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Charged With Arson & Murder, Karl Is Back

By VVAW

On August 24, 1970 at 3:42 AM, an explosion rocked the Army Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. The explosion destroyed the center, long a target of anti-war activities, and resulted in the death of one researcher working that night. Shortly afterwards, FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, announced in Washington that the bombing was the work of the New Year's Gang and he identified the members of the gang as Leo Burt, David Fine, Dwight and Karl Armstrong.

In February 1972, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Karl, who was working as a lathe operator in a Toronto machine tool shop. In June of 1972, extradition hearings were held in Canada in order to send Karl back to face charges of first degree murder and four counts of arson The Canadian Extradition Act states that 'No fugitive is liable to surrender... if it appears (a) that the offense in respect of which proceedings are taken under this Act is one of a political character, or (b) that such proceedings are being taken under with a view to prosecute or punish him for an offense of a political character.

The prosecution called many witnesses who testified that the bombing was not political and that the anti-war movement was nothing but 'students letting off steam', and 'street dancing and general rejoicing.' In spite of strong evidence of systematic anti-AMRC activities and strong political movement, the judge ruled. 'It does not seem reasonable... that the bombings would have any political connotations...

Railroaded through Canadian injustice, Karl was extradicted to Wisconsin, in chains, on March 8, 1973. He now sits in jail awaiting trial.

The prosecution will try to prove that Karl knowingly killed the researcher and that the research done by the Math Center was not related to war technology. The truth is that the university police received a phone call prior to the bombing and ignored it. The truth is that the AMRC at Madison helped with developing infrared sensors and calculated 'the probability of survival of a subterranean target under air attack', meaning to the Indochinese that services, such as schools and hospitals forced to go underground were no longer safe. It cooperated with the Rand Corp. in perfecting long-range bomber programs and with Bell Labs' work on the Spartan Sprint anti-ballistic missile system.

The research done at this Math Center and the bombing of Indochina are not on trial. The systems of death calculated at the center and the calculated destruction of Indochina are still with us. As Karl is being tried for an accidental death and the destruction of a tool for the war machine, the real criminals are still free; those responsible for the death and destruction of millions of Indochinese. The bombing of the Math Center was a blow to the continued presence of the U.S. government in Southeast Asia and in Latin America. For this we should be thankful. And as Karl sits in jail, Richard Nixon sits in the White House continuing his policies of imperialism abroad and exploitation of Americans at home.

The trial of Karl Armstrong will speak to the question of whether resistance to an illegal war is illegal. The trial will focus on the resistance of all anti-war protesters. If Karl is found guilty, then we are all guilty. For each of us resisted the war in our own way. Some of us signed petitions, marched and rallied or lay down in the streets and were arrested in acts of civil disobedience. Some of us came home form the war and testified to the crimes of the United States military in Vietnam. Some of us went to Canada or Europe to escape the draft or the military and some of us received less-than-honorable discharges for protesting the war, racism or oppression while still in the military. Some died at Kent and Jackson States. And yet others resisted by destroying the machines of the United States government; the banks, the ships, the draft files and the math centers.

Each of us protested the war in our way and all of us were correct. The trial of Karl Armstrong will focus on anti-war resistance. Each of us must support Karl Armstrong, for in doing so we will be supporting the self-determination of the Indochinese peoples and we will be supporting the right to fight against the crimes of the United States government.

Funds are urgently needed by the committee to continue their work on this trial. Contributions can be sent to the Karl Armstrong Defense Committee, PO Box 2521, Madison, Wisconsin 53701. Information can also be obtained from this address.