ANTI-RIOTS HEARING BEFORE SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 4 OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETIETH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 12328, H.R. 12605, H.R. 12721 and RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF RIOTS AND INCITEMENT OCTOBER 4, 1967 Printed for the use of the Committee on the District of Columbia 84-926 LAW LIBRARY NUV 2 8 1967 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1967 CONTENTS Bevill, Hon. Tom, a Representative in Congress from the State of Alabama. Broyhill, Hon. Joel T., a Representative in Congress from the State of Department of Justice, Hon. Fred M. Vinson, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney District of Columbia Government: Kneipp, Robert F., Assistant Corporation Counsel. Layton, Chief John B., Metropolitan Police Department.. Scott, Hon. William L., a Representative in Congress from the State of United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Hon. David G. Bress MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD Attorney General of the United States, Hon. Ramsey Clark, and Hon. National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, Prof. Robert Letter dated October 2, 1967, to Chairman McMillan. ANTI-RIOTS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1967 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:19 a.m. in Room 1310, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Basil L. Whitener, Chairman of the subcommittee. Present: Representatives McMillan (Chairman of the full committee, presiding), Whitener (later presiding), Fuqua, Nelsen, Broyhill and Gude. Also present: James T. Clark, Clerk; Hayden S. Garber, Counsel; Sara Watson, Assistant Counsel; Donald Tubridy, Minority Clerk; and Leonard O. Hilder, Investigator. Mr. MCMILLAN (presiding). The committee will come to order. I regret Mr. Whitener was held up because of another meeting this morning with the Secretary of State. He will be here in a few moments, however. We have for consideration this morning H.R. 12328, H.R. 12605, H.R. 12721 and H.R. 12557, relating to the prohibition of riots and incitement to riot in the District of Columbia. (The bills, letter from the Attorney General requesting this legisation, and Staff Memorandum follow:) (H.R. 12328, 90th Cong., 1st Sess., by Mr. McMillan on August 14, 1967; H.R. 12605 by Mr. Nelsen on August 24, 1967; and H.R. 12721 by Mr. Scott on August 30, 1967) A BILL Relating to the prohibition of riots and incitement to riot in the District of Columbia Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, (a) A riot in the District of Columbia is a public disturbance involving an assemblage of five or more persons which by tumultuous and violent conduct or the threat thereof creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons. (b) Whoever willfully engages in a riot in the District of Columbia shall by imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. (c) Whoever willfully incites or urges other persons to engage in a riot shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. (d) If in the course and as a result of a riot a person suffers serious bodily harm or there is property damage in excess of $5,000, every person who willfully incited or urged others to engage in the riot shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten years or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. 1 |