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Militiamen break up Lennon demonstration

MOSCOW - Soviet militiamen broke up a demonstration by several hundred young people who had gathered on Lookout Hill here on December 21 to honor slain ex-Beatle John Lennon, reported United Press International.

According to an eyewitness account, several of the young participants, said to be students from Moscow State University, were rounded up by police after they ignored orders to disperse. Some of the students were pushed into militia vans and driven away, the report noted.

Many of the young people carried pictures of Mr. Lennon, and it was reported that several students played tape-recordings of his music. The noontime demonstration lasted nearly 45 minutes.

Although Mr. Lennon's death received scant coverage in the Soviet press, the media did mention his death as an example of the dangers of life in the United States. Yet, Soviet authorities do not tolerate spontaneous demonstrations, especially for unauthorized purposes.

The world-famous musician was gunned down nearly three weeks ago in front of his luxury apartment in New York City.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 28, 1980, No. 31, Vol. LXXXVII

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