The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-21
Bv ELIZABETH LAWSON.

perS.
By ELIZABETH LAWSON.
THE lynchers again took huge
toll in 1892.
There. were definite reports of 81
cases in which Negroes (and in two
instances whites were lynched by
more or less organized groups.
A careful study of the records of
lynch-law for the year shows a
number of facts of the utmost in
terest to the revolutionary work
erS and to the Negro masses. The
Negro masses have fought harder
against lynchings; the whihe work
ers, in increasing numbers, under
the leadership of the Communist
Party and sympathetic organiza-
tons, have entered the fight
against lynching and for Negro
rights.
CHARACTER OF
LYNCHINGS DIFFER.
The character OF the lynchings,
also, shows a marked change. The
lynch-crowds were smaller in num-
berS, and of a more organized
character than previously. In many
cases they were led by public Of
ficialS; there is much evidence that
the poor whites had little or moth
ing to do with their organization
in the majority of cases. There
were, also, obvious attempts to
cover up many lynchings, and the
whitewashing Of lynchings that
could not be entirely kept from the
world, became more than ever a
fine art of the local and national
governments.
At the same time, there was a
noticeable attempt on the part of
the lynchers to use the courtroom
for respectable" legal lynchings;
the number Of such legal lynchings
was large this last year. At the
same timE, police terrorism in
creased; and large numbers of Ne
groes were shot down by police
and other officials.
THE word "Scottsboro" IS written
large in the reason for these
changes. The nlilitancy of the Ne
gro and white workers displayed in
the Scottsboro struggle had the eff
feet of preventing many a lynch
ing. The Scottsboro case has edu-
Gated large masses Of white toll
ers who are realizing for the first
time that the struggle of the Ne
gro masses is their struggle, is
part of the larger struggle of the
working class. Hence, again, the
smaller numbers participating in
the lynch crowds; the obvious eff
forts Of the lynchers to hide and
whitewash lynchings before a COM
munity whose support they feel
they are rapidly losing
A study of the records Of lynch
law for the year, as compiled by
the League of Struggle for Negro
Rights, reveals the following facts:
THIRTY SEVEN
LYNCHINGS REPORTED.
There were definite reports Of 81
cases in which Negroes (and in
two instances whites were 1ynched
by more or less organized groups.
Included here is the 1ynching Of
native in Hawaii and the murder
of seven Negro fremen in the
South.
But this total is far too low. To
say that only 81 lynchings took
place would be TO cover up some
of the most important facts in
the lynch-record of the year 1882.
The fact is that 81 lynchings came
TO light. Many lynchings were not
reported in the press; there we're
definite attempts to cover up lynch
ings. Also, this total omits the
enormous number Of police muir
ders of Negroes.
The Negro masses fought with
heightened nilitancy against
lynching Ill 1882 Instance after in
stance is recorded, of self-defense
against the lynchers.
Great masses OF white workers
have entered the struggle against
lynching. Militant working class
organizations have fought with
vigor against lynchings and lynch
frame-ups. Outstanding is the
work of the Communist Party, the
International Labor Defense and
the League Of Struggle for Negro
Rights, in the case of the nine
Innocent Scottsboro boys Under
the leadership Of these organiza-
tons, furious mass protests have
arisen in the case of EIel Lee;
in the Logan Circle frame up in
Washington, d. c.; in the near
lynching at Lebanon, Tenn, and
in many other cases. The lynch
ing OF Negroes this past year,
especially, has been followed by q
flood OF protest from the workers,
Negro and white. The lynching
of an unknown Negro toiler in the
Black Belt Is no longer the con-
Germ only Of the small community
in which 1t occurs; it has become
near concern OF the working
class from coast to coast.
The Scottsboro case, and especl-
ally the tour Of Mrs Ada Wright
across the face Of Europe, have
taught millions Of European work
ers the meaning of the term
"lynch-law''. And these millions
of workers have also entered into
the struggle against the 1ynching
Of Negro tosfcry in the South.