At the request of am attorney
2 granted delay in rugby case;
> seleryerar it
say Kunstler firm new defender
By SUSAN SCHULMAN iy pt :
Knickerbocker News Reporter é
from William
Kunstler’s New York City firm, a hearing for two
men arrested on gun possession charges when the
South African Springboks rugby team was in
Albany has been postponed until Dec. 21.
Michael Young and John Spearman, both of New
York City, told Judge John J. Clyne Friday they
have dropped the lawyers
the firm of Kunstler & Mason.
, 31, was arrested the day before the
Sept. 22 rugby game while in a car across from the
Best Western Thruway House on Washington
Avenue, Albany, where .the Springboks were
staying. He was charged with possession of a gun
after he reached for the weapon under his seat, |
Young, 28, a member of the Communist Workers
Party and one of the leaders of the protest against
the rugby game, was later charged with illegal
possession of a weapon because,'police said, Young
owns the car in which Spearman was arrested.
Young was also charged with possession of
fireworks, marijuana and ammunition.
Mark B. Gombiner, an attorney with Kunstler &
Mason, said Friday the defense of Young and
Spearman’ will raise a ‘‘search and seizure ques-
ee. een | ‘
assigned them by the |
ic defender’s office and are being represented
.
sheds Rake Ee ce ek od
tion.” Gombiner said Albany police searched
Spearman's car “without reason.” _
In court Friday, Gornbiner asked for a suppres-
sion hearing scheduled for Tuesday to be postponed
because Kunstler and the lawyers in his firm are
involved in a murder trial in Harrisburg, Pa. .
Clyne set Dec. 21 for the hearing and noted an_
attorney representing two others arrested on lesser
. Charges in connection with the Springboks game
asked a judge in the Appellate Division of State
Supreme Court to prohibit a joint supression
hearing for Young and the other two defendants.
In Albany Police Court Tuesday, Justice Thomas
Keegan ruled Clyne would sit as police and county
court judge at a single pe og (ot hearing for
Young, Vera Michelson, of Albany, and Aaron
Espis, of Massachuettes. = = tt
Attorneys ‘for the hres are questioning the
" validity of the search warrant police qbtained for
» wight?
the raid at Ms. Michelson’s Central Avenue,
Albany, apartment, ; tid ae ee he
Anita Thayer, who is representing Ms. Michelson,
‘said Appellate Judge Paul Kane issued a show
cause order, answerable Monday, on why the
’ ‘ suppression hearing for Estis and Ms. Michelson
should not be separate from Young's, .
“Michelson and Espis were charged with posses-
sion of marijuana and fireworks during the raid.
‘ fi Snails or ue Li one ae oa es Siuiahiead
ss 7s
|Q ¥8f ge.2zeases peges ge antag tte;
SQigtad seu jee i ge Elli =
CS Oo sid gece +ecy e a0Gst 4a. Fees ge Bie
is erp Giisy atuba: tite 33!i i ¥) i :
“wR GEE agnth segeee 2288, Fey babe! dl uke
a> desk ii? cilige ue 3! “Hy Bala. Witt i
2 6 #23 hil 3% face Hage E Pea roasts HL
ge Titan aH Le Py SET ee et
O Po © SRaGs? gate s2ggeszs seegs Bees eyes Bees se:
a: ne, EE yUE yb ik ais
Be Ha iui iui uk i inp ai iH
QQ | S 253548 Sad m.5 = . e bSs aa 228
WOR sdgeebeee tales reseed UF in peice H. HL
ro ashe LTH HegsTigiae idee fee
28 Ahi 4 “sil adem nane|
got 3 fh pee oe a Na
184 3,
”
Michaelson, Estis -..
contributed to a federal judge's
decision to allow the game to
one despite Gov. Hugh L.
| Carey's order that it not.
boks’ visit to Albany charged
jJence was.a fabrication. Mi-.
chaelson's and Estis’ lawyers
Cleared of Charges '
. Sie
ae
#
22 rugby game here were
dropped in Po Court yester-
t meta ee Mien.”
‘ s Room
torney general na
“The motion to quash had
to drop the case,
! they hoped would prove that. |
there was no cause for
Greenberg said. woeks ago, .
E
:
:
i
|
HA
i
Fa
my WE : Pe ie eS. = Y "I
PR acct. Meith, Pe a hee eo
if
Ld
ic
Be
5
e
~
e
‘8
~ &
s
=
5
=
<
of
&
¢
*
Fy ¥
%
1.
+
i
* _
ie
= St
ay ea
Michael Young, 28, of
on a felony weapons charge.
Y and Estis were sta
with Michaelson during the
Springboks’ Albany visit.
‘ Young, along with John
f paige 31, of Lawrence
- were
j on the weapons charge,
whic from Spes
man
fest
5
peep was formed to support the
fense of Young, Spearman,
reons arrested in Albany
ch stemmed from § <>
‘s alleged possession of a
handgun when _— ex-
amined his car Sept. 21 near the
motel where the Springboks
were . Police gg
gun at ‘sa
when they went to arrest
¥ Sat “Bea me
Early , the state At-
‘ ee os once :
proceed 0 a
oe subpoena ora confdenta nate
for 7 and 10 p.m. next Sunday at
ASU"s Page Hall on Western Av.
had to use the report: tn” ;
f
i
Py
i
iinet wee ee ee
PCN den ac umantans De Ws: peachy ee
% ;
: oo i “i Te, \: a 7
Jay
GAZETTE PHONE 374-4141:
nite citmaataanianantindiinn denen a hea deeded 1 eden son tp eanellpremegcos y er Py | " St aes
aie, ill,
d
rs
4
a
Pa ae
= ee
PO ey be em,
“|
;
’
!
ie % *.
PNR at cate Pe SY bee
Two rugb
«t ae gh aa ms
wd Srp fe < Srth eS a Sma ger i sia
wit
. Charges nst two protesters arrested _ The raid. led to Michelosn’s’ and Betis
when South African roghy fear wen ene natn tailing for two days before bail
,, Albany have been dismissed, = ~ “was set. naa ri
.;,, But Albany County District Attorney ‘Sol: “We wanted to establish police had no pd
Greenberg said those two cases won't affect right to be in the apartment and these
felony charges against two others arrested people. were innocent,” Qliver said.
anes nthe Sept. 22 Springboks, “The only thing in that search warrant _
game. _) 8) \- W&s perjury, no proof,’ Ms. Michelson said
Albany Police Court Justice Thomas after the charges against her and Estis were
Keegan Tuesday dismissed, “in the interest dismissed. “They (police) didn’t have any-
of justice,"’ fireworks and. ‘marijuana aa oe
charges against Vera Michelson, 36, a a et 4
in-Albany to protest the game. esrchad nothing todo withthe vali a
Michelson, Estis and their attorneys were the searctr-warrant used in the raid:
‘Pleased the charges were dismissed, but. Since the charges against the two were
‘sistant District Attorney Michael Katzer - Gbeiniiong: anid’ the. Sebendares: rcfuead. ”
moved to grant motions of dismissal made the offer. Based on motions for’ “relief”
by the defendants’ attorneys. - Thayer and Oliver later filed in the,case,
But Anita Thayer, Ms. Michelson's attor- Greenberg i dismi
ney, and ‘Lewis Oliver, Estis’ lawyer, said the charges. as “just and proper relief,”
they had made no motions to dismiss. And: _ Greenberg said the issue of the search -
if a dismissal were to be made,. the warrant. is expected. to be brought up in. |
attorneys said, it should be on the basis that _Albany County Court Dec. 21 when hearings —
their clients are innocent, not. “in: the are held for Michael Young’ and John
interest’ of ‘justice. "* ; Spearman, both of New York City.
‘Thayer and Oliver also objected beste ‘Spearman. was arrested before the raid'of
the court did not address the validity of the Ms. Micheison’s . ‘apartment. He was
search warrant police used in the raid.of Ms. ._ Charged with possession of @ gum found ina
aoe one
=
4
SEE | SUNOS ga Ee PR Rige: v9 Bai iis Po en ta *
se chwinaer oe iil Sept. 2. eS are Ma “ieee chain
Pe ane Sit dk, PANEL so-so |
! ry protesters sul ar angry.
as cases against them are Gropp |
ii died oe eo ig renee:
Tt apettanit.: 2 5 Ht & Bk # {
Young was also charged with possession
_ of the weapon and a speedloader — a —
used to load a révolver quickly —
"hen police railed Ms, Michelson’s sare :
ha MAAOle Albsin elisa waldo
obtain the search warrant state they re-
The affidavit claims Ms: Satterfield told
“police she believed her life was threatened
by a militant faction of demonstrators.
