Kool-Aid & Twinkies - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 21:06, 9 December 2025

2025-12-09T21:06:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:06, 9 December 2025
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	George Moscone's body was buried. Harvey Milk's body was cremated. His ashes were placed in a box that was wrapped in Doonsebury comic strips, then scattered at sea. The ashes had been mixed with the contents of two packets of Kool-Aid, and they formed a purple patch on the Pacific. Harvey would've liked that touch.		George Moscone's body was buried. Harvey Milk's body was cremated. His ashes were placed in a box that was wrapped in Doonsebury comic strips, then scattered at sea. The ashes had been mixed with the contents of two packets of Kool-Aid, and they formed a purple patch on the Pacific. Harvey would've liked that touch.

			[[Image:Henry-Baca-Civic-Center-plaza-across-from-City-Hall-November-1978.jpg]]

			'''Civic Center Plaza an hour after the assassinations, November 27, 1978.'''

			''Photo: Henry Baca''


	<font size=4>The Trial</font>		<font size=4>The Trial</font>

	In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of ~~cops -- ordinarily~~ Schmidt would have craved his presence on this ~~jury -- but~~ then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He" ~~-- and~~ the ball game was ~~over --~~ "works at the Holiday Inn."		In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of cops—ordinarily Schmidt would have craved his presence on this jury—but then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He"—and the ball game was over—"works at the Holiday Inn."

	The day before the trial, the assistant D.A. who was handling the prosecution was standing in an elevator at the Hall of Justice. He heard a voice behind him speak his name "Tom Norman, you're a motherfucker for prosecuting Dan White." He turned around and saw six police inspectors. He flushed and faced the door again. The cops were his drinking buddies, and now they were all mad at him.		The day before the trial, the assistant D.A. who was handling the prosecution was standing in an elevator at the Hall of Justice. He heard a voice behind him speak his name "Tom Norman, you're a motherfucker for prosecuting Dan White." He turned around and saw six police inspectors. He flushed and faced the door again. The cops were his drinking buddies, and now they were all mad at him.
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	[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]		[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]]		[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]] [[category:Crime]]

Ccarlsson at 22:08, 16 July 2020

2020-07-16T22:08:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:08, 16 July 2020
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	But he already envisioned the possibility that he would become a martyr. After he was elected supervisor, he taped a message for his constituents that included this prophetic fear and hope: "If bullets should ever enter my brain, let those bullets blow open every closet in this country."		But he already envisioned the possibility that he would become a martyr. After he was elected supervisor, he taped a message for his constituents that included this prophetic fear and hope: "If bullets should ever enter my brain, let those bullets blow open every closet in this country."

	~~<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/ssfHarveym1" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>~~

	~~'''Harvey Milk's Last Words'''~~

	Milk warned the pragmatic Moscone that giving the homophobic White his seat back would be seen as an anti-gay move. Even a mayor who wanted to run for re-election had the right to change his mind.		Milk warned the pragmatic Moscone that giving the homophobic White his seat back would be seen as an anti-gay move. Even a mayor who wanted to run for re-election had the right to change his mind.

Jeff: Text replacement - "category:Gay and Lesbian" to "category:LGBTQI"

2018-10-16T15:09:05Z

Text replacement - "category:Gay and Lesbian" to "category:LGBTQI"

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:09, 16 October 2018
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	[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]		[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:~~Gay and Lesbian~~]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]]		[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]]

Ccarlsson at 06:46, 3 July 2014

2014-07-03T06:46:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 2 July 2014
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	It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.		It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.

	~~'''~~A Slimy Creep~~'''~~		<font size=4>A Slimy Creep</font>

	Jim Jones, founder of the 8,000-member [[JONESTOWN, S.F.\|People's Temple]] on Geary Boulevard, once asked Margo St. James, founder of the prostitutes' rights group COYOTE, how he could obtain political power. She answered sardonically, "Arrange for some of your women to have sex with the bigwigs." Jones in turn offered to supply busloads of his congregation for any protest demonstration that COYOTE organized, but Margo declined.		Jim Jones, founder of the 8,000-member [[JONESTOWN, S.F.\|People's Temple]] on Geary Boulevard, once asked Margo St. James, founder of the prostitutes' rights group COYOTE, how he could obtain political power. She answered sardonically, "Arrange for some of your women to have sex with the bigwigs." Jones in turn offered to supply busloads of his congregation for any protest demonstration that COYOTE organized, but Margo declined.
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	And then, one week later, while we were still in a state of utter shock, along came a second earthquake.		And then, one week later, while we were still in a state of utter shock, along came a second earthquake.

