POP/ROCK - Aug. 1, 1988

Addressing the concerns of both picketing police and demonstrating American Indians, Willie Nelson agreed Saturday to give a benefit for both Indian and police causes. Police had charged that Nelson supports “cop killers” because of a benefit last year for Leonard Peltier, an Indian serving two life sentences for killing two FBI agents in South Dakota in 1975. “For many years, there’s been hard feelings” between Indians and police,” Nelson said. “If this is the first way to ease hard feelings, then I’m happy to be a part of it.” The joint benefit will be held Aug. 23 in Springfield, Mass., with proceeds going to the American Indian Relief Fund and the National Police Memorial Fund.