- - tnI~ - ~umrner WeKV 1 r LiarigU &ai g One hundred eight years of editorialfreedom http://www.mchgandally.com Monday, August 2, 1999 ff mowti"cif atixoxs sbbuild -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. The Michigan Daily Student Publications Building 420 Maynard St. News: 76-DAILY classifieds: 764-0557 Display: 764-0554 W- 7 t " : ., ,fir re ' a G . : C sa v.t -y. vw ra:e xr +a; ,eA x k x Y wr x.cw,, ra r a .Ja%< . 'u ._ s. v ,. _. 5.,.,c. /,'a. n , N\.- .. . .a,:.,: .,.w ,.YO,,,. awmvawro «,. .,ns., ~ . aadA,. ., v'.- R: ..=, ran n. ,. ... ,':M G : , . .