Dow Riot

"Police and Protesters Face to Face," Wisconsin Historical Society, October 18, 1967

THE DOW RIOT

In August 1967, students heard that a Dow Chemical recruiter was returning to the University, and they planned action. Leaders from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and CEWVN agreed that the first day of protests would be peaceful, but they provided no limitations for the second day. After learning about the groups’ plans, the University threatened to discipline the students if they protested.

"A Report on the Anti-Dow Protests on the Madison Campus of the University of Wisconsin on October 17-18, 1967," Wisconsin Historical Society

"Students study while protesting Dow Chemical on campus in October 1967," Wisconsin State Journal, October 1967

"A UW Hospital Nurse and Her Daughter Picket Dow Chemical on Oct. 17, 1967," Wisconsin State Journal, October 17, 1967

The students demanded the UW separate itself from Dow, the US halt napalm use, and the US get out of Vietnam.

The first day of protest, October 17th, 1967, went as planned. Around 400 people attended an informational rally outside of the Commerce Building. In preparation for the next day, Ralph Hanson, the UW police chief, directed off-duty Madison Police officers to “exercise patience, tolerance and restraint,” allowing protesters who resisted arrest to leave (Ralph Hanson 1967).

“These cops were coming there with only one purpose, and that was to hurt some students.” ~ David Maraniss (Associate Editor at The Washington Post and Author) in discussion with authors, October 5, 2019

On October 18th, protesters barricaded the Dow recruiter in a room. Hanson tried to arrest them but they resisted. Afterwards, Hanson called the UW Chancellor, William Sewell, who agreed to bring in Madison Police Chief Wilbur Emery’s force, despite Sewell's opposition to the war. With guaranteed backup, Hanson warned the protesters that if they didn’t leave, they would be forcibly removed. Police stormed the building only seconds later, giving students no time to evacuate. Nearly 5,000 students watched this chaotic spectacle. The police used tear gas and clubs; more than 50 protesters and 19 police officers were hospitalized. This protest was the first use of tear gas on a public university campus.

Video courtesy of the UW-Madison Archive, ID# BDV00001, October 18, 1967

"After a Warning, the Clubs Swing," Wisconsin State Journal

“We underestimated their organization. We were anticipating the ‘wetrag’ going limp act from demonstrators, but we were met with brute force that equalled--and at times excelled--what we could use.” ~ Police Chief Emery, "Chief Looks Back on 'Fight for Life'," Wisconsin Historical Society, October 20, 1967

"Emery Says He Didn't Order Use of Riot Clubs," The Capital Times, October 19, 1967

“You had basically chaos, complexity, [and] lack of sophistication, on everybody’s part. And you talk about a formula for disaster. When you get on the ground that’s what you had, three different police forces, untrained.” ~ Jeff Smoller (Journalist) in discussion with authors, January 3, 2020

“[Chancellor Sewell] was naive in thinking he could call the Madison Police and control them once they got there.” ~ David Maraniss (Associate Editor at The Washington Post and Author) in discussion with authors, October 5, 2019

"Vicki Gabriner, in Costume as Part of a Protest, Was One of the First People Arrested during the Dow Riots on the UW-Madison Campus in 1967," Wisconsin State Journal, October 18, 1967