Demonstrators Escalate Tactics, Plan to Shut Down JFK Building

Protest against the war in Indochina will continue today, as demonstrators attempt to shut down Boston's JFK Federal Building.

The action, planned as massive nonviolent civil disobedience, is being organized by the People's Coalition for Peace and Justice.

Demonstrators will mass on the Boston Common at 7 a. m. and march down Tremont Street to the Federal Building. If police do not prevent them, protesters will sit and link arms in an attempt to prevent Federal employees from entering the building. The theme of the day's action is "No Business as Usual."

Organizers hope that as many as 5000 people will turn out for the demonstration, though they don't expect all of them will be willing to risk arrest by participating in acts of civil disobedience. Picketing and leafleting of Government Center will supplement the disobedience.

Yesterday's Boston Evening Globe reported that unusually strict security measures are being taken at the 80 Federal government buildings in the New England area. On Tuesday, the 2900 employees who work in the Federal building and U. S. Post Office in Boston were issued identification cards. Government spokesmen yesterday said that no one will be admitted to these buildings without an identity card.

Package Worries

Throughout yesterday, Federal officers checked all packages brought into the JFK building.

Almost 5000 National Guardsmen and state and city police are on alert at the Commonwealth Armory, but it is considered doubtful that the guardsmen or state police will be called into action.

Affnity Groups

The Nonviolent Direct Action Group (NDAG), which staged acts of nonviolent civil disobedience at Fort Devens and at the Boston Army Base last year, has been training demonstrators in the tactics of nonviolent disobedience. NDAG training has emphasized the need for demonstrators to form small "affinity" groups and to stay peaceful.

Organizers consider it, unlikely that police will use gas to disperse the crowd around the doors, since the wind can easily carry gas fumes into Boston's Financial District.