	~~'''~~Let Those Bullets Blow Open Every Closet~~'''~~		<font size=4>Let Those Bullets Blow Open Every Closet</font>

	Dan White, a former cop, resigned from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors because he couldn't support his wife and baby on a salary of $9,600 a year. He obtained a lease for a fast-food franchise at Fisherman's Wharf and planned to devote himself full time to his restaurant, the Hot Potato. However, White had been the swing vote on the board, representing real estate interests and the conservative Police Officers' Association. With a promise of financial backing, White changed his mind and told the mayor that he wanted his job back. At first Moscone said sure, a man has the right to change his mind.		Dan White, a former cop, resigned from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors because he couldn't support his wife and baby on a salary of $9,600 a year. He obtained a lease for a fast-food franchise at Fisherman's Wharf and planned to devote himself full time to his restaurant, the Hot Potato. However, White had been the swing vote on the board, representing real estate interests and the conservative Police Officers' Association. With a promise of financial backing, White changed his mind and told the mayor that he wanted his job back. At first Moscone said sure, a man has the right to change his mind.
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	George Moscone's body was buried. Harvey Milk's body was cremated. His ashes were placed in a box that was wrapped in Doonsebury comic strips, then scattered at sea. The ashes had been mixed with the contents of two packets of Kool-Aid, and they formed a purple patch on the Pacific. Harvey would've liked that touch.		George Moscone's body was buried. Harvey Milk's body was cremated. His ashes were placed in a box that was wrapped in Doonsebury comic strips, then scattered at sea. The ashes had been mixed with the contents of two packets of Kool-Aid, and they formed a purple patch on the Pacific. Harvey would've liked that touch.

	~~'''~~The Trial~~'''~~		<font size=4>The Trial</font>

	In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of cops -- ordinarily Schmidt would have craved his presence on this jury -- but then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He" -- and the ball game was over -- "works at the Holiday Inn."		In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of cops -- ordinarily Schmidt would have craved his presence on this jury -- but then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He" -- and the ball game was over -- "works at the Holiday Inn."
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	In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."		In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."

	<font ~~siThe~~ Twinkie Defense~~'''~~		<font size=4>The Twinkie Defense</font>

	The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.		The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.

Ccarlsson at 06:45, 3 July 2014

2014-07-03T06:45:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:45, 2 July 2014
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	But he already envisioned the possibility that he would become a martyr. After he was elected supervisor, he taped a message for his constituents that included this prophetic fear and hope: "If bullets should ever enter my brain, let those bullets blow open every closet in this country."		But he already envisioned the possibility that he would become a martyr. After he was elected supervisor, he taped a message for his constituents that included this prophetic fear and hope: "If bullets should ever enter my brain, let those bullets blow open every closet in this country."

	~~{{#ev~~:archive\|ssfHarveym1~~\|320}}~~		<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/ssfHarveym1" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

	'''Harvey Milk's Last Words'''		'''Harvey Milk's Last Words'''
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	In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."		In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."

	~~'''The~~ Twinkie Defense'''		<font siThe Twinkie Defense'''

	The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.		The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.
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	My reverie was interrupted by a phone call from Mike Weiss, who had covered the trial for ''Time'' magazine. He was calling from a phone near City Hall, I could hear crowds screaming and sirens wailing behind his voice. He had to yell: "There's a riot going on! You should get here right away!"		My reverie was interrupted by a phone call from Mike Weiss, who had covered the trial for ''Time'' magazine. He was calling from a phone near City Hall, I could hear crowds screaming and sirens wailing behind his voice. He had to yell: "There's a riot going on! You should get here right away!"

