DEMONSTRATION; ARRESTS; POLICE AT RESURRECTION CITY.



TRANSCRIPT



ABERNATHY: "WE WOULD PREFER TO BE ARRESTED ON THE GROUND OF THE CAPITOL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR...AND THAT'S NOT ASKING FOR VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIDE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RIOT OR ANYTHING (INAUDIBLE) WE JUST WANT TO GO UP ON THAT SACRED SPOT."




Initials JSU/N-TELE/AS/PF


EDITORS: COMMENTATOR'S VOICE FOR GUIDANCE ONLY.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NEGRO LEADER RALPH ABERNATHY AND ABOUT 300 DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED YESTERDAY (MONDAY) AS RIOT-READY POLICE SHUT DOWN RESURRECTION CITY, THE POOR PEOPLE'S SHANTY TOWN.

THE 42-YEAR-OLD NEGRO BAPTIST MINISTER AND 203 FOLLOWERS, INCLUDING 35 WOMEN, WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO PARADE NEAR CONGRESS ON CAPITOL HILL. EARLIER THEY HAD MARCHED ON THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT.

BEFORE BEING ARRESTED DR. ABERNATHY SPOKE TO THE POLICE.

TWO MILES (THREE KMS) AWAY POLICE WITH SHOTGUNS AND CARRYING TEARGAS CANISTERS SWEPT QUICKLY THROUGH RESURRECTION CITY ARRESTING THE LAST 85 PEOPLE DYING A GOVERNMENT EVICTION ORDER.

A GOVERNMENT PERMIT ALLOWING THE POOR PEOPLE TO CAMP ON FEDERAL LAND NEAR THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL EXPIRED ON SUNDAY (23 JUNE) NIGHT.

LATE LAST NIGHT A DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW WAS CLAMPED ON WASHINGTON AND VIOLENCE THREATENED AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF PLYWOOD AND CANVAS CITY.