Speech #880255929

Anyone who has been in Washington during the last few years knows that such demonstrations go on all the time. I am not suggesting that they should go on. but I think that there should be an evenhanded rule about all demonstrations. I cannot understand the policy that lets the Communists and the Nazis demonstrate on the sidewalks in front of the White House and tries to put our friends. the Cuban refugees5.000 of themabout two blocks away from the Pan American Building. At this point. the police apparently decided to break up the demonstration completely. There is no evidence that the police actually used their clubs on the refugees. But all accounts are agreed that mounted police. and police on motorcycles and on foot. charged into the crowd swinging their clubs demonstratively. The Baltimore Sun reported that when the first group of refugees attempted to force their way to the Pan American Building. a squad of mounted police charged into the demonstrators at full gallop. rather than pressing their horses against them. According to the Sun. the horses bowled the demonstrators over like tenpins. and one woman was cut by a flying hoof. The Washington Post reported that all told some 45 refugees were injured. My assistant informed me that the police continued to pursue the demonstrators far to the rear of the Navy Building. several hundred yards away from the Pan American Building. The Washington police force has earned an enviable reputation for its ability to handle demonstrations of all hues without incident. In dealing with Nazis and Communists as well as with democratic critics of various Government policies. they have displayed restraint and tact and understanding. It is most unfortunate that their reputation for dealing with crowds should have suffered its first major lapse in dealing with the refugees from Communist Cuba. I have heard that the police were under rigid instructions to keep the demonstrators more than 500 feet away from the PanAmerican Building. There is. it is true. a District of Columbia statute that empowers the police to take such action.