	~~{{#ev~~:archive\|ssfWhitent1~~\|320}}~~		<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/ssfWhitent1" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

	'''Rioting at City Hall'''		'''Rioting at City Hall'''

Lisaruth: added photo from David Goldberg collection

2014-07-03T02:35:36Z

added photo from David Goldberg collection

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 2 July 2014
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	''by Paul Krassner from ''Remembering Jonestown, Dan White, and the two weeks that ate San Francisco'' (appeared originally in the [http://www.sfbg.com ''Bay Guardian''] Nov. 24, 1993)''		''by Paul Krassner from ''Remembering Jonestown, Dan White, and the two weeks that ate San Francisco'' (appeared originally in the [http://www.sfbg.com ''Bay Guardian''] Nov. 24, 1993)''

			[[Image:Eat a twinkie beat the rap david-goldberg-80s-a-cultural-essay-13.jpg]]

			'''Shot in January 1984. Dan White had just been freed from prison after serving 5 years for the assassinations of George Moscone & Harvey Milk. The image was shot during the resultant demonstration.'''

			''Photo: © [http://davidgoldbergimages.com/project/the-80s-a-cultural-essay/ David Goldberg]''

	It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.		It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.

Ccarlsson: Protected "Kool-Aid & Twinkies": personal account [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-18T09:45:51Z

Protected "Kool-Aid & Twinkies": personal account [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 02:45, 18 January 2009
(No difference)

Lisaruth: added to white night "loop"

2009-01-07T21:29:33Z

added to white night "loop"

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 7 January 2009
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	In October 1985, White committed suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes in his garage. He taped a note to the windshield of his car: "I'm sorry for all the pain and trouble I've caused."		In October 1985, White committed suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes in his garage. He taped a note to the windshield of his car: "I'm sorry for all the pain and trouble I've caused."


			[[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979\|MORE White Night]]

	[[White Night Riot: A Policeman's View\|A Policeman's View]]		[[White Night Riot: A Policeman's View\|A Policeman's View]]

Lisaruth: added page content type, protected

2009-01-07T21:14:29Z

added page content type, protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 7 January 2009
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	from ''Remembering Jonestown, Dan White, and the two weeks that ate San Francisco'' ~~by Paul Krassner~~ (appeared originally in the [http://www.sfbg.com ''Bay Guardian''] Nov. 24, 1993)		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Paul Krassner from ''Remembering Jonestown, Dan White, and the two weeks that ate San Francisco'' (appeared originally in the [http://www.sfbg.com ''Bay Guardian''] Nov. 24, 1993)''

	It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.		It's been 15 years since the Jonestown massacre, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Those of us who lived in San Francisco then were at the epicenter of an emotional earthquake that encircled the globe. What happened in Jonestown was inconceivably evil. What happened in City Hall was devastating. We walked around in a daze of sadness, only to have our outrage further intensified each day as new details were revealed in the media.
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	'''Harvey Milk'''		'''Harvey Milk'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History ~~Room~~, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

	I met Harvey Milk when he ran a neighborhood camera shop, and I watched him develop into the gay equivalent of Martin Luther King. Had he lived, he might have been elected the first openly gay mayor.		I met Harvey Milk when he ran a neighborhood camera shop, and I watched him develop into the gay equivalent of Martin Luther King. Had he lived, he might have been elected the first openly gay mayor.
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	Milk warned the pragmatic Moscone that giving the homophobic White his seat back would be seen as an anti-gay move. Even a mayor who wanted to run for re-election had the right to change his mind.		Milk warned the pragmatic Moscone that giving the homophobic White his seat back would be seen as an anti-gay move. Even a mayor who wanted to run for re-election had the right to change his mind.

	On Sunday evening, Nov. 26, a reporter called Dan White and said: "I can tell you from a very good source in the Mayor's Office that you definitely are not going to be reappointed. Can you comment on that?" White replied, "I don't want to talk about it. I don't know anything about that," and hung up. He stayed on the couch that night, not wanting to keep his wife awake. He didn't get any sleep himself and just lay there brooding. He decided to go to City Hall on Monday morning.

	[[Image:Dan WhiteAAD-3065.jpg]]		[[Image:Dan WhiteAAD-3065.jpg]]
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	'''Dan White'''		'''Dan White'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History ~~Room~~, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

			On Sunday evening, Nov. 26, a reporter called Dan White and said: "I can tell you from a very good source in the Mayor's Office that you definitely are not going to be reappointed. Can you comment on that?" White replied, "I don't want to talk about it. I don't know anything about that," and hung up. He stayed on the couch that night, not wanting to keep his wife awake. He didn't get any sleep himself and just lay there brooding. He decided to go to City Hall on Monday morning.

