[Flyers]: Two Flyers related to the White Night Protests

Author: (MILK, Harvey)
Title: [Flyers]: Two Flyers related to the White Night Protests
Publication: San Francisco: [1982]

Description: Unbound. Two photomechanically reproduced flyers, measuring 8.5" x 11" and 8.5" x 14". One is on yellow paper and the other on orange. Fine with slight abrasions where they were tacked up. Two flyers protesting the incarceration of activist Peter Plate for his role in the 1979 San Francisco White Night Riots. One flyer shows a group of protesters by a damaged police car and declares, "remember white night," while the other briefly explains the case against Plate under a drawing of a burning police car. The riots occurred on the night of May 21, 1979 and were a result of the "lenient verdict" in the case of Dan White, notorious killer of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. White was only sentenced to voluntary manslaughter which outraged the citizens of San Francisco. The gay community and the police department were already at odds but White being a former officer helped to intensified what was scheduled to be a "peaceful protest" into a conflict. During the night, activist Peter Plate was arrested for participating in the riots and charges were brought against him. By 1982 Plate was scheduled to stand trial for "multiple felony charges" including "assault and battery on a police officer and burning police cars." Ultimately the city targeted a few people for the actions of thousands. The flyers urge for multiple protests that year, August 17th, July 14th, and December 19th. "The malevolence that the district attorney's office and the police department display in their desire to convict Peter Plate and his co-defendants reflects the criminal nature of law and order."

Seller ID: 390469

Subject: Ephemera