Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270171
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
Watts said the source of the three posters, found on the Rutgers University campus, had to be investigated, however.
"I don't want to blow this out of proportion, but we have to take this seriously," Watts said.
Detective Tom Kozakiewicz of the Rutgers University police said the three identical posters were found three weeks ago on the school's Newark campus. The bright orange posters were found within 100 feet of each other.
The posters read: "Laborfest '90. Virginia Beach, Virginia. We'll Be Back! See your M.O.V.E. area coordinator for details and bus schedule. Drop A Cop & Win $500. . . . Burn The Beach In 90!"
Watts said he does not believe the posters are an indication there is a group organizing to disrupt the holiday weekend.
MOVE, a radical back-to-nature group, was at the center of a May 1985 confrontation with Philadelphia police that resulted in fire that destroyed 61 homes and killed 11 people.
"I think it is a real mistake to give this document credence of any organization that can deliver on its promises," Watts said.
Watts noted that MOVE's name appeared on the poster with periods after each letter, something he said the group does not do. "I don't think they have the financial resources to do something like this and the term `area coordinator' was not normally used by that group," Watts said.
Kozakiewicz said he knew of no MOVE organization in existence in the Newark area.
Watts said he asked for help from federal officials in tracking down the source of the posters. He declined to say whether officials had any suspects or to provide any details of the investigation.
Special agent Thomas Love of the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Norfolk said the bureau was aware of the posters, "but beyond that I am not able to comment." As a rule, the FBI does not disclose when it has an investigation in progress.
Police Chief Charles Wall said his officers were taking the threat as seriously as any they receive.
"They're apprehensive. It's not unusual for an officer to get these kinds of threats. We've been in contact with Newark police and are doing our own investigation," he said.
Wall also declined to release any details of the investigation.
Over last year's Labor Day weekend, police and young people, the majority of whom were black, clashed after looting broke out along the city's main beachfront street. Police and state troopers in riot gear twice cleared the street of an estimated 100,000 people.
Hundreds were arrested or detained. More than $1.4 million in damage resulted from the looting and riots.
Since then, city officials, local merchants, citizens and black leaders have been trying to defuse the situation in preparation for this year's holiday.
Harrison B. Wilson, president of Norfolk State University and co-chairman of the citizens' committee planning this year's Labor Day, did not return phone calls to his office.
by CNB