READERS RESPOND

"ON FEBRUARY 17, SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT, THE POLICE ARRESTED SOME 52 PEOPLE, HERDED THEM OFF TO A CHICAGO JAIL, AND CHARGED THEM WITH PRESENCE IN A DISORDERLY HOUSE. ACCORDING TO ILLINOIS STATUTES, ALL "OWNERS, AGENTS, AND OCCUPANTS" THEREOF ARE SUBJECT TO ARREST. FIRST, NOT ALL WERE ARRESTED. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE ARRESTING OFFICERS ON THE BASIS OF "FLY FRONTS" WHO WAS TO BE TAKEN IN "FLY FRONTS" WHICH WERE MADE IN WOMEN'S SLACKS BY LEGALLY OWNED AND OPERATED MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT ILLEGAL AND THUS THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE DISORDERLY CONDUCT. SECOND, ON THE NIGHT THIS RAID OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO APPARENT VIOLENCE, DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE, DISORDERLY ASSEMBLY, OR LEGAL VIOLATION. AT THE STATION THOSE WOMEN WEARING "FLY FRONTS," REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WORE LIPSTICK, LONG HAIR, OR EARRINGS, WERE MADE PART IALLY TO UNDRESS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WORE JOCKEY SHORTS. (I SUPPOSE THEY WILL NOW BE CHARGED WITH INDECENT EXPOSURE.) IT NOW APPEARS THAT THOSE ARRESTED AT THE DISCRIMINATION OF THE POLICE ARE TO APPEAR IN COURTS IN MARCH, WHERE THEY WILL FACE THE CHARGE AGAINST THEM.

"THOUGH I DO NOT WISH TO GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THEIR FIFTEENHOUR DETENTION PERIOD, I WILL SAY THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE LOCKUP ITSELF, AS WELL AS THEIR TREATMENT, VIOLATED MORE THAN A FEW ILLINOIS LAWS.

"WANY PEOPLE SEEM QUITE CONTENT TO LET OUTSIDERS TAKE AN INTEREST IN PROTECTING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS WITHOUT EVEN LENDING THEM ASSISTANCE ENOUGH TO MAKE VALID CLAIMS. AN ATTORNEY CAN NOT APPEAR FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT SO DESIRE. HE CAN NOT APPEAR FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL REFUSE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS. HE CAN NOT STAGE A LEGAL BATTLE WHEN ALMOST EVERY GAY PERSON SEEMS TO BE TOO SCARED OF GETTING A PUBLIC BLACK EYE TO FIGHT FOR THE LEGAL RIGHTS THAT CONSTITUTE HIS PERSONAL LIBERTY. HE WILL FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT HE CAN'T MARCH INTO AN EMPTY COURTROOM WITHOUT A CLIENT. GAY PEOPLE HAVE LET THEIR FEARS OVERPOWER THEIR CONSCIENCE. THEY'RE AFRAID OF PUBLICITY AND NEWS-

PAPERS,

CF PUBLIC CONDEMNATION AND THE LOSS OF THEIR FAMILIES'