Daley Defends His Police

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 17

Daley Defends His Police

(N.Z\ Press Association—Copyright) CHICAGO, Sept. 9. Mr Richard Daley, Mayor of Chicago, today accused news media of painting a “distorted and twisted” picture of rioting during the Democratic national convention.

Mr Daley told a news conference the city “welcomes any investigation by any group.” Shortly after, a United States District Court Judge, Mr William Campbell ordered

a Federal grand jury to investigate: Allegations that “various people” engaged in an in-ter-state conspiracy to promote a riot during the convention. Allegations that police officers violated the civil rights of demonstrators. , Rumours that some televi- ! sion networks “engaged in an inter-state conspiracy to unduly influence the convention by television.”

Mr Daley told one of the largest news conferences of his political career that the greatest handicap faced by forces of law and order during the convention week was the failure of news media to tell the full story of what happened. He defended police treatment of hippies and anti-war demonstrators, saying his office had received 60.000 letters from throughout the country supporting the action of police against the demonstrators. Only 4000 letters criticised police for rough tactics, he said. Mr Daley said that thousands of demonstrators were incited to violence by a band of “terrorists.”

Mr Daley also announced that an hour-long television film being prepared to show the police side of the confrontations with anti-war demonstrators would be shown next Sunday on 47 television stations across the country.