The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, June 10, 1981-Page 9
Hospital
evicts
protesting
veterans
From AP and UPi
LOS ANGELES - Police evicted 35
Vietnam veterans, including 12 hunger
strikers, from a tent city on the lawn of
a Veterans Administration Hospital
yesterday, and arrested seven people
sitting-in in the lobby.
The protesters, who broke off
negotiations with VA officials last
weekend, had expected to be evicted
from the hospital grounds this weel and
most of them left peacefully.
THE VETERANS began their vigil 17
days ago to protest the treatment of
James Hopkins, a veteran who died last
month, apparently of an accidental
overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol.
Hopkins had been trying to win VA cer-
tification for a hearing loss he said was
caused by Agent Orange during his tour
of duty in Vietnam.
Four guards carried the six men and
one woman out of the Wadsworth
Hospital lobby one at a time. The
militants, cited with failure to leave
when ordered and unauthorized
loitering - violations that carry a $5
fine - shouted slogans and gave clen-
ched-fist salutes as they were removed.
The veterans had demanded in-
dependent investigations of VA care
and the effects of the chemical defoliant
Agent Orange, as well as a personal
meeting with Reagan.
SOME OF the veterans said they
would move their protest to the gates of
the White House, while others, joined
by Dick Gregory, comedian and
political activist, said the hunger strike
would continue at a Los Angeles chur-
ch.
Acting VA general counsel Robert
Coy said the agency still intends to
carry out its pledge to have an outside
team of doctors investigate Wadsworth
and other VA hospitals and Hopkins'
treatment.
Two months before his death,
Hopkins drove a jeep through the plate
glass doors of the Brentwood Hospital
and fired gunshots into the ceiling.
THE VA also promised to have an
outside expert on environmental health
to review federal studies of Agent
Orange and other toxic herbicides.
Coy said congressional legislation
would be needed to meet the protesters'
other demands, for expanded research
and improved diagnosis procedures for
ailments relating to toxic herbicides
and for medical examinations for all 4.2
million Vietnam veterans to determine
their service-related disabilities
Police
notes
Bomb threat to
McKinley Properties
McKinley properties in the Campus
Arcade, 611 Church, received a bomb
threat Monday morning at about 10:15
a.m., police reported yesterday. The
complaintant received a call from a
male saying a bomb had been placed in
the building but when police checked
the location, they found nothing. There
was no reason given for the threat.
AP Photo
PROTESTING VETERANS HUDDLE together before being evicted from the Wadsworth Veteran's Hospital yester-
day. The protesters and 12 hunger strikers plan to continue their vigil for better VA care and Agent Orange in-
vestigations.
TO introduce you to our
geat values...
WE'VE EXTENDED
OUR EYEGLASS
GUARANTEE TO
18 MONTHS.
Our guarantee against breakage, normally good
for one year from purchase, has been extended
for an additional 6 months. This means for 18
months, PEARLE Vision Center will fix or rpplace
broken frames and lenses at no charge. Our
eyeglasses don't often break, but if they do, our
guarantee is like money in the bank. Offer expires
June 28, 1981.
A..E4RLECOMPANY
ANN ARBOR-Arborland Shopping Center
3623 Washtenaw, Tel. 971-3843
Eyes examined by registered optometrist.
Dr. Robert Meek, Optometrist
For other locations call toll-free 800-331-1000.
0=2
© 1981 Searle Optical Inc., Dallas, Texas USA.
.