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Monday, August 2, 1999
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-Ku Klux Klan Counterprotesters on Trial - Elillil
Motions Judge dismisses charges
filed in or 9 counterdemonstrators
By Nika Schulte reflect the court's political views as
Daly Staff editor that of the defendants," she said.
f 1Applause from supporters filled a Earlier in the week, defense witnesses,
courtroom Friday as Washtenaw such as rally spectators, testifiedthat they
felo n y County 15th District Judge Ann did not see the damages to the fence.
Mattson dismissed misdemeanor Rackham student Stephanie
y M vcriminal charges against nine anti- Lindemann, who served as a "peace-
Da Iy Staff Reporter Ku Klux Klan protesters. keeper" at the rally, standing at the
The defendants, who faced up to 90 fence to separate protesters from
Attorneys for nine defendants fac- days in jail and a $500 fine, were KKK members, told the judge she did
ing riot and incitement to riot charges accused of damaging a fence during a not see protesters damage the fence.
stemming from last year's Ku Klux KKK rally at the Guy Larcom Lindemann said she remembered'
Klan counterdemonstration rally at Municipal Building in May 1998. the pushing and pulling that
the Guy Larcom Municpal Building The fence had been erected by the occurred at the fence between
are challenging the constitutionality city in order to separate KKK mem- peacekeepers and protesters but said
of the allegations against their bers from protesters in an attempt to the barrier returned to its normal
clients, deter violence from erupting between height and appearance.
In emotion-hearing held Thursday the two groups. Fence company owners and
before Washtenaw County Circuit Mattson said she decided to dis- employees also told the judge that
Judge Donald Shelton, defense att - miss the charges because the fence, after seeing police video of the rally,
neys Miranda Massie and George which was returned to the rental they did not think the fence suffered
Washington requested an across-the- company and destroyed, was not any damage that would have
board dismissal of charges. able to be examined. decreased its value.DANA UNNANE/Daily
The felony charges carry penalties Mattson added that the decision But during closing statements, 'Net'working
of a maximum of 10 years in prison does not indicate an alignment with Washtenaw County Assistant Takeshi Matsunobu, who works at the Medical Center, plays tennis on
and up to a $10,004 fine. beliefs of the defendants. Prosecutor Margaret Connors said Palmer Field yesterday.
See TRIAL, Page 2 "This opinion is not meant to See DISMISSED, Page 2
Altered bus route provides more
smuteaccessbto U'rMedicalrCampus
e Sxsaccess to 'U Medical Campus
By Sana Danish
Daily Staff Reporter
Starting today, some University
buses operating between the Central
and North campuses will change their
routes in an effort to accommodate
more commuters headed to and from
the Medical campus and Hill area.
Officials with University
Transportation Services plan to add
stops on the northbound and south-
bound Commuter route - which runs
from the Crisler Arena parking lot to
the Glazier Way lot on North
Campus.
The added stops will increase
access to the Medical Campus and
the Hill area at:
Stockwell Residence Hall and
the corner of East Ann and
Observatory streets on the north-
bound route.
the Taubman Center at the
University Hospitals and the Mott
parking structure on East Medical
Center Drive on the southbound route.
Part of the southbound route over-
laps with the northbound route from
the stop at East Ann and
Observatory streets to the Kresge
Research buildings stop on Zina
Pitcher Place.
But with the changes to the
Commuter route, the stop at Glen
and East Ann streets will be elimi-
nated.
Bus Supervisor Bitsy Lamb said
the additional stops on the south-
bound Commuter route will make it
easier for Medical Center employees
to get to the University Hospitals and
nearby areas.
"Normally, people headed for the
hospital get off the bus at the Kresge
stop and face a bit of an uphill walk,"
Lamb said. "With the new stops on the
southbound route, they can get off clos-
er to the hospital."
Kate Bedini, a Information graduate
student said she uses the commuter
buses two to three times a week, but
said she won't mind the changes to the
route.
"I don't think a few extra minutes
will have much effect, or delay me
considerably," Bedini said.
See BUS, Page 7
LSA senior Jeff Irwin throws his hat into 'The Sixth Sense' starring Bruce Willis thrills, What is Mateen Cleaves thinking? Chris
the Washtenaw County commissioner chills and raises the neck hairs of audience Duprey requests some clarification.'
race. Page 3. members. Page 8. Page 3.
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