HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Riots; Breach of the peace; Subversive activities
Now, a representative of the Committee To End the War in Viet-
nam contacted Michael Hannon of the Socialist Party in Los Angles
and made arrangements for a meeting to be held at the Socialist Party
Hall at 837 South Park View, Los Angeles, on the night of August
13, 1965. This was the third day of the riots. All present, as far as
has been determined, were members of the Committee To End the
War in Vietnam.
As a result of this meeting, the Committee to Support Grievances
of Watts Negroes was formed.
It was determined or decided at this meeting that a demonstration
in front of the police administration building would begin at mid-
night that night, August 13. The demonstration did occur and lasted
from midnight until 2:30 a.m. It ended August 14 at 2:30 a.m. The
theme of the demonstration was police brutality.
{snip}
Mr. Smith. You mentioned Michael Hannon.
Can he be further identified ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
I refer to Michael Boyd Hannon, who was born October 21, 1936.
He was a Los Angeles police officer. He was found guilty of charges
brought against him for conduct unbecoming a police officer. After
a hearing, he was dismissed from the police department. This sen-
tence was reduced by Chief of Police William Parker to 6 months'
suspension.
Hannon became increasingly active in the civil rights demonstra-
tions and anti-U.S. Government demonstrations and on one particular
demonstration held at the Los Angeles Federal Building on May 8,
1965, he carried a sign protesting United States policy in the Domini-
can Republic. The sign read "WHAT KHRUSHCHEV DID TO
HUNGARY JOHNSON IS DOING TO THE DOMINICAN RE-
PUBLIC AMERICAN SOCIALIST PARTY."
I have a photograph of Michael Hannon carrying the sign if you
desire it for the record.
Mr. Smith. Mr. Chairman, I request that the photograph be ac-
cepted and marked as "Wheeler Exhibit No. 2."
The Chairman. It will be accepted and marked accordingly.
(Photograph marked "Wheeler Exhibit No. 2" appears on page
1201.)
Mr. Smith. Continue, please.
Mr. Wheeler. Michael Hannon is no longer with the police de-
partment.
Mr. Smith. Did he make any speeches anywhere else?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes. He has given speeches throughout the country.
I can refer to one specific example which was reported in the Daily
Bruin, September 29, 1965.
Now, the committee files reflect speeches in other localities and also
other recorded activities that are similar to the photograph that was
presented as Exhibit 2.
Mr. Smith. Mr. Chairman, I request that this exhibit be accepted
and marked "Wheeler Exhibit No. 3."
The Chairman. It will be accepted and so marlced.
(Document marked "Wheeler Exhibit No. 3" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Wheeler. I will read a little out of it. He was quoted :"'...
we talked about being an occupation army in a foreign country . . .'
This is the description of police behavior in the Watts area as de-
scribed by Michael Hannon" — this type of statement charging the
police department as being an occupational army and similar state-
ments, throughout the country.
Mr. Smith. What is Hannon's present occupation?
Wheeler Exhibit No. 2
Mr. Wheeler. The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner of June 4, 1966,
reports Hannon's resignation from the police department. He passed
the California State Bar examination and he is now a practicing at-
torney in Los Angeles.
Mr. Smith. Mr, Chairman, I request that this exhibit be received
and marked "Wheeler Exhibit No. 4."
The Chairman. It may be so received and marked accordingly.
(Document marked "Wheeler Exhibit No. 4" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Smith. You mentioned that Michael Hannon was a member
of the Socialist Party. You are not referring to the Socialist Workers
Party, are you ?
Mr. Wheeler. No, sir ; I am referring to the Socialist Party headed
by Norman Thomas of the U.S. It has not been declared a subversive
organization.
Mr. Smith. Do you have any exhibit to submit in connection with
that?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes; I have an exhibit of the Los Angeles Herald-
Examiner of May 8, 1966, which states that he is the Los Angeles
chairman of the Socialist Party.
