Ypsi Police Attack Strikers

Local 782 of UAW members from Motor Wheel Company, 717 Norris in Ypsilanti, had been on strike for a week when on May 13 they found themselves confronted with club-swinging, mace-spraying police.

The bizarre story unfolded later that day when union officials and members testified to Ypsilanti's City Council. According to John Gross, union president, the police attack was completely unprovoked. Goss stated that the police began to attack the picketers after around 60 members of the company management charged the plant gate. The management had earlier been instructed to approach the gate in two's and three's.

"The men did not have the word that they would have to be moved," said Goss. "One person was belligerent. I took him to one side -- he was a young fellow -- and when I turned around the management came from across the street in full force. I think the sudden movement of the management triggered off the police. As I was talking, they rushed in and grabbed the man and began to beat him on the ankles."

"Sgt. Moran started the whole thing," Goss continued. "He pulled a man from his car and sprayed a whole can of mace in his face. He is the one who beat a young man on the head and sent him to the hospital. He has a habit of bragging about how many people he's gone and beaten in the line of his duty." Goss said further that Sgt. Moran and every other police officer but one were not wearing their badges.

Robert Clayton was the union member who had to be sent to the hospital for eight stitches in his head. "They didn't tell me my rights," Clayton said. "They put me in the street, pulled a coat over my head and began to beat me. I've got two scars in my head with stitches in them."

"This morning, we had everything under control," said union vice-president Al Cruckshank. "After the management started to invade us, a policeman intentionally walked out of his way to beat someone with a stick. I continued to bad mouth 'em, one of the policemen proceeded to spray this mace in my face. I was blinded, I screamed, they knocked me on the ground, stood on me, knocked the breath out of me.

"As you heard, some of the offices didn't even have their badges on," Cruckshank said. "I don't want anyone like that protecting my family, get 'em out of there." Wild applause and cheers from the audience in the council room.

"I was going to the credit union when they pulled me from my car and sprayed mace in my eyes," said union member Albert Lassiter. "Mr. Moran reached over the top of another officer and sprayed the entire can at my eyes."

Goss said that Ypsilanti Police Chief Herbert Smith was present at the disruption, watching the whole thing from the middle of the street. "I turned to him and asked him what was going on. He said he didn't know," said Goss. Four men were arrested during the fracas and taken to the police station where they were held for half an hour. They were then released without charges.

The police report by Police Officer Forest R. Newton stated that when Newton approached the plant gate he was pushed into the plant by the picketers and locked in. He then phoned the police from inside.

"I don't think there's any truth to that one, myself," Goss said later. "He went into the plant himself to call for more police and stayed inside until they arrived."

Motor Wheel Company, owned by Goodyear Corporation, settled with the union two days after the strike disruption. Goss said that the Union at this time is waiting for the outcome of the City Manager's investigation of the incident before deciding to act. According to Ypsilanti's city charter, the City Manager, Joseph A. Warren is the only city official allowed to take disciplinary action against the city's police officers.

--Dan O'Grady