Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-04-12
MISUNDERSTANDING IL, 1919
big Philadelphia Mass Meeting Says
Negro Must Got Justice OF ELSE.
(By the Associated Negro Pro- !

Philadelphia, Pa, April AT re-
markablc mass community meeting
here in honor of the returned Negro
soldiers held at the Varick Memorial
African Methodist Episcopal church,
the point was driven home so that it
shook the old Liberty Bell" in indie
pendence Hall, that since the Negro
mas shown his fighting strength IN
the World War, he is going to SEQ
that he gets the justice due him in
this country" or report to God the
reason why" as one speaker put 1t.
'Therc can be no more glorious death
than to die for the sacred cause Of
freedom. said he. eve died III
France that others might live and by
the grace Of God, if it must DO, we
will die in America. Justice we must
have it now"
The meeting which was one Of the
largest ever held in tho city, was
preceded by gigantic parade. Attor
ney G. Edward Dickcrson presided at
tho meeting which was attended by
groups from every Negro church IN
the city. Rev. w. a. Harrod, Of
Cchrry Memorial Baptist church said
1T is time the Negroes were organic
ed and respected. Back up your con
victions with your money and we will
get somewhere"
There are Il number Of white speak
crs who made addresses endorsing
the sentiments Of the meeting. Each
address provoked more and more OK
element and it is regarded by all pres
cnt as one Of the most remarkable
gatherings over held in the city, and
is bound to have an electrifying Of
fort throughout the country when the
facts are known.
The speech that caused the widest
enthusiasm was that OF Rev. IL. II.
Butler, pastor of Zoar Methodist Epis
copal church. He opened by REFER
ing to the unsclfish and and' heroic
duct Of the colorcd soldiers in the
American army, and insisting that
they receive the tribute they so hon
cstly merit. He spoke OF the wonder
Iul efficiency and clear hcadcdncsS Of
the infantry and artillery regiments
stating that they had not been guilty
of any serious mistakes.
DR.. Butler further said there
were no mistakes among the Negro
artillery. They never fireddown into
their own infantry nor to their rear
but always into the the cncmy's line,
and always hit the Huns.
"And now" he continued, ''we are
at the dawn OF another day. The
war is over. We have beat the Hun.
We have come home and we have
como home to stay. Don't think We
arc going back to Africa or any 9TH
place. This is our land, because We
have fought for it, spilled our blood
for it and given our lives for 1t. We
have made the world safe for demo-
cracy. We have cleaned up over
there and now we arc going to clean
mp home"
1.-THE white soldiers tried to take
Snake Hill in France for eight
months and failed. They finally sent
Il Negro regiment and they took it in
eight hours. If we arc good enough
to take Snake HILL we are good
enough to have equal rights in this
country.
cold Glory" shouted DR.. Butler in
conclusion" l have something TO ask
for all this service. We Negroes arc
red, because of the blood we have
shed; blue, because we have been
loyal; and white because we have
been pure. l would, therefore have
civil rights III all inc Sla, eSi nave
the "Jim Grow" cars wiped out of
the south and have justice, social, in
dustrial and economic melted out to
us. "Old Glory" you must not fail us
and I know you will not"
With this meeting, Justice has had
a new birth Of freedom in the very
"Cradlc Of Liberty" and it is believed
that the entire country will be influ
enced by the clectrifying effect.