The Midpeninsula Free University

MFU Articles Published by The Stanford Daily
1969

SRI Obtains Injunction; Movement Plans Action

Stanford Research Institute (SRI) obtained a temporary restraining order from Superior Court Judge Stanley R. Evans Sunday that enjoins 27 individuals and 12 organizations from repeated trespass and unlawful interference with a lawful business.

SRI President Charles Anderson contacted in his home late last night explained that the TRO enjoins the defendants from entering the grounds of any SRI facility, preventing employees from entering SRI and defacing property at any SRI facility.

Named as defendants were: Marc Heller, Eric Miller, Allan Christelow, Jr., Yale Braunstein, Mary Hanson, H. Bruce Franklin, Barbara Levin, Steve Weissman, Richard Zdarko, Paul Rupert, Victor von Schlegel, John Shoch, Lauren Bechtel, John Gostovich, Paul Witt, James Shoch, Harry Cleaver, Fred Cohen, Scott Johnson, Jeanne Friedman, Anne Bauer, Leonard Siegel, Doron Weinberg, Larry Priestly, Paul Bernstein, Hallan Hamiltion, Rodney Page, the April 3rd Movement, Students for a Democratic Society, Resistance, Peninsula Observer, Stanford United Christian Ministry Staff, Peninsula Red Guard, United Students Movement, Committee for New Politics, Palo Alto Concerned Citizens, Mid-Peninsula Free University, North Santa Clara Peace and Freedom Movement, American Federation of Teachers Local no. 1816 and Doe 1 through Doe 500 inclusive. SRI is listed as the plaintiff.

Affidavits Attached

The order had copies of supporting affidavits attached, testifying to the participation of the defendants. These affidavits were signed by: Harvey Hukari, Jr., Gilbert Diaz, Douglas B. Greene, Homer Meadors, Charles Anderson, Eckhard Schultz, Claude Long, Jackson R. Booth, Lee H. Long and Michael Hirsch.

The Daily was unable to obtain a copy of the order in time for publication this morning, the complete text will be printed in tomorrow's paper.

Three injunctions were served early this morning by Harvey Hukari and Gilbert Diaz, on members of the April 3rd Movement.

The Movement decided earlier to move today against the Stanford Research Institute, in action similar to that of last Friday. At the A3M meeting yesterday afternoon it was decided to let the tactics committee determine whether to march on the Hanover facility or the main Menlo Park branch, or both.

The A3M met at White Plaza this morning at 6:30 to learn the decision of the tactics committee and then take action. There will be both peaceful picketing and more militant action with students working out of affinity groups.

The action today follows a protest last Friday by 400 students at the Hanover facility of SRI that ended when 150 policemen used tear gas to disperse the crowd. 16 people were arrested at the demonstration.

Those arrested were released within 3 to 4 hours when the required bail was put up by the ASSU student bail fund. The Palo Alto Times ran an incorrect story on Saturday charging that the funds were withdrawn by LASSU speaker Yale Braunstein without ASSU permission.

Flexibility for Committee

At yesterday afternoon’s meeting the group overwhelmingly voted to give the tactics committee flexibility regarding the decision for action today. Straw votes taken at the meeting were not decisive (concerning where the group wanted to demonstrate).

A committee was appointed to attempt to talk to University President Kenneth Pitzer to see if the trustees were changing their minds regarding the sale of SRI. Lee Herzenberg attempted to contact Pitzer last night but he could not be reached. The committee will attempt to serve as a link between the trustees and the movement.

Those students arrested are scheduled to appear on May 26, in the Palo Alto Municipal Court for arraignment. They were bailed out using funds from the ASSU student bail fund set up 3 or 4 months ago.

According to Yale Braunstein, student legislature speaker, any student may borrow against the fund at the interest rate of 1/2 of 1 percent per month for bail. A cosigner is needed, and the action must be approved by an ASSU representative.

The legislature has allotted $5000 for the fund from contingency funds—reserves built up from past years—and not from student fees. The bail fund has been used several times earlier in the quarter, although this has not been well publicized.