The Denver star., 1913-09-20
Denver Needs A
Vigilance Committee.
A Call To Arms.

There is scarcely community in the u S..
where group of colored reside that oug ght to
have its vigilance committee; some have them.
Sometimes this committee is organized and has
a name indicating its function Sometimes it
is organized for other purposes and becomes a
vigilance committee on occasion. In other cases
the committee has no regular organization or
memberships it springs into being on occasion,
but consists Of approximately the same group Of
persons from year to year he work OF these
vigilance committees IS to protect the colored
people In their several communities from aggres-
sion. The aggression takes form Of hostile
laws, ordinances, curtailment of civil rights, new
racial discrimination overtax or over severe en-
forcement Of the law, cmtaiment Of opportuni-
ties, etc. Sometimes this aggression is but the
careless act Of thoughtless folk and needs but a
word in season to correct # More often it is
"a part Of that persistent Underground campaign
lcentering largely among write Americans Of
Southern birth, which is determine to SO In
trench the color caste in the y. S. as to make
it impossible for any person Of Negro blood to
be more than menial Against both sorts Of
racial aggression organized effort is necessary
Many thoug ghful colored people have sought to
avoid this: to act independently and to refuse
to meet organization by organization. This in
most cases has been found impossible The
blows Of racial and color prejudice fall alike on
ALL rich and poor educated and ignorant and all
stand together and fight The methods OF these vigilance
mttees he simplest action the appointment OF
Of call official person of influence
from this action extends letters and the press pamphlets legislative
hearings meetings. petitions In few threats and
violence have been attempted but these present exceptional
From this procedure the OF OF thousands of largely isolated
much actual good has and much
uaed The evidently hand find and pool this
wide and this scattered local effort
steady persistent and unwaveng AS unorganzed To-
cal effort loses much and for
lar action elsewhere Henceforh together and
hight continuously
The object the National for the Advancement
every community u S. coordinate their
change experiences and the application funds where
the need the May Crisis In Denver such
greatly needed To-day along public these
Eve to white people only the Colonial theatre CoodI
trade wanted the Paris theatre block Curtis street,
around the 9th below Champa White Peo
pies Restaurant the block above Champa Ngger head
All this discrimination within radius two blocks along the through
fares Of city What doing about n What going
do about n The form the above committee and do
directed by Dr. Dubois and with organization
Then organize local branch Of that Crisis here We
Colorado the greatest fight of lives fight
civil rights citizenship and political nights Every day
geons made against and must either fight together
fight The Star systematically with good sub
the politician the trucker the CRATER and the eksr Or
gnze for business and then do it, he Peoples Sunday Alliance
has meeting 263O Weon Sept II. Let this meeting be
a nucleus for the Vigilance COMMITTEE