Stories

Jay Swearingen's Story

I was in DU Law School at the time (Class of 72), which was not located on campus.  However, most DU law students made their way to the campus during the protest.  While I spent time milling about with the many students staying in the "tent city" created on campus and watching the many events going on, the bands, the skits, the protests, I also got enlisted into being one of several DU law students who were helping those arrested by the Denver Police Department, go through the booking process as quickly and painlessly as possible and getting them back to the campus to stay on the line.

I also remember the tear gas that was occasionaly used by the police at DU and having done my undergrad at CSU and been been gassed and pepper fogged during the CSU "College Days" celebrations/mini riots there, I was able to pass on "advice" on how best to protect yourself from the gas and how to treat yourself, if you were one who did get gassed.

I saw the picture of the biker with the passenger waiving the American flag on the homepage and remember them riding just in front of the National Guard contingent as they came up University Blvd. to the campus.  Since the Kent State killings had already occurred and no one seemed to want a repeat of that at DU, we knew the National Guard troops were not carrying bullets (or at least hoped none snuck any in with them).  So, we felt fairly safe in getting right up against the National Guard lines.

Finally, it was sad watching the bulldozers go through the many very creative structures that had been created.  I paritcularly remember one that was a two story affair and quite well constructed.

It was a gas!