Ten O'Clock News; Robert DiGrazia at press conference about violence [Tape 1 of 2]

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be so good you are destroying yourself or your family I don't know. Well you don't get a budget right. We're looking good for the structure. While you're dealing with a letter your brother the other lady it was like you guys were the good stuff. There was a good guy and she was going to come up with this child until I

could get through a show with this. Look a little more. Let me introduce our viewers here. Standing over on the right you have him our salaries commander District Six South Boston next to him the superintendent Chief Joseph Jordan. He's in charge of the Bureau of field services police commissioner Robert Gratz here next to him. His deputy superintendent Lawrence one he's the area commander for South Boston Dorchester and next to him is the commander of the tactical troll Force Captain Fred Conley we're going to do today. Let's show you a shot of videotape which is he less than 10 minutes. The commissioner then has a comment on the videotape and they were open for questions after that. So

we start with the videotape the franking back there to start with. You see him going through the voice of reason. Right. Let me turn it up to you from the greatness of one little bit right. Thank you. You're right. It's using the sticks as being

the first is that yes it's easy to guess a little of the police stuff section the front of anything that you notice and I was beginning to speak out. You gotta risk it was going to come from America. See some of the families now. He's an anchorman since

we sing as he sings.

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Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks. Really. OK the commission has a statement. Here we go with the over of questions. So John it was a many like OK it was OK. One by

one. By the way while we're waiting for join us this is some of the indication of the violence yesterday in South Boston police here with similar pictures. I might because it wasn't him and we were ready. Today once again what was to have been a peaceful exercise of constitutional rights became a vine an exercise in deprivation of rights. What happened yesterday in South Boston has become familiar in our city and sadly to the nation.

But I want it understood today. I shall do all within my power to see that it does not happen again. For almost two years this police department has had a tolerance policy. We know that people opposed busing. We know that they want to demonstrate against it that is reasonable. That is right and it is legitimate. But for almost two years some people in the name of liberty have been trapping on the liberties of others for almost two years the constitutional rights which are the highest values of our nation have been denied by some to others. The governor's wife tonight a right to speak at Faneuil Hall United States senator a RAST and threatened. These things continue to happen. Last week a presidential candidate was not permitted to speak.

One hundred parents trying to meet were prevented from doing so. There is in Boston today a conspiracy against public order. Some people some violent people continue to use children for their illegal political purposes. Our tolerance policies have failed. The rights of people are still being systematically denied in Boston in 1976. It is now time to stop this. People will hold meetings in the city of Boston disruptions will land arrest will be made. The highest value in a democratic society is the right of people to meet to speak to protest to exercise a constitutionally constitutionally conferred rights. The highest value in a democratic police system is the responsibility of the police to ensure those rights.

This we shall do to those who believe in a neighborhood school. To those who want to attend meetings to those who oppose busing. I promise you that this police department as much as it is required will be used to protect your rights to those who believe in busing and who want to show that in demonstrations peaceful protests speeches and rallies. I promise you that this police department will protect your rights to those who LUMS harassers those disrupters who will no longer talk we will no longer tolerate your illegal violent behavior. I promise you you will be arrested. You will be charged. And if I have anything to say about it you will be prosecuted. The line is drawn. I hope it is not tested. I think we've had enough of it.

Really escalating violence is what really I mean I'm glad you said some because I don't think we're talking about a very large number I think we're talking about a very small number that are using this like young people use hollowing night sort of calm carte blanche attack vandalism and so forth that's what they're doing with this particular unit now. Oh Martin Yes you need that majority in September 74 we took what we call a low visibility approach to school busing in September 75 We took a hard line. We've been attempting to let people demonstrate and as we you can see from what you saw on the TV yesterday in a once it may have been out there now actually sot it's not working. And so we're taking this action effective right now that it was there is that you have any evidence of these these being together. Well I think what you have to do is look out in front of you here and

tell me that there wasn't a conspiracy when you see the type of weapons that these hoodlums were already marching with. I don't know what more you need to not indicate. And also the damage that you see to police vehicles. You saw a police officer standing back attempting a lot of wash properly and being bombarded with all of these types of missiles. His reply was We go through the gate.