	When his aide, Denise Apcar, picked him up at 10:15, he didn't come out the front door as he normally would; he emerged from the garage. He had gone down there to put on his service revolver, a .38 special that he always kept loaded. He opened a box of extra cartridges, which were packed in rows of five, and put ten of them, wrapped in a handkerchief so they wouldn't rattle, into his pocket.		When his aide, Denise Apcar, picked him up at 10:15, he didn't come out the front door as he normally would; he emerged from the garage. He had gone down there to put on his service revolver, a .38 special that he always kept loaded. He opened a box of extra cartridges, which were packed in rows of five, and put ten of them, wrapped in a handkerchief so they wouldn't rattle, into his pocket.
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	In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of cops -- ordinarily Schmidt would have craved his presence on this jury -- but then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He" -- and the ball game was over -- "works at the Holiday Inn."		In 1979, I covered the trial of Dan White for the ''Bay Guardian''. Defense attorney Doug Schmidt didn't want pro-gay sentiment to pollute the verdict. He wasn't allowed to ask potential jurors if they were gay, but he would ask if they had ever supported controversial causes, like homosexual rights, for instance. There was one prospective juror who came from a family of cops -- ordinarily Schmidt would have craved his presence on this jury -- but then he said, perhaps gratuitously, "I live with a roommate and lover." Schmidt's next question: "Where does he or she work?" The man answered, "He" -- and the ball game was over -- "works at the Holiday Inn."

	The day before the trial, the assistant D.A. who was handling the prosecution was standing in an elevator at the Hall of Justice. He heard a voice behind him speak his name "Tom Norman, ~~you~~'re a motherfucker for prosecuting Dan White." He turned around and saw six police inspectors. He flushed and faced the door again. The cops were his drinking buddies, and now they were all mad at him.		The day before the trial, the assistant D.A. who was handling the prosecution was standing in an elevator at the Hall of Justice. He heard a voice behind him speak his name "Tom Norman, you're a motherfucker for prosecuting Dan White." He turned around and saw six police inspectors. He flushed and faced the door again. The cops were his drinking buddies, and now they were all mad at him.

	In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."		In his confession White had stated "I don't know why I put [my gun] on." And at the trial, psychiatrists offered reasons ranging from the psychological (it was a security blanket) to the practical (for self-defense against a People's Temple hit squad). But as Jack Webb, a former police officer and member of the Police Commission, told me: "An off-duty cop carrying his gun for protection isn't gonna take extra bullets. If he can't save his life with the bullets already in his gun, then he's done for."
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	The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.		The late J.J. Rodale once claimed in his magazine, ''Prevention'', that Lee Harvey Oswald had been seen holding a Coca-Cola bottle only minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy. From this he concluded that Oswald was not responsible for the killing because his brain was confused. He was a sugar drunkard. In a surprise move, Dan White's defense team presented a similar biochemical explanation of his behavior, blaming it on the compulsive gobbling of sugar-filled junk-food snacks.

	This was a purely accidental tactic. Dale Metcalf, a Merry Prankster who became a lawyer, told me about the evening he happened to be playing chess with Steven Scheer, an associate of ~~White~~'s attorney. Metcalf, a health enthusiast, had just read ''Orthomolecular Nutrition'' by Abram Hoffer. He questioned Scheer about White's diet and learned that while under stress White would ~~consumer~~ candy bars and soft drinks.		This was a purely accidental tactic. Dale Metcalf, a Merry Prankster who became a lawyer, told me about the evening he happened to be playing chess with Steven Scheer, an associate of White's attorney. Metcalf, a health enthusiast, had just read ''Orthomolecular Nutrition'' by Abram Hoffer. He questioned Scheer about White's diet and learned that while under stress White would consume candy bars and soft drinks.

