X

Looking back on Potsdam’s wild late ’60s riots involving fires, tear gas

Posted 5/17/15

Editor’s Note: May is traditionally the time in Potsdam when area college students and residents finally get outdoors and enjoy long-awaited warm weather. But 47 years ago, the situation was much …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Looking back on Potsdam’s wild late ’60s riots involving fires, tear gas

Posted

Editor’s Note: May is traditionally the time in Potsdam when area college students and residents finally get outdoors and enjoy long-awaited warm weather. But 47 years ago, the situation was much less peaceful as Potsdam was rocked with the first of two major downtown riots. Here’s a look back.

By JIMMY LAWTON

POTSDAM -- In May of 1968 and 1969, student riots prompted police to use violence and tear gas to subdue the more than 500 participants who allegedly lit fires in the streets and tossed objects through store windows.

The events occurred on two separate occasions. A Clarkson Integrator article published May 15, 1968 documented the first instance.

“The disturbance started when several students who were standing outside the local bars witnessed the arrest of three young men from Syracuse, on charges of driving the wrong way around the traffic loop, public intoxication and reckless driving,” the article says. “Police officers used a chemical tear gas derivative in the arrest and one of the men was struck on the head with a flashlight during the scuffle.”

The police action drew attention from student witnesses, who complained teargas was being used on them.

Former Clarkson student Keith Conroy recalled the event in an email.

“The crowd got bigger and bigger, with most not knowing what just happened, but curious about why there are so many people in the street. After awhile we wondered what (the police were) going to do about these hundreds of kids milling around in the street, blocking traffic? After a couple hours we found out,” he said.

“From the side street that goes to the police station, about a dozen pairs of police, county and state, came running out of the alley. One of each pair had a baton and the other had a gas engine teargas sprayer, and they dispersed the crowd… or tried to, anyway. This was my first and only taste of teargas.”

Reported the Integrator: “The crowd surged out into the street where it remained for almost three hours.”

The article continue, “Action on the street was restricted mainly to the lighting of bonfires on which traffic cones were placed, setting off firecrackers, drag racing on Elm Street and harassment of any traffic which did come through the Elm-Market intersections.

The event led to three arrests and no injuries were reported.

On the first anniversary of the incident, students again took to the streets.

A Clarkson Integrator article published May 7, 1969, detailed the event.

The paper says students gathered in the streets following a fraternity party, but refrained from visiting local bars.

“Instead small groups began to collect on corners and in doorways. Over the course of a few hours these small congregations grew larger until Market Street from Main to Elm was completely filled with college students and town residents just milling the streets,” the article says.

After more than 600 people had gathered, things began to get out of hand.

“A small group of belligerent, reportedly Potsdam High School students began throwing beer bottles and glasses into the street. Others followed, extending their ammunition to small rocks, some of which found their way into two front windows of Caliapri’s Music store, damaging a piano on display,” the article says.

It was about 9 p.m. when the police called for reinforcements from Ogdensburg, Massena, Norwood, Canton and Gouverneur.

Hours later, violence erupted.

“Sometime after midnight, without any advance warning, the police charged from Raymond Street onto Market Street with nightsticks and tear gas. They proceeded with operation to disperse the crowd,” the article reads. “Those operations included indiscriminate gassing and beating of individuals who were obviously trying to leave the scene and offering no resistance to the advance of police.”

The event left one man in the hospital and 11 arrests. The paper also reports an infant “was overcome by the fumes” of tear gas.

Damage caused by the riot included four broken windows and streets littered in broken glass.

The articles regarding the events can be read here.

“Students Take Over Potsdam” May 15, 1968, Clarkson Integrator

http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/np00010001/1968-05-15/ed-1/seq-1/#date1

“Police Called in to Halt Student Disturbances” May 7, 1969

http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/np00010001/1969-05-07/ed-1/seq-1.pdf

“First Anniversary Gasser,” May 9, 1969, The Racquette http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/np00010012/1969-05-09/ed-1/seq-1/#date1