Cambridge Officials Say Protest Ban Is Defunct After SDS Demonstration

About 350 people gathered in front of Cambridge City Hall yesterday afternoon at an SDS-sponsored rally to protest a ban on rallies and demonstrations announced April 15 by Cambridge City Manager Walter J. Sullivan.

Cambridge city officials said last night that no ban on demonstrations was in force.

Philip Cronin '53, Cambridge city solicitor, said that the ban-announced by Sullivan in the wake of last Wednesday night's rioting in Harvard Square-was intended only to provide a "period of cooling off" after the disturbance Wednesday.

"We have been issuing permits for activities as usual since Friday," Cronin said. He added that the SDS rally had not been issued a permit because it came at an "inappropriate" time.

The rally began at 4 p.m., when SDS speakers-disregarding an order from a Cambridge police captain to move off the City Hall steps-began addressing the crowd with a loudspeaker. The policeman told the crowd. "Just keep the sidewalks open to let people pass, and peace to you."

SDS Speakers

Robert O. Mathews '72 told the crowd that "the government is attempting to suppress all struggles of students and workers," adding that "this repression is a sign not of our weakness but of our strength."

Victoria McClosky, a B.U. student, said that the rally was "A pretty big victory" for SDS. She also criticized the November Action Committee, which organized the march on Cambridge which culminated in the rioting, saying, "I don't think a few broken windows in the bank down thestreet is going to hurt the people who run this country much,"

Crowd Dispersed

The rally began breaking up at about 4:45 p.m. As the crowd dispersed. a Cambridge policeman used a bullhorn to warn the demonstrators that they were participating in an "unlawful assembly." "We will give you ten minutes to clear the sidewalk," he added.

SDS members circulated through the crowd. telling demonstrators that "it might be a good idea to go home now." At about 5 p.m. police in riot helmets emerged from the City Hall and told those remaining to move on.