The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-29
POLICE ATTACK
NEGRO WHO ASKS
FOOD SERVICE
Noted African Beaten
In Restaurant

Il
Kojo Tovalou-Houenou hereditary
head Of the African nation Of Daho-
mey which is now under French col
onial rule, and president Of the Uni
versa1 League for the Defense of the
Black Race. was the center Of an up
roar and violent fight in Clark St.
restaurant Tuesday night which he
had entered with a party OF friends
for a quiet supper.
No sooner had the prepossessing
figure Of the young African chief ap-
peared at the door, than a wild shriek
rang out.
Negro Is Attacked
xiii himl l am from Virginia."
shouted a well-dressed white woman,
throwing up her hands.
"I am from TexasI" shouted pros
porous looking man, who arose to give
battle
AS Tovalou and his friends quietly
ignored these genteel remarks and
proceeded toward table, the pro-
7 prietor Of the restaurant rushed up to
bar the way. ~The tables are all re-
served" he said, I'VE can't serve you,
you'll have to CO."
But the young Negro, himself q law
yer and physician, and knowing the
law of the state to be that restaurants
are obliged to serve without discrimi-
nation Of race or color. pointed to the
many vacant tables and insisted on
his right to be served
Altho Tovalou-Houenou was dis
charged in the night court at the city
hall, the policemen who arrested him
subjected him to a severe beating.
Patrolman Murphy, Costello, Webb
and Cmith of the central police sta
ton severely beat Tovalou-Houenou,
threw him into the street, and rode
him to the station in patroiwagon.
TovaIou-Houenou had addressed
members of the Women's Information
al League, with Miss Jane Adams
presiding over the meeting, and left
with Mrs. Harry Norton, and Gustave
Arcila Tribe, sculptor. They went
to the Schulder's restaurant at ITO
N. Clark St., and the walters and pro-
prietors Immediately refused to serve
them. They were insulted and cursed
by the walters. The manager then
called the police, and asked them to
eject Tovalou-Houenou.
Soon after Tovalou-Houenou en-
trance a swarm of ladies, gentlemen
and policemen were piling over each
other like a swarm of jungle-beasts to
pummel the niger" He was severe
lv beaten about the face, bleeding pro-
fusely. Finally the crowd Of police
men dragged him out Of the restaur-
ant and took him to the night court
on a charge of "disorderly conduct.
the white hoodlums were not arrested.
The proprietor of the restaurant and
of course.
Well Known Foe Of Imperialism
Kojo Tovalou- Houenou is known far
and wide for his protests against the
cruelties practiced in Africa by the
imperialist government He is RECON-
lied by the French government as the
champion OF the people Of Dahomey
/ who suffer torture and death at the
hands OF the French rulers. After
serving in the French army during the
world war as an officer and surgeon
Tovalou's protests on behalf OF his
people caused him to fall into the bad
graces Of the French government He
is touring the United States seeking
support for HIS movement for the
liberation OF the African peoples
"They are more savage than the
Africans" was the short comment OF
the young Negro to a reported for the
DAILY WORKER. "In Africa. at least
they respect foreigners and travel
| lers."
VIII Bring Suit
Tovalou will begin. he said, imme-
date suit against the proprietor OF the
| raqfauranf and also against the police