Description: Housing activists go to Massachusetts House Ways and Means Chairman Thomas Finneran's office to 'evict' him because of his budget proposal. The protesters are arrested. Human service advocates and religious leaders also hold separate protests. The house is debating local aid and tax increases. Rep. Thomas Finneran talks about his budget in the House Chambers. Interviews with Reps. John McDonough and Stanley Rosenberg suggesting new taxes are needed to support services.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/21/1991
Description: John Hashimoto reports on a visit to Boston by David Duke (Louisiana State Representative and former Ku Klux Klansman). Hashimoto notes that protesters turned out for Duke's speech at the Old South Meeting House. Hashimoto's report includes footage of protesters in front of the Old South Meeting House and footage of Duke's speech inside, which protesters try to drown out with chanting. Duke struggles to make himself heard above the jeers of protesters in the Meeting House. A scuffle breaks out between a protester and a Duke supporter. Hashimoto reports that Duke is trying to trying to overcome his past as a Ku Klux Klan leader, but that his white rights agenda was not well received during his visit to Boston. Hashimoto interviews Duke. Duke says that he has overcome his past and that he is not longer a "hater." Hashimoto reports that Duke answered questions from callers on a radio talk show while in Boston. Hashimoto's report includes footage of Duke speaking to callers in a radio studio. Duke defends himself against charges of racism. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following items: Avi Nelson and Dianne Wilkerson talk about quotas and civil rights and Carmen Fields reports on the history and present activities of the Ku Klux Klan
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of protesters outside of the Old South Meeting House in Boston. The protesters march in a circle, carrying signs. A protest leader shouts into a bullhorn, "Hitler-lovers you can't hide. Shots of protesters; of a man carrying a sign reading, "David Duke: Klan in a suit." John Hashimoto reports that David Duke (Louisiana state representative) spoke at the Old South Meeting House tonight. V: Shot of Duke sitting inside the Old South Meeting House. Audio of the audience booing and whistling at Duke. Hashimoto reports that there was tight security in the Meeting House; that tension erupted from the moment he appeared. V: Shots of audience members yelling and clapping their hands. Hashimoto reports that some audience members were trying create so much noise that Duke could not speak. V: Shot of Duke sitting in the Meeting House; of audience members on their feet making noise. Footage of Duke speaking from a podium. Duke says that freedom of speech exists for all points of view. Duke says that there are many historical examples of people who have stood up for an idea, only to find out that the idea was wrong. Hashimoto reports that Duke visited Boston in his own bus in 1974; that Duke was a Ku Klux Klan member in 1974; that Duke tried to stir up trouble in South Boston during the busing crisis. V: Shots of Duke speaking from the podium; of the audience. Audio of the audience yelling. Hashimoto reports that Duke is now a state representative from Louisiana; that he is a former candidate for the US Senate. Hashimoto reports that Duke is running for governor of Louisiana; that some recognize him as a powerful political force. V: Footage of Duke being interviewed by Hashimoto. Hashimoto asks Duke if people see him as a "hater." Duke says that some people think of him as a "hater." Duke says that he is sorry if some people feel that way. Duke says that he does not hate anyone; that he want the country to work for everybody. Duke says that the country's liberal social policies have not worked. Footage of Duke speaking from the podium at the Old South Meeting House. Audio of audience members making noise. Duke condemns the nation's welfare program. Hashimoto reports that Duke repeatedly refers to the underclass. Hashimoto reports that Duke believes that the underclass is a burden to society. Hashimoto says that Duke is haunted by his past and by his present rhetoric. V: Footage of Duke being interviewed by Hashimoto. Duke says that he has felt hatred in the past; that he regrets that hatred. Duke says that he has evolved and grown. Duke says that he is a Christian; that he has been "made new" by Christ. Hashimoto reports that Duke took calls on a WHDH radio show with Ted O'Brien (radio personality); that Duke was not rattled by callers. V: Footage of Duke in a radio studio. Duke speaks into a broadcaster's microphone. Duke says that affirmative action is discrimination against white people; that affirmative action is wrong. Duke says that discrimination against African Americans is also wrong. Duke says that voters have a right to question his past. Duke says that his past should not be the only issue. Duke says that Edward Kennedy (US Senator) overcame Chappaquiddick; that Duke should be able to overcome his past. Duke says that the first child born in New Orleans this year was the eighth illegitimate child of a local woman. Duke says that there are differences between the various chapters of the Ku Klux Klan; that none of the members of his chapter were ever accused of harming a minority. Shot of O'Brien in the studio. Footage of Duke being interviewed by Hashimoto. Duke says that he never hated all African Americans and Jews; that he felt hatred toward those who committed robbery and rape in the South. Hashimoto asks if those criminals were African American or Jewish. Duke says no. Hashimoto reports that a Duke supporter clashed with protesters during Duke's speech at the Old South Meeting House; that Duke's speech was a sideshow. V: Shots of police and media in the balcony of the Old South Meeting House. Police are breaking up a fight. The crowd mills around. Hashimoto stands in the Old South Meeting House. The audience boos and whistles at Duke. Duke is visible at the podium. Hashimoto reports that Duke's white rights agenda was not well received publicly in Boston.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/28/1991
Description: Marcus Jones reports that anti-war activists protested across the nation to rally public opinion against the use of force in the Persian Gulf, including in downtown Boston. Jesse Jackson visited MIT to speak out against going to war in the Middle East on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Jones notes that the MIT Initiative for Peace in the Middle East brought Jackson to the campus. Jackson says that the US must not rush to war on January 15. Interviews with MIT graduate students Corrie Lathan and Steve Penn, who oppose the war. Interview with Jesse Jackson, who says that the US and Iraq should negotiate because war is inevitable if talking is impossible. Jones' report includes footage from Inside Edition of Jackson in Iraq. Following the edited story is additional b-roll of anti-war demonstrations and of Jackson at MIT talking about Martin Luther King, Jr.
