Ag Building Bombing 1968 - Protest and Counterprotest | Police | SIU

On May 2nd, 1968, US Army recruiters arrived on campus. The following is from an SIU Security Office summary of the events of early May 1968:

On May 2, U.S. Army Recruiters were scheduled to conduct interviews in the Student Union. The recruiters set up their table at an assigned area which would afford them as much student traffic as possible.

At approximately 12:00 noon, a group of people surrounded the recruiters and then formed a "human chain" by linking arms. They thereafter refused to allow anyone access to the Recruiting Officers. The demonstrators were comprised of non-students as well as students and faculty members.

Immediately thereafter, a crowd began to form and grew to such proportions that the main hallway of The Union was blocked and became almost impassable. A number of students, most notably veterans, began to heckle the demonstrators. The situation quickly became highly explosive.

As soon as he arrived at the scene, Mr. Leffler, the Security Officer, conferred with the Dean of Men, who was also present. Mr. Leffler then talked to the leader of the "peace" group and advised him that, unless they stop their actions and leave the scene immediately, he would arrest the total group. The group decided to discontinue their actions and leave immediately.

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