Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. LXII -NO. 81 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. 29208 Monday, April 24, 1972 Demonstrator Keni Kar Burehstead Kennedy By JUDY TAYLOR Staff Writer Senator Edward M. Kennedy came to Columbia last Friday and his reception was anything but indifference. Inside the Carolina Coliseum the Massachusetts senator was greeted by a standing ovation from an audience of approximately 7,000 persons. Outside about two dozen demonstrators marched around the coliseum carrying anti Kennedy signs. Sen. Kennedy, who was ac companied by his wife Joan, ad dressed the South Carolina Education Association's fifth annual convention. Introduced by S. C. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings who told the crowd "the torch of Camelot burns," Sen. Kennedy spoke on several topics ranging from the escalation of the Vietnam War to President Nixon's proposal for a year-long moratorium on new busing. The crowd, which consisted of delegates to the convention, their guests and visitors, interrupted the senator's speech several times with applause. GinsI s outside prot riedy gi Commenting on the Vietnam War, Sen. Kennedy said the students of the past seven graduating classes have been destined for Vietnam and it seems the next graduating class may face the same fate. "This is a time for responsible action and if so, ending the war now is the most responsible action this country can take," he said. Sen. Kennedy also questioned the fairness of the Ad ministration's proposal on busing. "I do not propose busing white children to a school that is broken down, second rate or dangerous," he said. "But I also condemn any system that would permit black children to remain in those schools." Challenging the S. C. teachers to bear a responsibility equal to that of any legislator, Sen. Kennedy concluded, "Every child must have the opportunity to develop his mind, his abilities and his creative energies to the outermost limits of his potential. That is part of the American promise. That is part of the American dream. And we will have failed -- our nation and ourselves -- if we settle for anything else." Following his speech, the senator received another standing ovation and was mobbed by a crowd shouting, "I just want to touch him" and "President Kennedy." Outside the coliseum Sen. Kennedy received a different reception. Two groups of demonstrators greeted him with anti-Kennedy signs and shouts. About a dozen Cuban-American students waved signs protesting Sen. Kennedy's proposal for recognition of Cuba. The other group of demonstrators, which also numbered about 12, carried signs that said "Down with Ken nedy and West" and "Kennedy is a Yankee Doodle Dandy." Marilyn Johnston, a USC student Vh&. est ts sta majoring in history education, wa among the second group c demonstrators. She gave thre reasons for participating in th protest. "I object to Sen. Kennedy callin my ancestors who fought in th Civil War traitors. Also, he want to recognize Castro and he vote for all those bills that led to ir 0' The S.C. Education Assc convention opened wit Speakers and guests incl Poet, ex celebratin By KARIN BURCIISTEAD Staff Writer About 400 persons celebrate Earth Day '72 with an antiwa protest that began at the Stat House steps and concluded at S Peter's Roman Catholic Churcl Poet Allen Ginsburg led th march along Assembly Street the church, as rain forced th protesters to move the rally fror the Capitol steps. At the church Maggie Schumar a codefendent in the Harrisbur conspiracy trial, told the grou that the Vietnam war could b driven to a halt by massiv "nonparticipation and nor cooperation with business a usual." Commenting on the movement the rally to the church, the forme iding ot s tegration of the schools," Johnston f said. e She added that many of the e people who drove by the demon strators said they were with them, g 'especially the working people." e s A few feet from the demon strators stood a lone Kennedy supporter. Dave Self, a member of II Let us pray... iciation annual Earl Morris, h a prayer. Hollings, Sen. uded Lt. Gov. and Gov. and run lead mat g rainy Eart nun said, "This is the first time that I have ever been able to speak d in my own church." r e "The energy we generate here t. must carry over through the i. community and reach the citadels of power," Schuman said. "We can e no longer put anything ahead of 0 saving the lives of those our e government has marked for 'death." "It is time to bring the country to h.its senses about the war," she said. "We cannot weary' until our e nation's resources are directed at e healing the wounds we have in -flicted at home and abroad." s "*We have travelled from city to city and from campus to campus fcrying for peace and for justice; r yet there is no peace and there is ation a local textile union, held up a sign that said "Ted, We Love You." Self said he liked Sen. Kennedy >ecause of his stand on National 4lealth Insurance. When asked if ie would vote for Sen. Kennedy if ie ran for president, Self replied, "I'd do anything for him short of ,elling my wife and baby." Kann Burchstead Sen. and Mrs. Ernest and Mrs. Edward Kennedy Mrs. John West. -ch h Day very little justice," she said. Commenting on a black demonstration against the hiring practices of Columbia merchants that preceded the antiwar rally, Schuman s'aid she felt bad that there was a separate black protest. 'May the day soon come when we are both together on the same steps of the same Capitol." Columbia Attorney Franchot Irown apologized for the lack of >lack participation saying, "black >eople would be here in large iumbers if we didn't have some weculiar problems of our own." "Nothing irritates black people mor'e than to see the government turn away from the ills of our own society to go thousands of miles ( Continued on Page 4)