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FD-350 (Rev. 7-16-63) (Mount C!ipping in Space Below) ~Aetivist of '60s Assails the Police for Their 'Hysteria' BY MARIO SAVIO It was around midnight three nights af- er the Friday evening shootout between he Symbionese Liberation Army and the os Angeles Police Department that two (Indicate page,name of eporters came to my apartment just as I newspaper, city and state.) vas about to go to sleep.They wanted to o something to help save the life of Pa. ricia Hearst.To my total disbelief, the re- orters actually asked if I knew Patty II-7 LOS ANGELES TIMES Iearst's whereabouts, or if I could help LOS ANGELES,CA. nake contact with her. At first I viewed this midnight appeal as art of some bizarre fantasy. But once I ad overcome my initial disbelief, I began 6 realize that this request had not oc- urred in a vacuum. It was no isolated in- ident but, rather, a direct product of the ysterical sensationalism now surround- ng the entire saga of Patty Hearst and ne SLA-a hysteria that easily could be irected at anyone who has been active in vhat the police and the press consider to e "the left." This wave of hysteria has swept hrough and around ail of us. The most INFOEMATION CONTAENED ramatic and horrifying example of just hat it can produce was seen coast-to- oast on prime-time TV on the evening of Iay 17. A tactical police assault team em- loyed a strategy that led to what looked Mario Savio, spokesman for the Free Date: 5/31/74 pecch Movement at Berkeley in the mid- Edition: Friday Final 50s lives in Venice and teaches in the Author: Mario Savio Iar Vista Alternative School. Editor: Willian F. Thoma Title: HEARNAP ike war. It was in this context that the olice justified the horrible and excessive actic of shooting or burning to death heir "enemy"--all those who had taken Character: efuge in that bungalow on 5ith St. or Police oficials argue that they had no Ciassification: -LA-7-1627* hoice, for they were faced with armed Submitting Office: Los. Angeles nd dangerous terrorists; not only did ey call on thc suspects to surrender, but Being Investlgated efore opening weapons fire, they used ear-gas canisters in an effort to root out he occupants. It was only after receiving t blast of gunfire from the house, ne police tell us, that they returned the unfire. in short-according to the police ersion-warfare was the only realistic or easonabR alternative