October 10, 1968
They appeared in need of someone or something to cheer for after two hours of sign-making, singing, listening and walking from one side of the street to the other.
Suddenly, white-haired Paul O’Dwyer, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, appeared on the steps of the historic Joseph Henry Memorial Building in Academy Park and he became their man.
The throngs which gathered to support “human dignity, equality, the rights of man and justice in peace,” had swelled to a couple of thousand persons as Mr. O’Dwyer made his appearance. It could not have been more perfectly timed.
Across Washington Avenue, a rally for third party candidate George Wallace had broken up just a minute before. And those who oppose the former Alabama Governor’s candidacy, but preferred to jeer Wallace rather than cheer for civil rights had now rejoined the rally for “human dignity.” However, now they were jeered out.
‘Good Side of Street’
The several hundred persons, mostly students of area high schools and colleges, who stayed on “the good side of the street,” had sung, had clapped, had felt the passion of anger against “The police state” candidate and had heard various speakers.
Some of the speakers were part of the program, such as the Rev. Nicolas Cardel, a Unitarian minister who read the Declaration of Independence, and the Rev. Warren Brown, a black clergyman, who read Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Mr. O’Dwyer was immediately recognized.
Crowd Huddles Closer
The crowd huddled closer to the stoop which served as the speaker’s platform during the subdued two-hour demonstration, and the loudest cheer of the day was sounded. Hundreds of two-fingered hands went up in a “V” sign for victory.
The applause dimmed and the blacks (about one-fourth of the crowd) joined white students, hippies, and a smattering of persons representing the older generation.
Mr. O’Dwyer appeared at first anxious to address the group and be on his way. Then he broke into a wide grin as the group began singing, “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here,” which contrasted sharply to the red-lettered signs that read, “Heil!” and were aimed at Mr. Wallace.
‘A Great Day…’
Finally, Mr. O’Dwyer was allowed to speak and he took the bullhorn, which had served none of the other speakers very well, and said, “Thanks for coming. This is a great day in our state’s capital….”
He was interrupted a dozen times by applause during his ten-minute impromptu address. The loudest came when he said, “We have seen what a hate-monger really is.”
At the end of his address, he thanked everyone again and received more “Vs” from the crowd. He waved, quickly descended the steps and was swallowed up by the crowd.
As he departed, the demonstrators broke into their fourth rendition of “We Shall Overcome.”
Mr. O’Dwyer’s presence in Albany was another stroke of good but unplanned timing. The New York City attorney was spending his afternoon arguing a case in the Court of Appeals Building while across Eagle Street, civil rights supporters gathered in the park.
The rally itself started slowly. Originally slated to begin at 2 p.m., small groups of sign-makers still had their materials stretched out on the lawn.
Some signs read: “Support Wallace and get whitewashed,” “Wallace likes police and that’s their problem,”“Wallace is a most discriminating candidate,” and “Wallace, what do you know about human dignity?” Others said, “Since when does the Ku Klux Klan stand for law and order?” and “Anarchists? Who defied the Supreme Court?”
Numerous other signs alluded in various ways to the third party candidate as “Hitler,” and “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Members of The Brothers, a Negro civil rights group shared the emceeing chores with a few opinions of their own. Peter Jones said, “We didn’t approve of this (Wallace’s) coming today. We have enough racism here.”
Leon Van Dyke, coordinator of The Brothers, however said: “I really don’t have anything to say. I certainly don’t want to be cited for inciting a riot,” he commented with a grin as he surveyed the hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes law enforcers.
Liberal Party candidate, J. Lawrence Katz, running for the congressional seat in the 29th District, found time to distribute “Katz” buttons when he wasn’t leading a civil rights protest song.
Volunteers for other candidates also snatched at the opportunity to pass out literature for Mr. O’Dwyer, Dick Gregory and Eldridge Cleaver, the latter two splinter party presidential candidates, and even Senator Eugene McCarthy.
On the speaker’s platform, the speakers came and went. Two young men, veterans of the Vietnam War, spoke against the administration’s handling of the war. Michael E. Snyder, 20, of Kinderhook, said that the administration wasn’t giving the military a full leash (‘free hand’) in Vietnam.
Ronald Killen of Schenectady, dressed in a bright green jacket and a brighter green turtleneck, declared, “What we need is peace and love throughout the world.”
A little later, Mrs. Olivia Rorie, 99 Herkimer Street, a large woman who needs a lot of room, sent a ripple of smiles through the crowd when she drawled: “I promise you, there will be peace in the valley.”