Ms. Satterfield has denied’ making that
and other statements police attributed to
case, had requested that both
Cases be heard at the same time in front of
one judge. Mer einer th ge 8
-» Keegan had agreed to. the request and,
moved the case to county court. An appel-
late judge later overruled Keegan and.
ordered. the cases to be:heard:separately.
ee. Se are Monee res na EY att eel ee ee OS RS eh a os
e
astm NN ia: AE ae Soe tat “ERT Ra etree cw we |
?.
Judge clear
ra 3 Rei - Hens Fe a a eek, Se
Marijuana, fireworks charges J
Rend ts r 4 Pass fie sie cai CYS) Sete en i ee ltt RS Cit eae <i é
By Cliff tes oti “ewes? "Michelson ‘and-Estes, who had been * Tuesday. 72 732% “Spatter
v(.. ©" 9% “7s involved im planning the. demonstration... In court Tuesday, Oliver, who was repre- <
el
ay rere ueneae t ROOT NT RE PR SS a
* os f . z 4 ty
lears 2 ru
i ‘ +p OE dy oh ee aren’ ih
wit ded
are dropped :
a hod. Lee ee ee le ae
>
ao ee ee on tour before the game at Michelson’s 400 Central the interest of justice.” eit
dismissed marijuana and fireworks-posses~ AV. apartment. 6 1) gon o's, ee thee colts been dismissed on those,
} ; She erent wo parses inveived in : | apepe Young, 28, and John Spearman, ‘ grounds, Oliver said, it might be interpreted .
4 , County: District Attorney — -Katzer
+ ~ against Albany civil rights activist. Vera ctivists in the rugby demonstration too, “Had the gine forward" Ole
Michelson, 36, and Aaron Estes, 22, of . 80d, police said, had “been staying in cape hearing. >” Oliver:...
F Somerville, Mass. - aiés et aces Michelson’s apartment. sag? ee ee,
%
| < Motion,” which included a request to a. dwar hh ocr | a
the charges, a : ae 3 CrP... money.” “i Ue +e “PS Aah HS 4, evince ga by econ justify the. a
" ’ 1 yaa Ange encased i gi J At % ue o4 ; Pitianc Li sob Stayt 1 ae ; ar Hl act ie Aa at
at ~The district a & office moved: Ie ie EL a eae
becuase we even scaity. , Neverili’’ WW combiter’ thn, mepptonaien *-Beth Oval wed ‘Thales wn panegie
prosecuting” Michelson ¢aring.for Michelson and Estes in Albany “40's attorney, had pig seman denn
rges,.which are Police Court with the suppression hearing °F Erastus Corning II, Police Chief |
oF yah bi " ie Lt, : ‘* it Court. ‘ y eer a . Peat ie “hie nonin ts 19 py é = Ps ‘e
He said’ his office had offered eS violence at the rugby game demonstration’
ments im contem ation of disrnissal t Greenberg said then. that identical issues | Site # Me ae Meat ie Ep ae We amy
‘ttowe Micbahene tn Estes ours arvegied and ‘witnesses were involved. in all four _ . Michelson said her arrest was “political’”
on the charges. | i tie : cages. Seat Ae Sau tise eae Male joie a: ci ed: em mexico rene i us and -
“They blew.it,” Michelson said, referring , Michelson and Estes appealed that motion an example for other civil rights activists in_
40 her arrest. by police and ultimate. © ‘he Appellate Division of State Supreme the community.” cig MRE sgehiad ay e
‘dismissal of the charges against her. - ‘Court, and. argued their cases: would bey at en be
re lew Se a ge Prejudiced if theis hearings were merged. She said police had no right to search Ker”
Me ee many anit sahatie,” seid Rates, ‘ with those of Young and Spearman.’ . _ apartment and. the warrant issued for the
‘that the-courts can ~~ The Appeliate”D ieitar cube occ. o ‘search-coptained perry: re, pe.
'g right to free speech.” i pomp ee
Cre te ee al es hearings. should: be held and the Michelson... Meanwhile, Greenberg said the suppres-
-_; against’ police. and’ city offigia ie ig, is. being court, where a defense motion ta supress been scheduled for Dec. 21 in Albany. County
, considered. ote de 1 (ec evidence in the case was to have been heard Court, 3 ie
0 elie
ivy glia ie tT re renee ee ee I.
+ * * cara Ff ‘
¥ a % ‘ @ ass . * Sne'A
ate a Pe ORS eee BENE RED
\ ‘ ‘ ; " ; ‘y Bo | tm : 3 hd ak?
oie ge . ae Pike ate eo” ae ! “ci Lt
a ight . na als , + ml } x
i eee te ed pei Ag @.
y “e' teu! By
' % ge * ° JA ¥ BO see
% = “ ee “Re - ‘
te. eee 4, at Me) are ie ‘ ¥
' Dili . wee ili gee ® FR Sago fog ete! oe mR, athe WS MSS ees PMS e% a a ees t Th ne le
rere
Bernie Bartholome, 37, see dasaod ina federal.
. seornplaint with “maliciously destroying property
- with an explosive,’” He was taken into custody by U.S.
np caer beaten cbt: £8 ed
Seanad: kad bowled tas ene
) pacial policies at ev lege age E
: fateore the snes pla a game in Bleecker Stadium
‘ Heacoeaer “reicaak arrestee
“4 s ievocevilio Rugby Club member, Robert Letierbach,
r f algned 0 ples’ agreement with U8. racer oe
ht rom vehicles at a local dry Geameres then”
oer a cas anc gol ah Sar
we Ne...
“
PP ea Fh we beatin b stews eye * i‘
re ie
nt
{ROCK TALK 24 ,
a
pA Meseaue From Gil Scott. Heron,
Be
_ by Donald F. Wilcock ak ord
iL SCOTT-HERON COULD TALK
~ Aupt Mabel out’ of~hey tax-
a si * 4 ‘ ¥
aff yt yy, ri
hve you heard frorg veined
His latest commentary
aero’ annuity check, He gould
! Heme to used po ieee
d make . it. He's aleq a vecgitive poet.
Fd hose imag tehepert is rich in African herit je
~ whose Midsight Band supposts his sle¢ pail
‘with a background of coal thythmic laze and)
it hipper-than-hip funk, But it’s hig politica that % Defensive, Weinberg’ and
registered voters’ ..
Wayne substitute
; most of the attention. , Rites EGgademned Do Right. e ey Scott-Heron's "political songs ig an /anti-big
i . ' ‘| business biag. How does he reconcile that stance
ft -'We'ge the moat tec yplogically “vanced. : Needless tg say, songs like these do HOF get with Working for a record induatry sponopolized mi
gociety jp the world, but we ptill tok informa: & t tnassive radig airplay. ‘If 1 worried about what | - hey ee
: ‘too on the things most any to Br haf
Gur lives in the balance,!’ be said
e between concerts at SUNTAN. Page mnt iY Yor.
instance, there ig so much Safad. ah money |
ing spent, there ia a responsibility tq: the: te
community to present the other side.”
Scott-Heron did just ‘thet
iWe Almogt Lost Detroit'!:' :
’ ft ticks each night as the city sleeps/ Seconds’
m annifilation/ But ng one stopped to think -
pbout the people/Or how they woyld gurylve/ {> ue
* we almogt jose Dera this dmg,” a
f That was released two' ‘years before Three:
gong,"' Scott-He eran quick}
; ally a political muckraker. Ah. dy
‘SUNYA's Page
African aparthe
ile Island. He released ‘Johasinesburg"" in 1975,
year before the Soweto rebellion: ..
Well. I hate it when the blood starts flowin’ i:
‘But I'm glad to gee resistance growin’ / Somebody \
ye me what's the word! / Tell me, Brother,
ea vets oui
the grouinds that to let the ga
SRI Bar Rirescenrngspptesmsseree om
~e i
Pepeland -
Dee a 169M) Jae Ce /IE
&
r
| think I'm'more well rohaded Politics ig a #:gouvenient vehicle for getting my: PAGHAAGE
t part of our lives. J regard politics like y cold. Jf |} toa larger nymber of people.'!
Ha gong ¢ 3 ust be diagnosed, and then you get therapy f
' ng ag. * e t. The same for politics. You niust recognize ¢ Ag
probipms and Fat to grips with them,’'
Si
is *'B-Moyie,’!
