Ecumenical House director in a chokehold

Two days after “Bloody Tuesday,” community and religious leaders joined over 2,000 students in a community support day to encourage nonviolence. The march commenced from Ecumenical House with Rev. Jerry Pedersen, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett, and others, who crossed 19th Avenue, entered the campus, and moved towards the Speaker’s Platform. Photograph depicts Ecumenical House director Rev. Gerry Pedersen being restrained at the neck by a police officer wielding a club on December 5, 1968. Pedersen has just protested the police clubbing a white student and officer is steering him to the left. A black bearded student just beyond has been knocked to the ground. Pedersen had been appealing to the police officer not to hit the student unnecessarily. In upper right corner police block nurse from getting closer to scuffle and Dr. Richard H. Fine (with mustache, beard, and dark glasses) with San Francisco State Strike Medical Committee for Human Rights wait to advance and provide aid. Police confronted the crowd, ordering protestors to leave the campus Quad. Community leaders stated they would not leave until the police let them do so in peace. Community leaders and student were trying to comply when the police encircled them and a skirmish erupted. Contributions to student legal defense were sent to Margaret Leahy care of Ecumenical House. In the violence, Drs. Richard Fine and Lawrence Rose with the Medical Committee for Human Rights were beaten despite being clearly identified. Rev. Jerry Pedersen, a campus chaplain and director of Ecumenical House – was charged with failure to disburse, resisting arrest, and violation of Mulford Act.