked out and the other cop had shot in the leg a guy who was crossing the street. One story says that the cop was knocked out when he hit his head trying to tackle somebody. At any rate, it seems that some freaks helped their brothers resist an illegitimate arrest. Expect more.
—gene guerrero, jr.