Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-11
COMN|TTEEFROMT THE
N. Y. SILENT PARADE
CALLS ON THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE

Washington, August Negroes Of
the nation carried to the White House
today their protest against the afro
cious attacks made upon them at East
st. Louis and other industrial centres
recently They appealed to President
Wilson through Secretary Tumulty to
speak some public word" that would
give hope and courage to tho Negroes
Of the United States.
MIR. Tumulty listened to tho reading
of a petition and promised the dele
CATION, which was headed by Jamee
Weldon Johnson, secretary of the Ma.
tional Association fon tho Advancement
CT Colored People, that "the matter
would not be neglected. He told his
callers also that the President has
been ~ consultation with department
officials concerning better protection
for the Negro citizens Of the country.
The delegation requested q personal
interview with the President which re.
quest Mr. Tumulty said he would place
before Mr.. Wilson.
MIR. JOHNSON'S REMARKS.
The remarks Of Mr.. Johnson In adj
dressing Secretary Tumulty we're as
follows:
we, the Committee of the Negro ST.
lent Protest Parade, in which 10000
colored men, women and children
LOOK part last Saturday in New York.
come to present to you and through
you to the President and Congress
petition for redress Of certain griev-
ances. We come representing not only
the Negro Silent Protest Parade. but
the colcred people of Greater New
York, ana the sentiments and inspira.
ions and sorrows, too, Of the entire
Negro population of the United States
:. we como representing twelve mil.
non citizens whose devotion and Low.
atty TO the nation have never been
MISUNDERSTANDING million citizers
who, when the present storm broke
over our land, took their UNQUALIFIED
s'ahd side by side with the original
American stocks that landed at Ply
mouth Rock and at Jamestown.
we leel that in coming to you. va
arc we'll within our rights-thc RIGHT
gwen by birth, the right given by la
Dor, the right given by loyalty w
ieel' further, that 1t is especially a..
ing mat we come at this time whe
when the heart of the nation Is 81
deeply touched ~ the cause OF democ.
racy and humanity.
we come asking that the President
use his great powers to have granted
10 us some redress for the grievances
set !orth IN our petition, and we come,
lurther. praying that the President
may una 1t In his heart to speak some
pubic word that will give hope and
courage to our people, thus using his
sreat personal and moral influence In
our Denaf. S~ss
" Ana~r these ends, have the hon
or TO read aud respectfully present
the following petition.
ITO the President and Conrress 81
the United States.
We the Committee Of the Negro ST
ient Protest Parade, representing lii
cc1ored people OF Greater New Yor
ana the sentiment OF the people CT
Nosro descent throughout this land
ooi,le 10 you to present petition for
redress OF grievances.
IN the last thirty-one years 2,S67
colored men and women have been
yhchea by mobs without trial. Less
thah haif dozen persons out of tbe
tens OF thousands involved have re.
cetVed any punishment Whatsoever for
, ,ncse crimes and not single one has
peeh punished for murder. In addi.
t'oh 10 TINS mQbs have harried and
murdered colored citizens time and
.lile AGAIN with impunity, culminat-
ing IN the latest atrocity ut East 6.
LOUIS "here nearly a hundred limo
cent Woodworking citizens we're done
TO death il broad daylight for seeking
to earn an honest LIVING.
We believe that this spirit Of law
iessness Is doing untold injury to orr
country end we submit that tho w.
cora proves that the States are either
unwilling or unable to put down 1vnnb-
ing and mob violnece.I
We ask, therefore, THAT lyncbine
ana mob violence be made n national
crime punished by the laws of tba
ohitco states ..nu that this be done
by Federal enactment, or e NOES
snry. ~ Constitutional amendmant
we believe that there can be found m
recent legislation abundant precedent
LOT action OF this sort. and whoihor
1t rue or mG:. M nation that
aeeks to light the battle of civiIizotior,
can aHord to march in blood-smeared
garments '''os'' 'o
we ask, therefore, Immediate ac-
ton by the Congress and the Prosi-
dent of the United States"
tSigned) REV. Il. A. CULLEN
Chairman,
JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
Vice Chairman.
Rev. Charles d. Martin Tob, r.
Nail, Treasurer; Rev q. w Donio1
Rev. Geo. f. Miller, Fred r Moorn
a. B. Cosey DR.. w. q. B. DuRois nr
|. Hoage, I. B. Allen, Mrs. NJ q law.
ton, Mrs. C. J. Walker, Rev A CIov-
j. w. Brown. -