Interview with Carl Schinasi

Partial Transcript: "Alright Carl, if you feel ready, feel free to tell of the events..."

Segment Synopsis: Carl was involved in the demonstration and believed it influenced his life. He remembers a cool day and meeting on Bascom Hill. He was told that they were going to the Commerce building to sit in as a protest to the Dow Chemical Company and their production of Napalm. Carl believes the students were divided on their stances on the Vietnam War, he remembers a lot fo tension. In the Commerce building, students filed in until it was difficult to move. They were informed that the police might come and try to remove them. When the police arrived, they said they’d like the students to leave, some did leave. The police came in to remove the remaining students. Carl was sitting near the doors and was one of the first dragged out. Two police men lifted Carl and carried him out, beating him with their clubs until they set him down. Carl was bleeding and scared. His next memory was going to the university hospital in a golf cart. The doctors sewed his head wound, seven stitches, he went home that day and laid in bed in disbelief.

Keywords: Billy Simons; Commerce Building; Dow Chemical Company; Evan Stark; UW Madison; activism; police; police brutality; protest

Partial Transcript: "One curious thing occurred to me, personally."

Segment Synopsis: The next day, the Daily Cardinal ran an article on the demonstration and pictured was Carl, wondering around dazed and confused. He doesn’t remember walking around after the police officers set him down. For days after, the talk was about the brutality of the police.

Keywords: Dow Demonstrations; The Daily Cardinal; confusion; police brutality; shock

Partial Transcript: "Of course, and I apologize - I have a slight cough..."

Segment Synopsis: Carl was a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Wisconsin Draft Resistance Union. He participated in several demonstrations on campus. Carl believes that the demonstrations happening today parallel what happened 50 years ago.

Keywords: Students for Democratic Society; UW Madison; Wisconsin Draft Resistance Union; campus activism; protests

Partial Transcript: "And I have another question, which is..."

Segment Synopsis: Carl became more involved politically and actively. He doesn’t believe he was that politically motivated before the demonstration.

Keywords: Dow Demonstrations; UW Madison; Vietnam War; political activism; protests

Partial Transcript: "Now, let me add one more thing..."

Segment Synopsis: After the Vietnam War, Carl’s political activism decreased. He apologizes that his memories aren’t more distinct about the Dow demonstration.

Keywords: decreased activism; involvement; politics; protests; trends

Partial Transcript: "I just want to ask, quickly, do you have any final thoughts..."

Segment Synopsis: Carl adds that the state of confusion after the police came into the building was tremendous. It seemed to Carl that the police came into the building with a plan.

Keywords: Dow Demonstrations; police; police brutality; protests; state of confusion