	During the trial, one psychiatrist stated that on the night before the murders, while Dan White was getting depressed about the fact that he would not be reappointed, he just sat there in front of the TV set, binge-ing on Twinkies. In court, White just sat there in a state of complete control, bordering on catatonia, as he listened to an assembly line of psychiatrists tell the jury how out of control he had been. One even testified: "If not for the aggravating fact of junk food, the homicides might not have taken place." In the corridor, Berkeley psychiatrist Lee Coleman denounced the entire practice of psychiatric testimony as a disguised form of hearsay.		During the trial, one psychiatrist stated that on the night before the murders, while Dan White was getting depressed about the fact that he would not be reappointed, he just sat there in front of the TV set, binge-ing on Twinkies. In court, White just sat there in a state of complete control, bordering on catatonia, as he listened to an assembly line of psychiatrists tell the jury how out of control he had been. One even testified: "If not for the aggravating fact of junk food, the homicides might not have taken place." In the corridor, Berkeley psychiatrist Lee Coleman denounced the entire practice of psychiatric testimony as a disguised form of hearsay.
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	My reverie was interrupted by a phone call from Mike Weiss, who had covered the trial for ''Time'' magazine. He was calling from a phone near City Hall, I could hear crowds screaming and sirens wailing behind his voice. He had to yell: "There's a riot going on! You should get here right away!"		My reverie was interrupted by a phone call from Mike Weiss, who had covered the trial for ''Time'' magazine. He was calling from a phone near City Hall, I could hear crowds screaming and sirens wailing behind his voice. He had to yell: "There's a riot going on! You should get here right away!"

			{{#ev:archive\|ssfWhitent1\|320}}

			'''Rioting at City Hall'''

	Reluctantly, I took a cab. When I arrived, there were a dozen police cars that had been set on fire, which in turn set off their alarms, underscoring the angry shouts from a mob of 5,000 gay men. On the night Harvey Milk was murdered, many of them were among the 30,000 who had marched silently to City Hall for a candlelight vigil. Now they were rioting, utterly furious at the Dan White verdict. But where were the cops? They were all fuming inside City Hall, where their commander had instructed them to stay -- armed prisoners watching helplessly as angry demonstrators broke the glass trying to ram their way through the locked doors.		Reluctantly, I took a cab. When I arrived, there were a dozen police cars that had been set on fire, which in turn set off their alarms, underscoring the angry shouts from a mob of 5,000 gay men. On the night Harvey Milk was murdered, many of them were among the 30,000 who had marched silently to City Hall for a candlelight vigil. Now they were rioting, utterly furious at the Dan White verdict. But where were the cops? They were all fuming inside City Hall, where their commander had instructed them to stay -- armed prisoners watching helplessly as angry demonstrators broke the glass trying to ram their way through the locked doors.
Line 91:		Line 97:
	He made a threatening gesture with his billy club, and when I tried to protect my head with my arms, he jabbed me viciously on the exposed right side of my ribs. The cops were running amok now, in an orgy of indiscriminate sadism, swinging their clubs wildly and screaming, "Get the fuck outta here, you fuckin' faggots, you motherfuckin' cocksuckers!"		He made a threatening gesture with his billy club, and when I tried to protect my head with my arms, he jabbed me viciously on the exposed right side of my ribs. The cops were running amok now, in an orgy of indiscriminate sadism, swinging their clubs wildly and screaming, "Get the fuck outta here, you fuckin' faggots, you motherfuckin' cocksuckers!"

	[[White ~~Night Riot: A Policeman~~'s ~~View\|A Policeman's View]]~~		I managed to drag myself to the sidewalk. I had a fractured rib and a punctured lung. The injuries affected my posture and gait. I still walk with a limp, and its all Dan White's fault.

	~~{{#ev~~:~~archive\|ssfWhitent1\|320}}~~		In October 1985, White committed suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes in his garage. He taped a note to the windshield of his car: "I'm sorry for all the pain and trouble I've caused."

	~~'''Rioting at City Hall'''~~

	~~I managed to drag myself to the sidewalk. I had a fractured rib and a punctured lung. The injuries affected my posture and gait. I still walk with a limp, and its all Dan~~ White's ~~fault.~~		[[White Night Riot: A Policeman's View\|A Policeman's View]]

	~~In October 1985, White committed suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes in his garage. He taped a note to the windshield of his car: "I~~'~~m sorry for all the pain and trouble I've caused."~~

	[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]		[[Failed Politician Slaughters Mayor and Supervisor--and the Cops Cheer Him On!\|Prev. document]] [[White Night Riot: May 21, 1979 \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:Gay and Lesbian]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]]		[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Civic Center]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:TenderNob]][[category:Gay and Lesbian]] [[category:Castro]] [[category:Haight-Ashbury]] [[category:riots]] [[category:White Night Riot]]

Ccarlsson at 06:44, 29 September 2008

2008-09-29T06:44:07Z

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