Download PDF of this full issue: v2n1.pdf (8 MB)

Gary Lawton

By VVAW

Gary Lawton faces two counts of first degree murder for the slaying of two Riverside, California, police officers. The circumstances and evidence surrounding this case have made the oppressive conditions in Riverside even more obvious to the community.

In March, 1971, the black community of Riverside became outraged over the shooting death by police of Bro. William Palmer. Police claimed Palmer was resisting arrest, but witnesses maintain that Palmer was shot in the back while walking away from police. Tension came to a head on April 2, when two white police officers, Leonard Christianson and Paul Teel, were killed in the Bordwell Park district, a center of previous turmoil.

The shootings had the police department in a total state of uproar. The entire 185-man police force was put on standby alert. A special task force of 18 detectives was organized to track down the killers, and roadblocks surrounding the community were set up. Blacks were indiscriminately stopped, searched, and questioned. What followed, black resisdents described as a "reign of terror." The killers had to be caught. After all, Riverside had not had a policeman killed in over 28 years. The city's reputation of being "trouble-free" was at stake.

The initial reports gave descriptions of the four suspects, three white and one black. Later an APB issued described the suspects as four blacks between 16 and 18 years of age, three about 5'7" in height whit medium build, the other 6' tall and thinly built. As the search dragged on without success, police narrowed their investigation down to one person--Gary Lawton.

Gary Lawton, an ex-marine and self-employed maintenance man, had been an active leader in the black community for several years. Lawton was also actively involved in a committee to seek justice in the death of William Palmer. Gary had become a sore spot in the eyes of the city power structure.

The shootings of the police officers became a perfect opportunity for authorities to eliminate one "black militant". Lawton was called down to the station on several occasions for questioning. Each time he went without resistance and volunteered for the lie detector test. Each time on the machine, the test confirmed "no deception" in his statements.

Lawton told police at the time of the shooting that he was in his front yard working on his truck. He heard of the incident from friends. Gary in no way matched the description of the suspects. He is 6'3", heavy set and balding.

Gary Lawton's proof of innocence was not good enough for the police. On May 19, police in forced broke into his house and arrested him. Within 90 minutes of the arrest he was arraigned without bail on tow counts of murder. (Since the indictment, Lawton has been further charged with eight counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an occupied dwelling in 1968). Complete silence was imposed around his arrest. Chukia Lawton, his wife, was informed of her husband's arrest from a neighbor. No one was allowed to see him, including his wife.

The grand jury indictment is solely based upon the testimony of two blacks, Ronald Williams and Ronald McKenna, both suspected by the community of being police informers, and a 14 year old white girl. Williams claims that he sold the shotgun used in the killings to Lawton. The 14 year old girl can allegedly link Lawton to the shootings. However, the police have failed to mention the fact that none of the guns confiscated from Lawton matched the murder weapon in a ballistics test.

Gary Lawton's trial is to be held in Indio. Indio lies in the middle of the desert; its population of 16,000 is only 1% black. Prior to the 1950 murder trial of Bucky Walker, no blacks had ever sat on a jury in the history of Riverside County which still remains a racist stronghold.

When the trial begins on July 19 brother Gary will be faced with a line of police and less that creditable prosecution witnesses and no attorney. This is a classical case of conspiracy by the state to eliminate all black organizers. (His negro attorney quit on June 3 because he didn't have a $20,000 advance).

It has become obvious that Gary has no chance for a fair trial in Indio or Riverside County. It becomes out responsibility to see that this brother does not hang.

On July 10th, the California, Nevada, Hawaii region of VVAW will sponsor a support action at the Indio courthouse. We urge your support in the struggle to free Gary Lawton and all political prisoners.