* digtm a pf the '‘Ray-gun’’ administration yoted , protestg:: Information on
‘io office. by twenty-six, percent of
king for a cheap Joha
a false sense of security. m
a ae
od be
the »
in @ nostalgic B-movie existence directed. by
“Attila the Haig,"s produced by 'Cgsper, the.”
‘sarring "Dudley, * A basic theme that runs through most of
la
people program op Hey ashe I wonidn’t write ae
i put. On the;
Beles hand, be de oes not consi himself basic.’
Whe by
The: problem ythat | breught Scott- Heron Bh,
co be Deneeber ‘13 was South
. A group af people collectively ”
“known dg the Albany Nine had been arrested an * Ht
‘what they considered flimsy charges jyst befor. «
the Springboks rugby game. Each was active
‘organizing demonstrations against the game an
mes be played was
to oe des comorge South Palrica’ 8 _ antl ies
t
ts phat, don't support
*
~ Apartheid. Scott-Heron 5 patent ieee concerts,
one in Burlington and two in Albany, at a reduced
fee to help benefit the defense fund jor'tve Albany
Nine. Scott-Heron said he had not come to Al-
| pany for the demonstration because he felt that. .
oo iyo attention to the games might play right
hy Gf
¢ bands of the South African g poreceeents
raft was in Washington, D.C,, giving 4 concert.
gt the time, bur I got reports le i'm
approached by several pire tu pational
sketchy; it wag a placebo rugby tour end only
three games came off. My getting eaves
ight have generated more attention than those
three games were worth, faokuline interest from
- those who couldn't have cared'less otherwise,”
BEAT yt be paid, but J cap’r be bought, The .
company works for m¢. As such, they give «
i public what I want to issue, | am a part of, >
the games was so
%
+
cn
4,
uO
‘ byt not a payt from, the record industry, They are,
i He indicts the Reagan administration pe i
* webbing the poor tq suppor} big-business in- «
| berests,but doce be have ¢ solution id vole sy t scett- Heese at Page Hall: “I can be
‘POMMITY, fs economic jlls? ,
'¥es., Quit ween forgiga
demogracy.... Cot sy 3
‘ gid and saye the economy. We r¢ sendin
shipa milliong of dollars a Say. ‘We ona
oe some of os 1,.Q.0
oft-Heron was cbrienals tired. when we ’
yaa backstage. His casual conversation was
not a9 sleek 49 his ca bug his intellect comes
through in everything bh BPAY: | dh Se
» be develops his saps
.-. "There is no patter. Some sange develop res oe
“thythms. ‘Some simply ‘come
sessions. Some come to me while T's I'm mitins
letters at airports. There is no pattern.’ Th
deadpanned: "The bang dee the oo
as ail th the credit,"
sgvernments ; i but I can't be bought. *'
a The Bottle’ and “Angel 1 Dust’ have besarne
;
$
4
m how .. anti-apartheid forces. Does bh
- pallying cries bgainst substance abuse. We
** Almost Lost Detroit'’ is 4 erful enti-nucleay °
protest. Now "B-Movie"! is focusing attention ©
ou the effects of the Reagan administration on -
the poor. His Albany appearance rallied the
© write songs with .
» the intent of theix becoming tallying cries?
#°¢ “Bach gong is por development: ‘ou j
don't te, 4° bas» Us hei make. :
Coa Labs
< fom ally why :
‘pbiwri rit akyting cat a "woul pe
a CARLO WOLFF + nl Freda os. revolu
j P ¢ A | Navies ak as leader Mary
¢. fea o Aleaay by heir alle
k up the After pledging their alie-
sets ? only dance tothe Cominnes gilt:
an Administration and South | 1) started late
es the bands arri
ers’ Party, the Ma y Singers
ei Cliff and the Beatles. Tie half.
~~ ee Rene pons apa ae faa cane,
“ Nine, poche ot? le dramatic vocalist Bemshee
Srimatoks o much te wp for the nin oe
| the he pry ra eight-member
feated a team fielded by >
Kastern Rugby Association. Midnight. Band into “B
she was Movie,” the a w it
. as in for a unique combination
* ae t
on, ae Sa
As Scott-Heron put i+
ie didn’t know
Sh pereent who didn't vote
t-Heron san “rapped, f;
| igared there wasn't & presideni
ing exposition.
sy er though one might e+
pect Seott-Heron's work to vx ‘
it isn’t. The reason |
Scott-Heron’s casual Stage |
his veivety baritone |
‘ sometimes he sounds a little —
- wai and tds tere |
Michaelson raising her ‘ ic
cheer ofthe small au ‘
eeieres to bear's concert a. Scott-Heron Mid. |
Mayday Singers and Gil po et arta ot |
& ‘concert was one of three two Page on!
: tual ot ta Fie tee. eres oe
8 Burlington, Vt. benefit
e staged for the Al ine. and $8.50 tes i
oe ra Hall show.
5 | and Estis have been dropped, as : |
+ arrested early in the Campbell, the man
i tour: But two others- t Ing Thetice agency is Roll
* to the Stop the Apartheid Media, it ap
LS Tour Coalition (SART),
\
game in a rai’ of a Central Ave.
inty nue apartment.
month,
Young, 28, of Brooklyn and
8 earman, 31, of Lawrence,
can rugby game at Bleeker
Stadium.
Spearman handed Kunstler’s
affidavit to a seemingly agera-
vated Judge John Clyne.
‘tial be put off until today.
But Spearman and Young
contended Kunstler sent Clyne a
telegram last week expla;
Spearman was arrested the
Might before the controversial
‘ame in Young's car across the
Street from the hotel where the
South African team was Stay-
ing. .
Young was arrested the
morning before the Sept. 22
[sew Sa
OOK Wee ay
City
i is
edi a ‘maten rae
the- ae o ablic. melas Ae ae
ver, 1.
'stis.. Estis |.
nah oy aity Pr county [A
ting | Onment, malicious.
anti- | denial of t bad, slander, libel,
also filed a notice of claim:
eivilr rc For, us | he tn
rane First, Fourth, Fifth | the soneeenn They
th Amendments. of |.dice
sufficient and furious search "
iver.¢ontended*”
denied bail. illegaily:
‘0d was subjected. tovull crim ~
tes a stata | : meal ban
. was kept in Albany
Sou ty ‘ b ais ' while}
elsor there |
| ratte Mines thet
‘he ul wag able re
rv ad-hadnd sbasganpeherrmenial id x ssatadand fon. Gut BOTT
Bleecker Stadium. -"" #t-«™
[ae enero nee
lawyers for the
re y-Generat's ~ Oliver said if the cil andtie
om oe ee county don dai a
; one compelling. the ays..he ayer
state to:make available a state | WUl'file formal in
federal district court. ** dele.
‘Bhtis ‘and Mietiaet Ye ‘oung, 28, }
of Brooklyn were staying i ME
chaelson’s apartment during :
+¥e Pagan dehpagleen 31,
‘a
Pir -Lawrence, Kansan were sub
sequently indicted: bya grand
jury on a weapons charge ster-
police report-on t ntial |
matelf® The state Kenied tee |
enge the legality. ef the !
af that led tothe
er
Poca
wt
we nore a acinsithiee einai
NPS PEE ewes Wcaaneane NUN Oe MES Rew wTy _—s
—
asa a au
rae Fee Ral i: Hd ise
ra = ii ahane i ti I ies
Le aa nile
pe Ub ae
O: SH iyi! EER Sh
ie 3h ate Ta ail Ha i
Baqi | it
| Osta ‘al rH ral A
oe Heat Hil it ull
rr
After fuss, protests and hollers,
a rugby game produces dollars
By Tom Friedman
Statf Writer
After the dust settled from the South African
Springboks rugby games in September, the Eastern
Rugby Union ended up with a profit of about $5,203 —
some $100,000 less than what rugby union officials
originally had expected, according to a final report
issued by the union.
Profits could increase by about $1,000, according to
union presiaent Tom Selfridge, if the union is able to
rent or sell copies of videotapes of the Eastern Rugby
Union-Springboks game.
The Springboks played the Eastern Rugby Union
Eagles in Albany's Bleecker Stadium amid protes-
ters andthe United States Rugby Union in private on
a polo field in Scotia.
Selfridge said protesters made it difficult to have a
profitable sale of tickets. The union refunded $2,219 to
people who bought tickets to the Schenectady match,
but then were unable to see it after Selfridge made a
last-minute decision to hold the game in private.
