THE WASHINGTON POST
December 26, 1981
Man Dangles In Protest at White House
Airing of Rights Grievance Leads to Rescue, Charges
A man who hung by his wrists in from a lamppost in front of the
White House yesterday to protest what he considered government
violation of his human rights was arrested by the U.S. Park
Police and charged with disorderly conduct.
The man, who witnesses said appeared to be in his 30s, was
identified by Park Police as William Thomas They said he had no
fixed address they could determine.
The man climbed the lamppost,' in front of the White House north
portico on Pennsytvanir Avenue NW. and tied a length of rope
between his wrists. After passing the rope over a lamp bracket at
the top of the post, he was suspended by it above the sidewalk
until D.C. Fire Department rescue personnel helpd him down.
Police said the man was arrested at 12:41 p.m. He was taken to
a Park Police substation for processing and then to the central
cellblock at D.C. police headquarters.
There was no immediate indication as to the specific nature of
the man's grievance.
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