The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-23
For United Struggle to Save Nine Scottsboro Boys

~ ~ II ~ ~
THE fight 70 save the nine innocent Negro
BOYS from death and prison In the frameup
at Scottsboro. Alabama, will require the full
strength of all of the Negro people and all OF
the working class black and white, who can
be gotten to Join in the fight for this purpose.
The League Of Struggle for Negro Rights,
at the first news of the frame-up, joined hands
with the international Labor Defense, and called
for united front for the one purpose-saylng
the boys from death or prison Many inme-
diately responded. The Communist Party was
On the field even before the LSNR and lid
learned of the frame-up. The League of Strug-
Gle for Negro Rights initiated a campaign which
brought some Negro lodges and churches to
adhere to the united front when appealed to.
The Trade Union Unity League (Which, unlike
the A. F. of L. is without any color linel and
all unions under it, Immediately threw their
whole strength to the defense. From the first
hour the Daily Worker; the control organ OF
the Communist Party, put its full force into
the fight to save the boys
Considerable forces were thus modified and
many united front conferences in various cities
have been and will be held, while 100000 people
marched in parades on May First behind BAN
ners demanding the immediate release of the
innocent Negro victims of the Scottsboro frame
up.
The National Association for the Advance
n1ent of Colored People CNAACP) for several
weeks remained silent to all appeals To them
it was rape case and newspapers under its
influence spoke in headlines of the framed-up
14-vear-old Negro boys as "rapists' (see Pitts
burgh Courier April 16). The National ASso-
citation for the Advancement of Colored People
further took the position of Congratulation that
this was not lynching, but a legal trial IN
court.
Both the League of Struggle for Negro Rights
CLsNR), and the International Labor Defense
1LD) were compelled to criticize the NAACP
and to point out that failure to defend the
innocent Scottsboro boys was nothing but treason
to the Negro people.
Only then, and under flood Of protest from
its own membership, did the NAACP even deign
to mention to the Negro masses the fact that
the nine Negro boys, three Of them only IA
years of age, were condemned to death in Scots
toro.
But the NAACP then began to make attacks,
not against those who are numbering the Negro
boys but only against the Communist Party,
the League Of Struggle for Negro Rights, the In
ternational Labor Defense, and the radical trade
unions who were defending the boys.
To quiet the complaints of its own member
ship the national office of the NAACP intimated
anonymously through the press that it would
come into the case at the proper time"
Under the deluge of more criticism of its 'in-
activity" the NAACP then published claim
that it had been in the case secretly from the
start and in order to substantiate this, claimed
that Stephen R. Roddy had been employed as
defense attorney in the first place by the Ma.
ACP Roddy is a police court lawyer, drunk
ard and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, who
had helped to frame up the boys but who, by
cooperation with the lynching judge and pros.
ecutors (but without the consent Of the boys
parents. had been palmed off as an official
legal representative of the boys in court.
On May l. the NAACP formally in a state
ment to the newspapers declared that 1t had
and would have, nothing to do with the Interna-
Honal Labor Defense and the radical Negro and
white workers organizations engaged in the
struggle.
The NAACP meantime tried to disrupt the
growing mass movement for defense Of the
boys, by sending the lawyer Roddy together with
a police agent and two weakened ministers
TO try to persuade the boys to denounce those
who are defending them.
Mr. Walter White secretary Of the NAACP
later attempted to do the same.
on May 9Th. the attorneys employed by the
LSNR, and lid, appeared in the court as Scots
boro at the hearing of the plea for new trial
for the boys, and these attorneys secured
reinforcement Of the hearing to May 20 and
transfer of the hearing to the court at Fort
Payne Alabama. No attorneys for the NAACP
appeared in court
On May goth the attorneys for the boys en-
ployed by the LSNR and LID again were to
appear to argue the plea for new trial The
NAACP again was not represented.
Under pressure of growing mass resentment
the NAACP now comes out with press state
nnent under date of May 10 (the day before
that set for the hearing Of the plea for a new
triaD which apparently is intended to give
the impression that the NAACP is responding
at last fayorably to the appeal Of the LSNR
and for a united front of all forces willing
to fight to save the boys, the demand which
the NAACP has heretofore opposed.
II is so extremely important to utilize all
forces for a task which will tax the best
strength of all together that any seeming will
ngness to Join forces TO defend the framed
Up boys must be examined carefully. Any offer
in accord with our proposal for united front
to save the boys must be accepted If it has
any genuine character whatsoever.
But the carefully worded statement of the
leaders Of the NAACP, made under pressure of
its own membership, shows that the NAACP
Negro boys from prison and death. 1t mere
a4 re