The resulting profits from the games were some
$100,000 less than what the rugby officials had
originally estimated. “‘We held the games and that's
what was important," he said. “It would have been
nice to make more but we couldn't with the
protesters."
a ‘
Selfridge said sale of the tapes will be advertised in
Rugby Magazine soon. But he said he doesn't expect -
any South African buyers since the tapes are made
for American televisions and won't work on foreign
televisions.
“In all seriousness, there was no intent to sell the
tapes outside the United States,’ he said. “If
somebody were to buy the tapes from there they'd /
have to do a conversion.”
The final report, which was audited by an Albany
firm of certified public accountants, shows total
expenses of $82,717 for the two games and revenues of
$91,513, for a net income of $8,796. But, the report
counts the video tape produced as income at some
$3,593, so the actual cash profit produced was only
slightly more than $5,000, Selfridge said.
Among the revenues is a $50,000 grant from the
South African Rugby Board which was used to pay
for expenses of the Springboks during their weeklong
stay in Albany.
Other revenues included $9,400 from sales at
concessions and T-shirt sales at the Albany game,
$4,676 from program sales, $3,111 for ticket sales at
the Albany game, $1,860 for banquet and reception
and $400 for sale of practice equipment.
In addition, the rugby union has estimated. the
value.of volunteers’ time at $19,724.
°
hy if
TOM SELFRIDGE
Yeast, : g
’
‘
Ao PE Eanes Rnlearbacnar News) Bet Richey 4
KUNSTLER IN ALBANY — John Spearman-Jr., left, and Michael Young
flank attorney William Kunstler at the county courthouse today, . eo
ce
Puling reserved ong
5
3 Pee * r
4, ae a eee ais oy a
ia at % TE eck atti
a. ae
; FAR pd
m nh
Sunstler rugby plea,
. ABEar lier story oP: age-+A. : Gi... Judge John Clyne, calling a supres- ‘i
"Combined statt and wire reports. Sion hearing “standard in these!
An Albany County Court judge has! © things,” said he would reserve decision, J
reserved decision on a motion by ' on the motion: ar
1M oes
attorney William Kunstler to suppress... r** Kunstler maintained the warrant was. ,
evidence seized from: two apartheid improperty issued. Both his clients.are ,
protesters charged with criminal POS“ free.on $10,000 bail each. Sy en
session of a weapon. ; 4 An FBI a igor
. Kunstler Wednesday challenged a « Young and Spearman .
warrant issued last September ta. « Albany intending to disrupt the Bleeck-
search an. apartment where Michael |. e¢ Stadium rugby match, FBI special
Young, 28, of Brooklyn,, was Staying; ~ agent James J. Rose said today. i
while waiting to protest an Albany Rose said the informant told him that
rugby match between the Springboks, a “firearms, handguns, sticks, crudgeis~
South African team, and an Eastern and firebombs’’ were to be used ta’
Rugby Union team. ts. @iidiseupt the match scheduled for Sept. :
At the root of the protest was Soutie: >. Miser: arenes i SONI NET Ne ten
Africa's policy of strict racial segrega- Rose was the leadoff witness.today in,
tion; called apartheid. "4 “the hearing before Clyne. - -
Young and John Spearman Jr.,3t,of | Kuntsier questioned the validity of
Lawrence, Kans.,. were arrested and! ‘the search warrant because it, was-
charged with illegal possesion of a . based on information from the unidenti-
foo“ed .38-caliber pistol the day before, fied FBF informant. what was claimed)
t ateh was to be played. i, + wl in: ati Bi
“Police said-they arrested Spearman
as. he was trying to remove the gun .
from beneath a seat in a car owned by .
Young: A search of the: apartment
Young was. staying allegedly
uncovered: 35. rounds of. 38-caliber
1 ap tea Oe! wy CM ae
Pk eal Ma io 4
+.
“~~,
ee
ened by Young. Kuntsler Says Mrs,
Satterfield denies Making any. such
‘statement to the PBI be
Kuntslem. said. the Same claims of
violent action were lodged. against
Martin Luther King Jr, who her also
defended? ° j.u.. ket 4
~
Central Avenue in Albany was being
used asa base of Operations to disrupt
‘for “destructing the rugby game.”
“He said” inforination: was given to
‘Albany police that Spearman, Young
‘anda William Robinson were in Albany
tavblock the match. . f
Rose: said he was contacted b
Thomas: : Selfridge, President of: the
Eastern. Rugby Union, in Jaly with
infortmation that he Was concerned.
,about pessible violence at the game.
"
“Dee 30 Weed. Morwing OF the hearrg
Pl > at Nam Th Sa adh Sys Sa
OS Fae pee Fe nt ES eS pra +s
| t B ‘ : ,
mstler exp
4 . im) age? , 2 ‘anil i
ve ire, < yhlity wee ane, ss
= a Pre b ue " Pe +:
te a
lc Seek , “i
React: fe e
ie. La
Wwe: basta wih
‘ ” « ook w sae ™ Pt ‘ . a 4
a : i i aes , tng: MATS ake aah & NaN 4 1 ose ‘ga ‘e
. e ‘ +. ry Rd
- £0 represe } sh ia
oo ee men in-ru
Sie Toe ht’ Pg Pe 4 PENIS P } om
a ni > ae aa Soy ce ea gC ates Seiad ge Ren |
. % ae
. ht ao
s
ve |
- "*
»4
Aa
% ws
a SGM & Ree on: ;
Wat E23, Deomnmuvrota Re os .
M ry ve
aie Pont thes
oe ‘ ; fs two men jobs. c0%; i to. lige
_" gbf @loaded’ 38-caliber pistoh wher ite session: Kiana
a ket rugby team wasvin Albany.
ME Kunstler said he wilt challénge: the validity .
Py 3 Search warrant and other procedures’ whi Srakaie = court with-himytoday: =. 7 a an pPear.in {
neh pe ff ‘ed int the arrest pias SD apPe hy “a i DN ie > ae Boast: rm % Belch
Find “st of Michael Young, 28, of Brooklyn . _ Distriet Attorney Sol Greenberg Ph Conia %S
RS OF Mgt
4 i
s
“9 , A : * ’ i "the le ; Said police 3
‘a Eoin scheduled: to ‘take place before Pe hohe ~ SOughE a seer nett of Probable cause when they .
@ search warrant to enter the: 400-Central.
f
arta
r
&
?
8
J
Kuns
My Rede eg holds ce dt Rowe SIRE INE we
er Calls Police
AE EN Sime
Of Rugby Protesters IMlegal
- -Gazette oneal
ALBANY — City police
seized evidence illega ly and
fabricated reports from ‘an in-’
formant to arrest two sont
ters at the Springboks’ | said,
: ember game here, at-"
torney William Kunstler.
charged yesterday.
Kumtior apoeceaa in County
Court to represent Michael
Young and John Spearman at a
he ong South Africa's policy of
lack tion, apartheid.
a * ad *
If Kunstler wins ‘his argu-
ment, the gun would be sup-
pressed as evidence, deleting
weapon possession charges, the |.
only charges against Young and
et a i ge Qk, *
which had been ted stolen.
‘Kan.,awas arrested the night be.
Kofta! Ff] 9) vein ong
said. Charts and diagrams of ‘State - ty ‘camous’
ented n ‘were on the across front teestentel ene
oer Peter DePaule two kar police said. He ‘was nate:
made night sticks were later }avith unlawful possession of a.
found in the trunk, DeP “aw. on ' ts
sired early the next morning
Hes pS Se oe Was one We
Reha ape odage sg oy -
during a police raid of
Avenue apartment where some’
M bes
EE ok tk ee ge ¢
a 5s we oe 1 oe Yh
0 ae % we a
i ca
4 ‘Itwas the FBI, not the
» | ters, that ‘injected rad sonar
lence might erupt rom protes- | Young. » sk
ters at the game. “The rier iege on “We never intended violence.
were echoed just prior to We wanted a peaceful! protest.
game by a reliable, confidential ' The FBI subjected ‘the .atmos-
nformant, said DePaulo. . . dp violence ‘and terror’”
. Kunstler called for.a Darden oung said) Pee
hearing, allowing himtosubmit |.“ source of violence is the
questions to Clyne about the al-
j confidential informant.
testers were arrested for
a political reasons,
unstler said. <
from the'stadium gates. ‘The-
are ecaey game on the Al-] can rugby team 41408).
Clyne reserves decision.
: By Shirley Armstrong
.they found the gun?
' the South African.team was quartered.
