1ie £RIdigtan i3ail Ninety-five years of editorial freedom Vol. XCV, No. 18-S TMc n Dy Thursday, June 13, 1985 Fifteen Cents Eight Pages 17 arrested in Contra aid protest By STEVE HERZ Special to the Daily PITTSFIELD TWP. - City Coun- cilman Jeff Epton was among 17 local residents arrested for trespassing at U.S Representative Carl Pursell's of- fice during a protest of U.S. aid to Nicaraguan rebels. The arrests culminated a four-hour sit-in at the congressman's office by several local groups, including the Latin American Solidarity Commit- tee, the Ann Arbor Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, and several churches. The protesters were later released on their own recognizance. At a press conference last night, protesters vowed to continue the sit-ins. "Cer- tainly this is not our last action," said Ken White, one of those who was arrested. In Washington, Pursell voted for a $27 million package to send humanitarian aid to the Contras because "some of their leaders have stated they plan to spread their brand of government throughout Central America," according to Bob Kerans, an aide to Pursell. More than 160 protesters entered the Eisenhower Blvd. building at 2:30 p.m. to sit-in at the representative's office, where they were met by Cyn- thia Butchins, one of Pursell's aides. Hutchins told the crowd that the office was locked and could not accommodate many people. After several hours of debate over governmental policy and Pursell's past voting decisions, Hutcins decided to notify Pittsfield police when the group said it wasn't going to leave. Hutchins had said earlier that she didn't plan on calling police and would even allow the protesters to stay overnight, but building manager Ron Dankert arrived shortly before 6 p.m. with a message that the building's owners wanted the protesters removed from the building. But the group, which had dwindled to approximately 50, refused to leave. Protesters discussed holding a meeting with Pursell, but Reverend Jim Lewis of the Episcopal Church of Incarnation told the group, "I'm not going to a meeting - because his (Pursell's) mind is closed, the vote is cast, and the money and the guns are going." Lewis, a former Marine, said he had never been arrested before, but he wasn't worried because "my congregation is behind me." HIS WORDS seemed to ignite the group. After he spoke, Epton said, "We want to represent a truth - that See SIT-IN, Page 3 uoiq ..... .y, -t..VK, ~-V Thea Lee of the Latin American Solidarity Committee is taken into police custody yesterday after being arrested for trespassing at Congressman's Carl Pursell's office yesterday. Lee was one of 17 protesters arrested locally and one of hundreds arrested nationwide in protests of aid to Nicaraguan rebels. By KERY MURAKAMI have to buy animals bred specifically Park1ng ranks Legislation that will be introduced for research or raise animals them- gIJA Lo nI today in the state Senate would mean selves at a cost of $1.5 million an- good news for dogs and cats in nually, said Dr. Bennett Cohen, direc- " " " " shelters, but according to University tor of the University's Unit for Qolr OWladministrators, it would spell disaster Laboratory Animal Medicine. w w b a n for bio-medical research. The increased cost would "by a con- By NADINE LAVAGNINO as a retail space on the first floor; The bill-backed by the state servative estimate, increase the cost Second in a two-part series " Construction on the Ann-Ashley Humane Society and sponsored by of bio-medical research ten-fold," Reducing the number of times a lot is scheduled to begin late next o f OSen. Gilbert DiNello (D-East said Alfred Sussman, interim vice driver needs to circle downtown Ann spring and be completed by late 1987. Detroit) and Sen. Harry DeMaso president for research. Arbor to find a parking place has It will provide between 800 and 1,200 (R-Battle Creek) - would ban ex- "The legislation would interfere become a high priority for city council spaces; i perimenting on pet animals from with biomedical research that Democrats, and proposals to improve " Downtown sidewalk construction in~ shelters. benefits the health and well-being of parking and its enforcement brighten will generate three additional spaces; IF PASSED, the University would See 'U,' Page 4 the future for locaf drivers. and, - - -K.K - - - - -provementswein prkn gcomcetfrom spaces for their employees, soda few ,GOP-supported initiatives to increase additional spaces are expected to he Zoning law ambiguity sparks laws U thnubro cis-ty pang s-tructures.. enerated forhpu cy'tr- more are in the works: sportation director, said the develop- By SUSAN GRANT On June 4, the neighborhood assocation filed suit again- * The Fourth and William Street ments are designed to stimulate Daily news analysis st the city and the sorority after the Ann Arbor City Coun- parking structure, completed two downtown business and attract people What a difference a word makes. cil approved a 4,400-foot addition to a house on 903 Lincoln years ago, provides 300 new spaces; to the area. "The whole scheme is to The deletion of the word "existing" and a rewritten Ave. * Scheduled for completion in get more people downtown on a 24- phrase in the Ann Arbor zoning laws last year has sparked Tomorrow, the neighbors will ask a judge