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Special Edition UNREST AT AUC The traditional spring reading period of studying, turning in final projects, saying final goodbyes and preparing for the journey home was severely altered. Following of an all-white jury acquittal of four white officers accused of beating Rodney King, students in the Atlanta University Center held demonstrations, marched downtown, had prayer vigils and were involved with confrontations with the Atlanta Police. This special issue of the Panther summarizes some of the events and activities of the week of April 30 through May 5. UlfSS^CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY f A Student Publication Serving The CAU Community « bringing the News to you. Volume III Number XIV Atlanta, Georgia May 7, 1992 Dr. Cole Speaks Out Dr. Cole speaks with Atlanta Police Major Holly about their presence on campus. Dr. Cole said he asked the major to move the police off school property. Chronology of Events Wednesday 5 p.m. EDT Police officers accused of beating Rodney King were acquitted. Wednesday 11:30 p.m. About 100 students marched downtown to the state capital to protest the verdict. Thursday 10 a.m. Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson met with presidents of Atlanta University Center’s schools.AUC presidents release a statement in response to the Rodney King ver dict. Thursday 11:30 a.m. Students railed in front of Woo druff library. The rally turned into a march to city hall where students demanded to speak with Mayor Jackson. Students and Mayor Jackson discussed their options. After speaking with Mayor Jackson, the students joined with other demonstrators and proceeded downtown. Thursday 3 p.m. Demonstrators began a march through Downtown Atlanta, smashing windows, looting stores and attacking whites. Forty-one people were hurt and the Mayor imposed a 11p.m. to 5p.m. cur few. Friday 6 a.m. Atlanta police and GDI agents in riot gear surround the perimeter of the AUC at strategic points located at Ashy and Fair Streets. Street,Martin Luther King and James P. Brawlev Streets and Northside and Fair Streets. Friday 12 p.m. Students from AUC schools ral lied at Morehouse. After the rally, some students proceded to march downtown. Students were turned back at Morris Brown College. Upon retreat, several confrontations between police and students began. Also, sev eral local residences joined the students. Students were pushed on the CAU campus. Confronta tions between police and stu dents erupted. A supermarket and liquor store were looted. Events continued on page 4 Clark Atlanta University Presi dent Thomas W. Cole Jr. said in an exclusive interview with the Pan ther that he did not believe what he saw Friday when he was notified that there was a possibility of a riot. “1 received a call about 2:30 p.m. that state troopers were on campus and there might be a possible riot,” said Dr. Cole. “There were police lined up in riot gear in front of the campus. The students became hyped up and agitated by their pres ence.” Dr. Cole said he spoke with Cap tain Holly of the Atlanta Police De partment with a plea to get them off campus. When his efforts failed, he went inside to contact Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson to demand that the police leave the campus. After unsuccessful attempts to contact Mayor Jackson. Dr. Cole returned outside. About that time, confron tations between students and po lice had erupted, eventually ending in tear gas being shot at the stu dents. Tensions eased Saturday as Dr. Cole met with students at the school cafeteria. He went on to say that the students were very angry and felt violated. Their right of peaceable assembly was violated, and the po lice had no justification to be on campus. ‘The city owes the university a formal apology'." said Dr. Cole. “Also, the media owes us a formal apology for portraying the events inad equately." Dr. Cole said several programs will help students over this trying period. The university has created a counseling center to help students and faculty who experienced emo tional and psychological scars. He also said that the final exam sched ule will remain as is, but stressed that all faculty be flexible. Dr. Cole also said that informa tion will be disseminated to correct the news media inaccuracies. He also said that CAU will present to the city a formal protest looking into legal issues and cite examples of inappropriate behavior.