3 i ce ee i ah Se eye we . 70% wm vee WE pee “om ra ee oh. a eT toe TO pm m
TIMES-UNION : Albany, N.Y., Thursday, Dec. 31,1981 3
*aiw
4
at rugby evidence hearing
Stati Writer 7
“Did the police jump the gun when
That was the story line of the plot that
unfoided in Albany County Court
Wednesday, awaiting only an ending
yet to be written by Judge John J.
Clyne... “
In the corridor outside the courtroom, ’’
defendants Michae! Young and John
Spearman, along with well-known at-
torney William Kunstler and some
Supporters, stood before television
cameras, blaming “violence” on the
government and the-F BI.
But inside the courtroem, a compara-
tively low-key examination of the tech-
nical but.-crucial issue of whether
Albany police conducted an illegal
search of a car and seizure of a gun :
produced its own Significant drama.
Young, 28, a member of the Commu-
nist Workers Party, arid Spearman, 31,
who said he is a Supporter but not a
member of that group, were charged
with illegal gun Possession, a felony,
after they came from New York City to
participate in what turned out to be a
peaceful demonstration ‘against the
Sept. 22 appearance in Albany of the
South African Springboks rugby team.
_ The demonstration was in protest of
South Africa’s apartheid policy of
racial Separation that denied many
rights to blacks. |
Wednesday's court hearing was on a
motion by the defense to suppress
evidence. in the case. Testimony contra-
dicted earlier statements by authorities
that Spearman had reached for a gun
beneath the seat of the car he was
driving when it was halted on the night
of Sept. 21 near the Albany motel where
And it was disclosed that it was after " me
ea LEE Staff photo by Bob Richey
Ser (ohh ae ee ee ‘ne DEFENSE TEAM — Famed detense lawyer William Kunstler stands
registered to Young) and was in polide Outside Albany County Court Wednesday between Clients John Spearman,
searagy_that officers conducted a left, and Michael Young. They were in court, Seeking, suppression of
search — without a warrant — that evidence im @ guN possession Case. stemming from a protest against the
turned up a gun in the glove compart- South African Springboks rugby team.
ota ae eS TR Aina es » Gan Re,
- ; mPa oe My
ment. } vest OR i ag “haa Reino ge 8 sad Ina te ss ae ie ste cnliliecaits eee 0 a lh
«Bi
ee
Cour. Tu~ Dep 3) - /99/
* search. They have also challenged. the __He said the tipster said the group had partment. a. poeta ny
+ Validity of warrants issued for a search — “firearms, Handguns, sticks, cudgels, “I don’t recall opening it or if it was
of the vehicle and an apartment at 400; knives, mace.and smoke bombs." Rose. open,” he said. “1 possibly could have
Central Ave., Albany, belonging to civil: | said the informant said their base of opened it.” ‘se
rights activist Vera Michelson, where ‘Operations was Apartment 7-K at 400 . 8
she, Young and another man were | Central Ave. Vs, - Detective John Tanchak Said he was
arrested in the early morning of Sept Reluctant to answer queries concern. ‘ld officers had also found “‘charts and
ym wep ‘ing the informant, Rose asked if he ams of Bleecker Stadium (where
:
5
Bois
:
3
a
:
Z
» conduet. a. so-calied Darden hearing to. may behead..." 4° entire car. Using this,-he said, police es
“of the informant ne A ability Sit down,” Cyne snapped. Fancullo homme tnde gh found: two
* After the hearing Kunstler fold re = SS : +. long, wrapped in electrical tape.
these_ re : $ ‘
" Cases they: (informants). don’t ‘exist.”.| question of whether the informant had sary steps to obtain the warrant to
_ “We see the arrest of ourselves and / tipped been reliable. ‘:Yes,” he search the Michelson apartment, where. _|
the subsequent disruption of the demon- oe Sai : ~ 24
stration as a high crime against the | Michael A. Lascoe of) the State works, ammunition and, in a handbag,
American people,” Y. - said. ag. University at Albany campus police shotgun. shell holders. He said the
reporters gathered prior tothe hearing, told of Spotting a gray Mercury in the: ammunition was in a suitcase bearing
i Young said: Ameri¢ans- had. shown parking lot of State Quad on the Young's name and Young himself was
| pn a iming opposition to the Spring- ©™pus, directly opposite the Thruway taken into custody, as were Michelson.
* boks tour of this country, and said the a one ha: cece ty and Aaron Estis. ae
, aio . and seeking a " eee,
decision to allow it was “a foreign j- _ (Misdemeanor charges against the
Steams: 07 the Untied, Sates, versity oa ert tase aoe ae
5 . Las * As Tanchak was quizzed by Kunstler
He said: he anil Scnainiin were | He told of learning that the car had the delbotive sonncied that bomen
‘Subjected to “preventive detention’ to been stolen (there was later testimony direct knowledge of the informant’s: ’
disrupt the planned demonstration. that Young had made such.a report but reliability, although he had sworn to it . °
“we never intended any violence,” had later said he had, recovered the in an affidavit. — Pe aang |
man). He recalled that Aheny sates PPro: yrety ses about an affidavit
.violence.and terror,” =. > were notified and, when the Mercury lement ara Satterfield, local
s “Did the FBI throw acid in the face of Teappeared on the Quad, used a prow! NAACP leader, had called police to say _
the copin- New York City?” asked q °ar to block its.exit. - ¢ tty her life had been threatened and to
Peporter, referring to an attaek by an _ According to Lascoe, Spearman was demand police protection. He admitted
cru > eel an “ho ig sascp alle aepaied _ a Clyne, ~The sppheaane (for
ph Dap spa fn soli the warrant) was the combined effort of
informant on the wheel le “his right hand was Should it be granted, the charges
: oe ee off to the right; he leaned to the right."” could be dismissed for lack of evidence
ir Albany “for the DePaulo said he found a loaded 38 to be produced at trial. . a
Sing lege RRND ca iain Mwai g ee Se oe a Dae i Pe en ey ce or
caine
104d
Ain +2 la
i 5 : .
SS 8 wm ats
*
~ ‘
a2
te x ‘ e o 2 = Meare ee
€ : es + ee Btn $14 27. ~~ : 4 ~ age <
i ae * he : ‘ aor G
FF » i pa B * . - 2
be = 5 x 2 =) ti t>5” Tks . : = .
@ ; = oe 5 4gee as : %
A eee " >> - * ta ‘
« * . ' f > Lar ; * . %
ott sd z
Peer 2 : oe LF 2 ey 4 P
* . . x s
5 : . “4
i . , BRS ‘ Se E Ag 3
o P 3 — e % : af
be - Te y ‘ ‘ +o “ '
Xs * of § > y, . ees ,
. et * So * . = S a
é & yest *
3 & 4 *ox S § Bris i+
es ae eae * ; . . my oon? . - |
SE PE, EE BP 2.8 ‘ me : = Y
wer We gs <a % 7s 5S ‘ ’
2 ~ * > gw ot
: ; +> Fi hana’ + %. bas
oe
14. #1, uot iutsip ay) poytiow Afoverpoumut a5
a uy a! ' 1 SEM 2
2 eH “Augers tim aayod oy durazeqs wis”
rTM:
A
a MON ‘Ig xoséq A ”
By Michael M
Stat Writer i
.. Police authorities now admit there
. ig BY Mere a: eae) MESOM eG
“ae
Albany to disrupt September’
rugby match involving .a South African -
team. Ye eg cage oe
A State Police report, prepared for ;
Stated that hundreds of state police, and -
perhaps Nationa] Guard troops, would
be needed to provide adequate security
_ for the Sept. 22 game.. ae eat
. The report — which Carey used in an
‘abortive attempt to try to cancel the
ar game — stated that Ku
Klan members from Connecticut,
and Communist Workers Party mem-
bers from New York City were “mobi-
lizing” for what the report said could be
4 violent confrontation at the match.
Those two groups had clashed in the
past —- most notably in Greensboro, «=> pr oo eer He ehye 6 ee SS ee Net ;
N.C. where violence at an anti-Klan ~ demonstrating against South Africa's | key police ‘intelligence officers doubted
'Fally left five members of the Commu- | racial Policies. _ .. fn te ek, Niet Lak Ca
nist Workers Party dead in 1979.