1:00:36: Visual: Footage of anti-war protesters on Winter Street in downtown Boston. The protesters carry signs protesting the Gulf War. They chant together, "We remember Vietnam. We won't go." Shot of two police officers standing in front of a building. Marcus Jones reports that a group of anti-war protesters demonstrated outside of the Army recruiting headquarters in Boston. V: Shot of a protesters carrying a sign reading, "U.S. Troops out of the Gulf." The protesters chant, "We won't fight for Texaco." Shot of a protester handing out leaflets. Jones reports that anti-war activists took to the streets across the country today; that the protesters are trying to rally public opinion against the use of force in the Persian Gulf. V: Shot of an older white woman wearing a sign around her neck. The sign reads, "Bring our troops home." Shot of two white children standing among the protesters. Jones reports that Jesse Jackson (African American political leader) visited MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) tonight; that the members of the MIT Initiative for Peace in the Middle East brought Jackson to the campus. Jones reports that Jackson spoke out against going to war in the Middle East on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights activist). V: Shots of Jackson greeting an MIT student; of Jackson greeting students as he walks to the podium. Shots of students in the audience. Footage of Jackson addressing the students. Jackson says that the US must not rush to war on January 15. Jackson says that efforts toward peace must be made on King's birthday. Footage of Corrie Lathan (MIT graduate student) being interviewed. Lathan says that she is opposed to the war; that the situation should be resolved in a non-violent manner. Footage of Steve Penn (MIT graduate student) being interviewed by Jones. Penn says that decision-makers in the US understand pressure; that the voice of the people must speak out against the war. Jones reports that Jackson's call for restraint may reflect a change in his thinking. Jones notes that Jackson met with Saddam Hussein (Iraqi leader) last year. Jones reports that Jackson said last year that war would be inevitable if talking proved impossible. V: Footage from Inside Edition of Jackson entering a building in Iraq; of Jackson speaking to Hussein. Jones questions whether Jackson has changed his position. V: Footage of Jackson speaking at MIT. Jones asks Jackson if he has changed his position. Jackson says that he has kept the same position. Jackson says that war is inevitable if talking is impossible. Jackson says that the US and Iraq should "talk"; that the two countries must choose negotiation over confrontation. The audience applauds for Jackson as he walks away from the podium.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/14/1991
Description: Carmen Fields reports that Dr. James Williams, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will fast each Wednesday in April outside of the office of the president of MIT. Williams is protesting the lack of diversity among the faculty at MIT. There are fourteen African Americans in a faculty of 900 professors. Interview with Williams, who talks about the role of professors as role models and the need for a diverse faculty. He says that he is trying to encourage minority students to fight for change. Interview with MIT spokesperson Ken Campbell, who talks about the university administration's efforts to hire more minority faculty. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Meg Vaillancourt reports on the annual Black/Jewish Seder supper
0:59:01: Visual: Footage of Dr. James Williams (professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) being interviewed. Williams says that his mother inspired his current protest actions. Williams talks about his mother as a sensitive and caring person. Carmen Fields reports that Williams will fast and work outside of the office of the president of MIT. V: Shots of the door of the president's office; of Williams working at a table near the door. Footage of Williams being interviewed. Williams says that minority students must act; that minority students must not be discouraged by institutional intransigence. Williams says that minority students must act decisively to effect change. Shot of Williams working at the table outside of the president's office. Fields reports that Williams is an MIT graduate; that Williams is dissatisfied with the lack of African American faculty at the school. Fields notes that there are fourteen African American faculty members in a faculty of 900 professors. V: Shot of a building on the MIT campus. Shot of Williams speaking to a group of students of color. Fields reports that Williams believes that African American students and all students need African American role models. V: Footage of Williams being interviewed. Williams says that he is trying to be a role model for minority students through his protest. Williams says that professors are role models even if they do not want to be. Williams says that professor can choose what kinds of role models to be. Fields reports that MIT believes that Williams has reason to protest. V: Footage of Ken Campbell (MIT spokesperson) being interviewed. Campbell says that the university agrees with Williams; that there are too few minority faculty members. Campbell says that two more African American faculty members have been hired since Dr. Charles Vest (president, MIT) became president of the university. Campbell says that the school needs to make more progress. Fields reports that Williams believes that protest is still necessary. V: Footage of Williams being interviewed. Williams says that people must still act in the face of slow-moving institutions. Williams says that people must not give up in defeat.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/03/1991