During a long hot week-end, beginning of May 1970, 15,000 students and hangers-on gathered on the Yale campus to protest against the upcoming trial of nine Black Panthers accused of kidnapping, murder and conspiracy. Yale president Brewster has stated: "I am skeptical of the ability of black revolutionaries to achieve a fair trial anywhere in the U.S.". And although he was not responsible for the meeting in any way, Vice-President Agnew upon hearing the president's remark, publicly urged the Yale alumni to release Brewster.