The report concluded that Albany
. City police Would not be able to handle
the anticipated clash between
who supported the right of the South ar aes oe omea Miki ee Sd a OO {
Africans to play,.and those who. were --Evénas the report was Sed Written eee pote sheer Bee KEY/A-5 |
~ “* , E : i bal
Tas ig g Ae ree ere ae AEG Ne eng OE BER pepe aaa ste Sadi White Site
- ie j i" aaa ee WON . : SS ell | wichlanbn cll avin Siew Cn aes hie Nep aes "
we Fe Sate gb BR Te Mie Sat th tiga SIS vac} ican cls
‘S898
vt
aot
Key police o
_ Continued from A-?
iO in the
"State thought that. We never really
.*"halleved the Klan would come. They
* don’t have the muscle in the Northeast.
- It was just a misinterpetation of facts."
* Tom Selfridge, the Eastern Rugby
“Union president who invited the Spring-
boks to Albany, recalled sitting in court
‘when state lawyers said they ‘were
“ bringing in the documents.
oT thought they were going to bring in
went after’a non-violent pro
i eaders about hiring
boxes of stuff,” he laughed. “Instead it
Was this little thing.”
"The report is but one piece of
business in the amazing
Story of rugby and protest and aparth-
"eid that swept Albany as the South
_ African Springbok team stopped by on
last leg of an international tour.
Another piece of unfinished business:
who planted the bomb that rocked the
- "Schenectady offices of the Eastern
‘Rugby Union, the Springboks’ host.
Though the South Africans came and
test, the
nation-
i] te ¢ ‘ \ t YJ
Buy
be
t tour, say protesters, revitalized
local efforts to fight racial discrimina-
yon It separa apartheid, South
ca’s strict policy of racial separa-
tion. Some of that impact was transiat-
ed in voter registration drives and into
-4@ greater militancy seen, for example,
in“ last week's complaints by black
bg
tage
__* Never before was there such a time in
Albany.
For four steamy summer months,
diatribe made the outdodr heat sizzle.
Not even the early autumn showers
could cool off the confrontation of
rhetoric.
The Springboks, South Africa’s na-
tional rugby team, had come to town.
And for a time, the whole world indeed
was watching. :
ty, edgily stood guard.
Inside the stadium, almost two score
brawny men, clad in shorts, hugged
each other to form a moveable pack
that slipped, slogged and slugged its
way through the mud in. what they
contended was just a game.
Behirid the scenes,
3 NG fO0C:
felligence about gr: of protests
RCCOMUINY 1h lierviews with kay n rt
J ™
acd
|
ial gov eriment docurn: nt:
During that months of. controversy
that preceded the game, ve ote
gnet
themselves in-a hate embrace, needing
their enemies to define themselves:
@ Like the South African: rugby
‘downtown Albany Hilton. ee players, whose tour could boost the governors, caught between conflicting
.
fficials doub
‘international prestige of their ostras-
It was just the tip of the iceberg. -
bied truth
ized country. Their spokesman became
Thorpas Selfridge, the suburban Sche-
nectady County president of the Fast-
ern Rugby Union, who openly relished
the publicity. ve ve
@ Like the coalition of protesters,
ranging fro
vi - , con
as me policy
Citing’a riot
risk, Carey
ordered the
game canceled.
...police .
intelligence
officers doubted
its truth.
a
they argued favored the South African
regime, '
@ Like the and federa!
police, a @ out of practice in
ug with the politics of the streets.
They feared a heightened threat of
ecce growing out of new tancy
Ty makes Cops get of
politicians, mayors and
ee ee
?
NA enamine
i ee
_ Nodal uoHeziige'u UBIy jo
constitutencies and trying to get out of ‘Y as well as people.
the line of fire unscathed. batches headquarters of rugby
That is, all, except Albany Mayor OFganizations in the Midwest and in
Erastus Corning il, whose 40 years in Schenectady, had been bombed, Oppo-
office and entrenched political contro! nents of the tour. were suspected, but
gave him the luxury to take what he Police arrested a rugby official and
considered to be the principled Consti- Charged him with masterminding the
tutional stand in favor of the game. Midwest bombing.
By ‘the time the maelstrom had
passed try —
nine — nm charged
enses ranging from disorderly
conduct to felony assault and felony
" possession of firearms,
The more serious charges — those
involving weapons possession — are
now pending in Albany County Court
against two organizers, John Spear- _
man, arrested the night before the Once the glare of publicity eased, so
game, and Michael Young, arrested in did official feelings. Despite those
4 predawn raid of the Albany apart- 6 hd :
ment where be was staying.
The same raid also led to misdemean-. wae sary
or charges against two others, Vera .pombiue. @ ‘ Oe ory oe so
Michelson, the tenant, and Aaron Estis, ed the tour, may : aa '
of Boston. Those charges were dropped nist "ib sin rar 2 an ny growtr o
as authorities conserve their ammuni- the Weather Underground.
ee]
“Tt all 10 mon lier, in
Four other New York City protesters niniines teenie cae ‘6 the
. ° head of 34-year-old Grant Thomas
Police Court. They were arrested in a Selfridge, president of the Eastern
Rugby Union that stretches from Maine
to Louisiana. :
ERU is one of four such unions, each
active in a different geographical area.
They are loosely allied in a confedera-
tion that, aside from fielding’ a national
all-star team, has little reai control.
sk month was unanimously re-
lected WF TSCM one-vear
Térm as presigenr~ :
ACCordifig to poils Selfridge has
taken, 90 percent of those who play
rugby are, like him, college graduates.
Like him, more than half, he says, are
self-employed.
For them, he said, “Tugby is their
free spirit.” '
Born in Cleveland, Selfridge turned
down a shot at professional football to
play club rugby. He eventually rose
through thé ranks, playing on interna-
tional teams, what rugby players call
each international game.
Selfridge was capped five times — a
rarity for an American ying a game
that no one knows or rea te LE coo
ete Wal
SUNS g
a
3
3
w
3
5
g
g
£)
ge
i 5)
“i
>
o
5
4
i eae
a ee
ot: apemngmaneer
see ee Ca
A lot of these guys in the American
Union will say, ‘our team isn't as good
as the Irish Union.’ They will identify
with that union. I care about our play.
I'm one of the first Americans to come
through it all.’
The sport has grown. Under Sei-
fridge’s leadership, al
UG oe ier eased * S i ts Vl 0
Os 1,
he said, includin donated by
South African ce) Louis Luyt.
| Self
e}mbetnde oks had
cidge. The funds
gaining clinics, coach-
es and equipment to help build rugby
into a serious Sport that could compete
internationally. -
That competition is key to winning
respect for American players frorn an
audience already crazed by football,
basketball and hockey. And that, of
. Course, could mean money for those
- involved in rugby. .
.While continuing his search for mon-.
ey, Selfridge re in a rugby
ma announcing the Spring ‘
South Africa’s national rugby team, the
epitome of a sports System as deep and
a3 important as baseball is here,
planned to play in New Zealand.
- Self: w ce to
common practice
among rugby schedulers.
“If the Springboks are willing to play
you, regardless of the reason,” said
Selfridge, ‘it legitimizes you.
“It’s a once ina lifetime opportunity.
It's like if you’re a writer and you have
a chance to meet Ernest Hemingway.
You wouldn't care about his polities or
whether he came from Mars.
“Rugby is an insignificant sport that
can be played in Albany. Who in- the
Capital District had ever heard of
apartheid before?"
Albany Mayor Corning I, mean-
. while, feels the rugby clash was a
believed was a matter of Constitutional
right ‘
And it was Standing alone after other
officials including New York City May-
or Koch and Gov. Carey had capituiat-
ed. ‘ “ 4 ‘
Erastus Corning I.
RUGBY PRINCIPALS —Above members of the South African
Springbok rugby team move forward.
Inset are, right, Tom
Selfridge, Eastern Rugby Union president, and Albany Mayor
é
Rugby protest aftermath:
apartheid is understood
This is the second of two articles
assessing the aftermath of the South
African rugby controversy that enve-
Joped Albany last autumn. °
By Michael Muskal
“State writer ,
*
@ resulted from the furor
that swirled around the rugby game
between the South African national
ee mae Ce ee ed
ca Ne 7 Union & a more
> ee .
South Africa’s policy of strict, legally
‘enforced, racial segregation — aparth-
.eid — was at the heart of the furor, and
istill is reverberating in international
‘diplomacy, where South Africa is a
-pariah to virtually every nation on
quart. Except the United States.
the 1970s, there were
Mice. oo protesting yer ia
ate that a
* Bowing to international pressure, the
Carter adminsitration had rebuffed
similar tours. However, with Ronald
“Reagan in the White House, the United
States began again issuing the needed
visas.
officer for Africa said recently.
