Defending against Domestic Civil Unrest

     "I was not emotionally prepared for my fellow U.S. citizens killing me."

"Police actions" pit armed defenders against people they are supposed both to protect and protect against. 

It is an impossible job. It is also an emotionally conflicted one.

Slessler, 1971, with son Nathan

Larry Slessler is a veteran of the early years of the Vietnam War. He returned home and defended against college anti-war protesters. 

In the aftermath of the January 6th assault on the Capitol, four Capitol police officers have died by suicide. The actions of the Capitol police have come under intense criticism, sometimes for being too lax and accommodating and sometimes for being too aggressive. Supporters of the Capitol police point to video showing hundreds of people bashing through barriers, some shouting threats of death, and police officers under physical attack. The former president called Ashli Babbitt, the woman killed while crawling through the smashed window to enter the House chamber, a patriot who was "murdered." Today Portland, Oregon police are criticized in both directions; some say they are too lax, some say too aggressive. 

It is an old familiar problem, felt acutely by people doing the work of defending against civil disturbances. Slessler was one of them.

Slessler grew up in Medford and graduated from Medford High in 1957 and University of Oregon in 1961. He entered the military in the fall of 1961 and served until 1972. His service included Cuban Crisis of 1962 and Vietnam 1965-1966. His post-military career involved service to veterans and “Welfare to Work” programs.

Guest Post by Larry Slessler

My January 6, 2021 occurred in early May of 1970. I shared that event with Major Cleo Hill. We were both ROTC Instructors at the University of Washington in Seattle and also friends. Anti-Vietnam War activity was a normal part of my everyday life. Some days that got personal. For example; one day two college co-eds dumped a bucket of paint on me. I was in military uniform. It cost me a chunk of money to replace that uniform. My dignity was not so easily replaced.

Slessler, 2021

On Jan 17, 1970; Silas Trim Bissell and his wife placed a bomb at the University of Washington ROTC building. Luck was with us because Bissell had made a mistake and the bomb’s wiring was faulty. His story is long and winding and worthy of a separate writing. The short version is Bissell was soon captured, made bail and he went underground. In 1987, 17 years later, a tip to the FBI led to his re-capture. His sentence for attempted murder; two years in jail. He was released after 18 months. Silas Trim Bissell died of brain cancer in 2002 at age 60. I would like to say that as a man that believes in redemption I was sorry he died a terrible death so young. That would be a lie. I am getting closer to forgiving him two decades after his death.

Monday, May 4th of 1970 was historic for the United States. At Kent State University, Ohio, students protested against the Vietnam War and having ROTC on campus. The Ohio National Guard fired on the protesters, killing 4 and wounding 9. Students from campuses across the nation launched massive protests. Ironically; one of the four Kent State students killed was a ROTC student and future military officer who was observing the event.

I don’t remember if it was May 4th, or the next day. Students rose up in protest on the University of Washington campus. Soon a mob of angry students charged through our front door. Major Hill and I were isolated. One of the attackers leading the charge had a bike chain in his hand. Clearly we were a target for a violent attack. Cleo and I of like mind, decided that when outnumbered 50 to 1 don’t try and take prisoners. We ducked into our supply room and locked the door. There were no windows so the only way the mob could get to us was by breaking down the door.

The angry demonstrators gathered around the door and Cleo and I could hear them debate. There was a loud disagreement about breaking down the door and getting to us. The argument was not about the morality of their action. The debate was about if Cleo and I were armed or not. We were not and never were, but the mob did not know that. After some further discussion the group decided we were armed and would shoot them; so they left. Cleo and my safety and possibly our lives, was saved that day by chance and the mistaken belief we were armed and would shoot like the Kent State National Guard did to Kent State students.

I had already served in the Vietnam War. What I did not comprehend that day was that in Vietnam I expected the enemy to try and kill me. That was what you do in war; kill the other guy. I was not emotionally prepared for my fellow U. S. citizens killing me.

The difference is very clear. The students at Kent State, and me at the University of Washington, were experiencing what I call “Sanctuary” trauma. A university, a church, a hometown, a college campus…these are places where we are supposed to feel and be safe. When I/we are betrayed in our sanctuary by our own people, our fellow citizens, it inflicts a wound that is far more difficult to heal from than a wound from an enemy soldier, a tornado or other such events.

I feel a deep connection and kinship with the January 6th 2021 Washington D.C. police, military and members of congress that were killed or wounded physically and emotionally. It is a long term wound to the soul when any man or woman is attacked and harmed by our fellow citizens that we should be able to trust. If you doubt that ask one of the U.S Olympic women gymnasts molested and betrayed by a supposed protector/doctor and U.S. Olympic officials.

Postscript: another May 1970 and 2021 connection is a second campus shooting on May 15th 1970. At the Black college; Jackson State in Mississippi, police fired 460 rounds on a student dorm killing 2 and wounding 12. On May 15, 2021, 51 years later, a formal public apology was issued. At two college campuses during May, 1970 National Guard and police killed 6 students and wounded 21. Accountability…zero. The jury is out in 2021.