"We applaud your initiative in investigating the passivity of the police during the attack by so-called construction workers on the war protesters at City Hall." (telegram to Mayor Lindsay from Sol Silverman, President Bedding Local 140) What are the consequences of witnessing? Are some kinds of witnessing valued more than others? "I witnessed police in action last Friday when construction workers ran rampant. I was appalled by fact that police protection only available to those who share views of PD." (Telegram to Mayor Lindsay from Max Vigil, 250 Riverside Drive) Police investigators interviewed hundreds of eyewitnesses to the events of May 8. The official police report summarizing those interviews repeatedly used phrases such as the following: "In this as in most cases, no specifics could be obtained." "unable to assist in the further identification of his assailants" "unable to assist in identifying any of the persons involved" "unable to be of assistance in the identifying of any persons concerned" "unable to explain the reason for the attack or able to assist in further identifying his assailants" "could give no assistance in further identifying persons involved" What do these phrases suggest about the purposes and conclusions of the police report? [EYES] Deliberate Witnessing During the 1960s, activists organized outdoor protests and rallies carefully, trying to plan for every possible turn of events. This planning included having medical personnel on the scene in case of injuries and lawyers in case of arrests. Organizers also designated official observers to witness events as they unfolded, particularly the conduct of the police. This is part of the story told to police by one witness, a 28 year old City Hall office worker who was listening to Mayor Lindsay speak in nearby Foley Square during her lunch hour. According to the police report, when she saw a group of police officers moving toward City Hall, she followed them, sensing that something was happening there. She had served as an official observer at previous demonstrations, and she even had her official "observer armband" with her. The report does not say if she put it on. "She saw a young man lying on the pavement with about five construction workers clustered around him, kicking and punching him. One of the workers had a belt clipper, about eighteen inches long, in a raised position as if he was about to strike the fallen youth. She grabbed him by the arm but he shook her off. She then grabbed him by the back of the jacket collar and kept yelling for him to stop. The man with the weapon replied, 'let go of me bitch,' and he, and two others, pushed her up against a parked car and punched her several times. She felt, however, that they were not really trying to hurt her." [DOC] Click to read this observer's full account of what she saw, as presented in the police report.