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By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 3, 1997

Rehnquist's decisions focus of protest


[photograph]

Robert Henry Becker
Arizona Daily Wildcat

From left, Paul Gattone, attorney at the People's Law center, Jean Yoshino, of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Jeff Imig, a media technician at the University Teaching Center were some of the people at a protest rally against U.S. Chief Justice William Renquist Friday at the UA College of Law.


Holding signs marked with some of United States Chief Justice William Rehnquist's more conservative decisions, 11 protesters exercised their right to free speech Friday at the College of Law.

The protesters, who lined up in a courtyard in front of Rehnquist's classroom at noon, represented nine different University of Arizona and community organizations including the Tucson Civil Rights Coalition and UA's Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan.

Roberto Martinez, history and Mexican American studies sophomore and community relations chairman for MEChA, said he was protesting because he felt it was important to let the campus know about opposing viewpoints to Rehnquist's decisions.

"I don't agree with his (Rehnquist's) racism in general," Martinez said. "Especially (because of) his influence with bad things he's done in the past, it is hard not to come out (to protest)."

Rehnquist, who is teaching a one-unit, two-week court history class to about 120 UA law students, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 by President Nixon and became chief justice in 1986.

The demonstrators handed out fliers that outlined Supreme Court cases under Rehnquist to students entering the College of Law building.

The flyers described six cases in which the protesters felt Rehnquist had ruled against civil liberties. One case dealt with Rehnquist's opposition to legalized abortion.

Each protester held a brightly colored 3-foot sign publicizing the group's thoughts on the issues.

Jean Yoshino, a Tucson resident who carried a sign reading, "The right to die: The state knows better than the family," said she felt Rehnquist was a conservative justice who did not represent the needs of the people.

Most justices are on "the middle of the road," but Rehnquist always votes on the far right, Yoshino said.

Both she and Mary McEwan of Tucson said they feel the strongest about Rehnquist's opposition to legalized abortion.

Although the protesters chose to hold their demonstration outside Rehnquist's classroom at the College of Law, they said they disagreed with his past decisions, not with the fact he chose to teach a UA course.

"We are not opposed to the UA having him here because every voice should be heard," said Delores Grayam, a member of the Tucson Civil Rights Coalition. "But we feel he would limit our rights to be out here if he could."

Grayam was holding a sign that read, "Sex discrimination ... is no big deal."

Students in Rehnquist's class who saw the protest believed the demonstrators had the right to voice their opinions.

"I think it is their right to do it (protest)," said Jason Buchman, a second year law student.

Second year law student Eric Rau believed the same.

"I think in part it is their right to express their views," Rau said. "Just as long as it is not disruptive to the environment."

A peaceful protest was exactly what Paul Gattone, coordinator of the Southern Arizona chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and staff attorney at the People's Law Center, had in mind.

"This was meant to be an educational protest," he said. "Most importantly, we want to educate the students that there are contrary points of view."

Gattone, who graduated from UA as an undergraduate in 1984 and from the UA College of Law in 1988, said several students were responding positively to the protest.

"Hopefully, this sends a message that there are people who will not just stand by as the court goes further and further," he said.

Joel Seligman, dean for the College of Law, said the protest was so peaceful that he was not called out of a meeting to see it.

"My sense is this is not a big deal," he said. "There was no disturbance and he (Rehnquist) was not upset as far as I know."

Buchman said he felt it was an excellent opportunity to take a course taught by Rehnquist, whether or not people agree with his philosophies.

"He is an asset to the university," he said.


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