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Frustration lingers in Allentown after Art Festival violence by Ron King Spectrum Staff Writer He thought “bad supervision on the part of the police” was to blame for the extent of the disorders. ' Choking fumes of tear gas are gone, but a lingering air of anger and frustration hangs over the narrow streets of Allentown that were the setting for the violence climaxing this year’s Allentown Art Festival. The owner of a dry-cleaning store mentioned a Are bomb that exploded in the alley next to his store, saying that people involved in the violence “would have burned down the entire street if the police had left. ‘The real pigs were the youths who were throwing the bottles,” he emphasized. During the outbreak of trouble, approximately 2S0 to 300 people listened to a band in Solomon’s Sculpture Court, apparently unaware of the action on the street. The response of Allentown residents, many of whom turned their homes into sanctuaries for men, women and children escaping white clouds of gas, is still unfolding. Conferences with city officials and at least three community- wide meetings have been held. Committees have been organized to examine the disorders that rocked the community and some of the area’s problems that may have been factors in the disturbances on June 14. The residents of the Allentown area have organized A lien town aftermath committees to examine the disturbances which occurred during the annual Allentown Art Festival. Police riot Jack Solomon, owner of the court, said that these people were away from the street, facing the stage as they listened to the loud music. He said that police tear gassed the court without warning: “No bullhorn, no warning, no nothing. would use tear gas if necessary. Citing the use of Molotov cocktails, he also believes that the violence was planned. And he explained; ‘These boys really did antagonize the police. I’m not for the police or against them, but they really did antagonize the police. A person can only take so much. first degree riot, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. The Allentown Association has sponsored two community-wide public meetings at which residents discussed the incident. committee dealing with legal service and another concerned with improving community relations with law enforcement agencies. Police blamed Allentown is a diverse area that includes a wide range of ethnic and ' social groups. And its residents’ views on what happened there three weeks ago seem to be just as varied. One Alleqtown resident and businessman blames the police who he claims manufactured the trouble. He contends that when a threatening situation develops, the police cannot control large crowds without resorting to tear gas and confrontation. ‘It started down the other end and then it came up this way,” Mr. Solomon said as he described the progress of the disorders. “In essence what took place was the police created a riot,” he said. Gloria Lehman, president of the association, said the organization also has conducted an exploratory meeting with advisors to Mayor Frank Sedita. In addition, her group has formed three committees to explore ways of improving the Allentown community. A housing committee will seek to determine the extent of sub-standard housing and means to eliminate it. There will be a Mrs. Lehman said that residents always have been “proud” that Allentown is such a diverse community. Now she thinks it is time to “attempt to bring these groups together to live in harmony.” “You’ll see that business has fallen about one half since that happened,” he added. Requests have been made that an investigation be conducted into the Allentown melee. The Task Force for a Cooperative Metropolitan Ministry — a group representing the Lutheran Church, the Buffalo Episcopal Diocese, the United Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ - has asked for such a public hearing. The Task Force is working in conjunction with the Allentown Association for Community Welfare. Discussing public reaction to alleged police misconduct, Mr. Solomon said: “I think one thing that has happened is that it has opened the eyes of enough people ... into what is going on.” G ustav A. Frisch, Inc. Jeweler • Optician 41 KENMORE AVENUE At University Wn*a BUFFALO. N.Y. 14214 He observed that there is a “change in the climate of the entire community. The UB thing had a great deal to do with it. Many of the same people were here - the same policemen. Mr. Solomon has approximately 300 statements by people caught in the Allentown disorders and a large portion of these are critical of police action. ttv way to “As far as I’m concerned there won’t be a festival next year, I’ll get a court injunction. It’s impossible when the police have demonstrated that they can’t control disorders.” Total community’ These statements might be used as evidence if there is an investigation of police conduct, he said, but “it would appear they don’t have to answer to anybody. ‘They really don’t know what they’re going to do about this,” he said, explaining his neighbors’ reaction to the trouble. Perhaps it will be “some effort to pull themselves together into a total community,” he added. Cases pending Rev. Stephen R. Chamberlain, administrator for the Task Force, said that he has had no response from the mayor’s office regarding an inquiry. The Task Force also has contacted Erie County Executive B. John Tutuska concerning the role played by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department at Allentown. Rev. Chamberlain was told that the executive’s office has no Slogans incite Joe Thomas, manager of an area bookstore, disagrees. Pointing to a radical slogan smeared across a wall, he said that others like it were painted on walls along Allen St. before the Art Festival opened — to incite the people who would be there. ...themcvie CENTER THEATRE The owner of an Allen St. hardware store - located almost two blocks from the Sculpture Court — said the police gave adequate warning before they “I know the police did a perfect job,” he said. “I heard the police there with the speakers: ‘Break it up, break it up.’ But the Mr. Thomas said that the violence was planned by youths who wanted to confront the ‘The police,” he explained, “very politely asked the people to leave this particular area because department. During the disorders, at least 50 deputy sheriffs under the direction ol Sheri tl Michael Amico were present. Richard Lipsitz, president of the Buffalo Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said that the ACLU has several affidavits stemming from the disorders.' Evidence from Allentown may be used in a pending police brutality lawsuit, he indicated. Buffalo Police Commissioner, Frank N. Felicetta declined to comment on the Allentown disturbances because of pending police. He believes rocks and bottles used to attack policemen were planted on rooftops prior to the trouble. ire was ‘The police, in my opinion, were very polite, very diplomatic.” - SPECIAL STUDENT RATES Another Allentown resident, sitting outside his antiques and used bookstore, complained that “there were a lot of innocent people who suffered, children and elderly. And we were choking too, right in our own home.” The store owner said that some innocent people were caught in the gas, but “at least no one got shot at.” “I think,” he continued, “that there are a group of people who are looking to incite riots. A small group is actually trying to tear down law and order.” DURING SUMMER PERIOD ALL DAY MON., TUES., WED., THURS., ADMISSION $2.00 I D. CARD Fire bomb Sunday Saturday Friday 1:30, 5, 8:30 p.m. 12:00 , 3:30, 7, 10:15 p.m. He said that his house was filled with people trying to get Investigation requested >away from the clouds of tear gas and that he was aiding them with wet towels. Robert Stewart who operates an Allen St. furniture store also said the police warned that they Allentown cases. At least 35 persons were arrested on charges that included disorderly conduct, John Sebastian • Time Magazine Page four . The Spectrum . July 2, 1970