- Qne of those areas is economic since
South Africa is regarded as a key
supplier of strategic metals not readily
available in countries outside the Soviet
:
Sphere.
~
*
’ “T absolutely agree 100 percent, that
apartheid is wrong on moral grounds,
op the ethical issues,” said Selfridge
_ © toured South Africa with a rugby
“Sveam.
- “But this is a sports framework.”
_ Even within that narrow world, there
were questions. The F Rughy
MAIC, retced tr ve
DL atteddGdiin the Sorinche tour
Some of the objections were political,
but finances always played a part.
Selfridge ignored the former and for the
ERI 2D DTD x
tiie wich the croup earn eda
profit of about §5 um — down trom the
00,000 or more
Springboks paid their own way.
“What we thought would happen is
that a few dozen would protest the
game and that would be it.’
It wasn't.
Word of Selfridge’s invitation to the
South Africans spread slowly at first.
By January, several African countries
had filed protests with Selfridge’s
Eastern Rugby Union.
“We began hearing rumors from
Lesotho (an African country) in De-
cember 1980," said Bill Robinson, a 23-
year-old activist and researcher with
the American Committee on Africa.
‘Albany's involvement came much
later, said Michael Dollard, one of the !
local organizers.
“It was around July 22 that I read a
smail article in The Times-Union say-
ing that the Springboks were coming to
Chicago, New York and Albany.
“I then called together people I had
worked with in the past,” said Dollard, |
a veteran of antiwar and pro-Irish |
protests.
\ /
latter solicited ; ee ides i |
co can Na ugby
at donat ai p of the
One of the first calls was to Vera
Michelson, another local protest veter-
an and whose home at 400 Central
Avenue was right across the street
from Bleecker Stadium.
By the end of July they formed the
Capital District Coalition against
Apartheid.
The Albany coalition ‘then joined
forces and became part of Stop Aparth-
eid Rugby Tour (SART). At its peak,
the coalition had about 130 groups and |
offices in a half dozen American cities,
“At that point we had no idea the
demonstration would be here,” said
Dollard. ‘We had already gained sub-
Stantial publicity. I was convinced the
game would not come off here.”
But Albany Mayor Erastus Corning
II, citing Constitutional reasons, said he
would not block the game.
It was April when Michae! Young, of
the. Communist Workers Party, first
heard about the tour on a radio
broadcast. ‘I remember thinking that I
had to keep on top of this. I called some
friends and we began to talk.”
Commentary —
Among those he called was John
Spearman, a black union activist who
had been active in anti-South Africa
groups since 1972. Also contacted were
groups suchas the Pan Africanist
Congress, a collection of South African
terrorists or freedom fighters, depend-
ing who is doing the naming.
The tour was a ready-made issue for
Spearman and Young.
“The black community has always
been sensitive to South Africa," said
Spearman. “They understand national
oppression and can relate it to their
Situation here.
ver, Ww he
“In any coalition, you get a wide
range of beliefs," said Robinson, who
along with Young became the principal
sg between the local group and
c 3! .
The local coalition needed SART,
especially after the August cancellation
of the game in New York City for
security reasons. The cancellation was
by an effort to play a game in A
Rochester, but city officials there
opposed the game. :
As the Sept. 22 date for the Albany
wh
Se ae:
|
{
& Se
2
While the local coalition was debating
, tactics, the state selectively leaked a
report the Gov. Hugh L. Carey had
commissioned on potential violence.
Citing the report, Carey moved to
stop the game.
The report, later discredited, said
that hundreds of Additional security
officers would have to help Albany
police handle the rugby game demon-
stration. It said the Kl 1X Kian and
ror Wit
Caiieua a Vio mit Conrontat: Or)
In the first of a string of court ruling
against Carey's efforts to stop the
game, Federai Judge Howard G. Mun-
son said ‘the confidential report sup-
plied to the court for in camera
inspection, supplies a sufficient factual
basis for the governor's decision.”
By that point, the weekend before the
match, the issue had built a momentum
of its own partly because of the series of
court battles in which the report was
the central, if never seen, exhibit.
And, partly because of media reports
of what was clearly the biggest story
ever to hit the region.
Surprisingly, everyone on all sides of
the issue, agrees on one thing: the
media was a centra! player and none,
not even those who were consciously
using the press, are very happy with the
coverage.
“The media continually played on the
threat of violence,” said Selfridge.
“We were getting daily coverage,”
recalled Dollard. “The press made this.
This was a media event. They focused
exclusively on the possibility of vio-
lence. As we all know that Sells
newspapers."
The media role was more malignant,
argued Michelson.
“You in the press were trying to
break our spirit,” she said. “You were
getting all of your information from the
police.’’
Aiter it was cie y ¥ would
host a rugby game, authorities redou-
died their efforts to'secure data about
the various groups involved.
‘od abou. ail police in New York Ci:
age oh
° _ All the data was compiled into a book,
ett :
2a rs, the
o's: rrr, aS Sg Woo Communist
“We. moa target boks for.
investigation,” said Albany FBI agent
in charge Paul Daly. -
: We Gig fay OTT '
mejele? CLO Wilh oi imwoetica tin ‘
proved under domestic imnteligar
suIdelines that Indicated a potential
y POLE TC ; Soon
Daly would not say which group was
under examination. Other sources iden-
tified it as the CWP.
How dangerous were the groups?
According to state intelligences
sources, May 19 has been under investi-
gation since it evolved from the Prairie
Fire Organizing Committee, the above-
arm of the Students for »
»Democratie Society faction that be.
came the fugitive Weather Under-
ground.
At some point, the group allied itself
with the Black Liberation Army, an
outgrowth of the Black Panther Partv.
Recently in an Albany courtroom,
FBI agent James J. Rose testified that
it was the FBI that learned about
possible violence from an informant
That information formed part of the
basis for the search warrant of Michel-
son’s home. Earlier, on the eve of the
game, police arrested Spearman driv-
ing Young’s car which had been report-
ed stolen in the summer.
Using keys confiscated from Spear-
man, Albany police raided the apart-
ment seizing drugs and fireworks. Also
found was ammunition in the house and
a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson in the car.
The suspects were taken to the
Albany police lockup, where they claim
they were denied phone calls to lawyers
and placed in what amounted to preven-
tive detention to keep them off of the
Streets the day of the demonstration.
‘
YOU STOOD WITH US /N THE SEPTEM:
RAW ~ Now STAD tim us W coueT
APARTHEID TRIAL TO BEGIN MARCH |*
JOIN LIS IN THE COURTROOM
COUNTY COURT HOUSE - ELlK¢ COLUMBIA Ss
9:30am MONDAY, March 1*
TUDEE HARRIS” ‘Cou RT
+ * x
On March list the trials of Mike Young and John Spearman
will begin in Albany County Court. Mike and John had come to
Albany last September to help us in our fight against Apartheid.
Mike and John were arrested by Albany police on the night
of September 2lst and early on the morning of the 22nd for one
reason only - to confuse, disrupt and, if possible, prevent
the demonstration planned for the 22nd against the Apartheid
Springbok rugby team from South Africa. Both men, along with
two others who have since been cleared, were held in preventive
detention - denied phone calls, access to lawyers, and appli-
cation for bail - for three days.
These are clearly political trials. Mike and John were
arrested solely because they oppose the racist Apartheid regime
in South Africa. The only way to prevent these two activists
from being railroaded into jail on trumped up charges is to
appear with us in the courtroom. Remind the world that we still
oppose Apartheid and Racism - even in the face of police and
judicial harassment.
* cd
BER
* =f >
SAY "WO" TO APRRTHEID
LABOR DONATED CAPITAL DisTaeTr CeALi fem AGAMWST ALARTH i)
Aad LACS
STOP THE RAILROAD 8 !
eee Ee
j DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST MIKE AND JOHN!
Last year when Reagan declared South Africa “our friend" and the U.S.
government extended the welcome mat to the Springboks, Mike Young and
John Spearman stepped into the streets, along with thousands around the
country, to brand Reagan a liar and to make it clear to the whole world
that South Africa and its brutal racist apartheid system is no friend
of the American people,
Because of the success of the protests, sometime this month, Mike and
John are roing to trial in Albany, N.Y. before Judge John J. Clyne. They
are both facing un to 7 years in prison for one reason and one reason or
lv--daring to organize against U.S. rovernment policy supporting raciam
And anartheid in South Africa,
When the American neonle said we'd Show the world that Reagan's South
African friends were no friends of ours, we meant it. All across the
country, the Springbok's rugby games were forced to be cancelled or to
be literally played in "secret" cow nastures. No one was fooled ahout
the Srringbok's real purnose here: a public relations campaign to per-
fune the offensive smell of aparteid and make the world's most hated na-
ticn more acceptable to the American public. With each cancellation or
Secret game, it was rapidly becoming very clear what the American peopl:
thourht of South Afriea ana Reagan's racist bond of friendship.
The rovernment couldn't quietly accept such devastating setbacks to its
racist policy. Later when Reagan revealed his program for tax exemptior
for serrepated schools here in the U.S., it became clear that the set-
backs had implications for Reagan's racist domestic policies as well as
foreign policy. After being forced to cancel the games time and again,
the government decided to make its Stand in Albany with the help of
Mayor Corning and Gov, Carey. It scheduled the game for Sept. 22, 1981.
On the evening of Sept. 21 and the early morning hours of the 22nd, the
Albany nolice, under FBT orders, arrested 4 leading anti-apartheid acti-
vists in an unsuccessful effort to prevent the demonstration aimed at
Springbok pame, Mike and John, as well as
Surveillance as part of a pre-arranged plan between the FBI, New York
State Police and the Albany P.D. to arrest them prior to the demonstra~
tion. Four other activists, also under surveillance, were arrested lat
after the demonstration, Because of the obvious political aature of th
arrests, the government has been forced to drop the charges or reduce
them to violations for 6 of the 8 arrested during those 2 days. They
were also forced to drop the charges against another activist who had
been harrassed and arrested even prior to the 21st. However, John and
Mike have been targeted by the government to be railroaded on felony
charges of weapon possession, carrying sentences of 7 years each.
It's been said that there is no railroad system in this country as effi-
= client as the so-called "justice® System. There is no clearer case of
unside-down justice in Albany than the attempt to railroad John and Mike
for fighting racism and apartheid. Racist South Africa is welcomed witt
onen arms and police protection, while American citizens are threatened
with prison because they dare to oppose it. We've seen it in Greensbore
andi Miami, in Buffalo, N.Y, ana now, but not for the first time, in
Albany. It's time to ston it,
ATTEND THR TRYPAT H
TL Tec eee neAeneiepntehiinnbenumeniethineameeseneninnen
All weovle are urged to attend the first day of the trial of Mike Young
and John Spearman before Judre Harris, counsellors: William Kunstler &
Lewis Oliver, Trial: MONDAY, MARCH 1. 9:30 AM, COUNTY COURT HOUSER.
(Eagle & Columbia Sts. -- 2nd floor),
The Coalition to Defend Albany 9 489-1767
Police jurisdictional
Sy,
deal rev
By Shirley Armstrong
The arrest of John Spearman on
the grounds of the State Universi-
. at Albany the night before the
ngboks rugby game was un-
usual for the Albany police, who
rarely go on the campus, an
Albany detective testified
bers of his
aled in trial
keep them in jail until after the
Sept. 22 game.
The prosecution has stressed:
_ evidence that Spearman's arrest
on the campus near the Best
Thruway House where
the South African tham wag
quartered, was sparked only
his appearance in a car that had
been reported stolen, later found
to be registered to Yourg., .
Various police officers have”
testified they had not prev
beard of ‘either defendant.
Kosakowski also testified he
was in the vehicle when Albany
Police Officer DePs
Another ution _withess,
Albany Detective Jalan
Sept. 24. a
Tanchak said he aiso prepared
the warrant police used in the
Seareh of Young's car in which
they found two Minch sticks
wrapped with electrical tape, ».
and
and a speed loader in Young’s
luggage. :
in final Qurry of questions, -
Ammusities —
JUDGE JOHN CLYNE
Kunstles, expressing astonish.
ment that police Bary wore 3
seized items for C
Oniciats “Gud,
$e Pk ~ hy
‘ PA Pi ee PES yy ,
ee P webs, ~ o be
‘ nf :
we tag F
oe .
» oes
' sid *
tae. Hat: be said
be could not focal whether either
GAZETTE PHONE 374-414]
SCHENECTADY GAZETTE, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1982
FBI POINTED THE FINGER — Michael Young (left) and John Spearman were identif
by the F'BI as possible demonstrators at the celebrated oe
prec esterday in Aibany County Court revealed. Hours
occurred,
attorney, Claims evidence against the men was fabricated.
sy eittermamnamrenn ie nies
matchain A}
baton’ oe . 22 ma
oung and Spearman were arreated by Albany police and charged with one count
of nls sh criminal possession of a weapon. William Kunstler (center),
Spearman's
Agent Says FBI Warned City
Of Violence at Rugby Match
By PAM SNOOK
ALBANY — The Ba
reau of Invest w
and state pr net vane
could erupt at September's
Springbok rugby match and
briefed them on before
the controversial ; an FRi
agent testified yesterday during
the county court trial of two pre.
testers.
Yesterde: > the dey of
y was pro-
ceedings protest ,
ers Young, 28, apd John
Shadyed woth enamel
whe are
possesion of a
weapon.
¥ and Spearman's names
surfaced during a special FBI in-
vestigation of potential demon-
strators at the Eastern Rugy
Union all-stars vs. tee Soutlt Afri-
can rugby team match, saw Paul
B. Daly, director of Albany's FBI
- Office
The FBI investigation, which
begen in August, was aimed at | ga
org og and Organisations expect-
to
Lacal FBI city
and state officials informa-
tion about protesters before the |
game, the local FBI chief said
FBI og aware that
Spearman a oung
bers of the Communist W.
Party, an said. But he
not reveal further details reault-
ing from the investigation
sp aid te Was in touch with
Wit First when
ty es eee =
om: - 21, the nighi before
ap, [i told. them 1 hag to
40 them quickly,”
Later the same evening he
ing. al. 2 w to
i for violence Daly said.
}
a
defense officials, he said.
At least one other FBI ager,
agent Janes Rose, pro-
information to local offi-
Cials, he said,
“The outlined information we
received showed planned vio~
lence at the .” he said.
~y called city pelice before
im
Joba was arrested on
Sept, 2 Michael Y: 's car
across from the W Ave-
mue hotel where the South African
Rugby players stayed, Spear-
‘s Wiliam Kanstier
said. The call gave police
me to gr & gun, he clai
Agent Rose gave city police
county district attorney offi-
enough information to get a
warrant for Young's arrest dur-
ing an eariy morning raid ai a
Ceatral Avenue apartment on
Sept. 22, said city detective John
Tanchak
Although the PBI had advance
knowledge of Young, Spearman
and alleged violence at the
mes, city police did not, Tan-
chak said. Daly's briefing after
join the protest, sad. | Spearman was arrested was the |
first time city police learned that
Spearman and Young were pro-
teat organizers, he said.
City police, FBI agents and
state police planned the ran of
were mem-| the Central Avenue apartment
ors | for %15 a.m. Sept. 22 to catch }—~ ne menor nn
Young and other protesters
. Tanchak said. About 10 to
16 officers and agents covered the
apartment building, while others
broke down the door, searched the
apartanent and arrested Young,
he said,
* * *
Another city detective. Lt. Jo-
seph Kosakowski, took the wit
ness stand day
Lt. Kosakowski related his ac-
eount of Spearman's arrest, at
which a loaded .38-caliber pistol
he sald
The gun was found in the glove-
box, not under the front seat. as
wae earlier reported by a campus
policeman, ecakowell said He |
also said DePaulo, not he, had
found the gun
| But Kasakowski could not ex-
plain to at Kunstler why
the gun, the bullets and a loading
device for the gun were not
' te. “Wasn't
that because you knew where the
was from..from the Afhany
olice artment?” Kunstler
asked the detective }
Kunstler also asked potice why
they had not seized a suitcase
which allegediy bore Young's ini-]
tials and contained the speed
loader. Kasakowski had no an-
swer
The gun, the key piece of evi-
dence, was not reported lost or
stolen, said state police firearm
technician Sgt. Deminic Denio
The gun's last official owner was
a Chicago man. said Martin Mar-
ciniak, a special agent for the
Federa| Division of Alcohol. To-
bacco and Firearms
The Chicago man was never
contacted about the gun, justice
officials said. The Gazette coult
not reach the man for comment
Testimony in the trial resumes
al 9:30 this morning.
RR
, se eee +H PR Ata
oe 7
@etases
WORE SS tas ee hes. ,
ee
