The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-17

De SndbCneu out Oh our ranks
6. The Negro comrades defend
themselves also, not waiting for
their white comrades.
Z. We hold at least two OPEN
air meetings in Wilmington.
8. We stay over night in Will
nington.
When we reached the city limits
Of Wilmington, we were all taut
like bow string.
A delegation had been sent by
us to inform the police officials
that we were going to parade. The
answer was mo, you won't parade"
However, when we all approached,
when the comrades left the trucks
and, obeying commands, formed a
powerful column in as short time
as five minutes, when the chief of
police and the superintendent of
public safety, standing at the head
Of q few dozen policemen, realized
our power and saw our comrades
declaring bluntly, ''We are going to
parade" they said, Go ahead" I
do not think they liked it very
much.
WE PARADE
We paradsd. We marched with
unusual agility; we kept our ranks
closed; we sang; we exclaimed; we
chanted in chorus, and there was
a hot flame of enthusiasm surg
ing through the ranks.
The population poured into the
streets to watch US. Many applaud
ed. The crowds stood in thick
rows all along the streets, some
times several hundred in one block.
We passed thirty-two blocks. When
we saw Negro crowd we chanted:
''Negro and white,
Unite and fight
This never failed to call forth
enthusiastic applause from among
the Negroes.
The Column kept marvellous Or
der. The marchers walked like one,
rhythmically, crisply, keeping time,
heads erect, eyes ablaze. 1t wasn't
q mob, no indeed. It was not q
crowd Of beggars either! It was
an organization of fightersl
A WORD must be said about the
n marchers. They were elected
haphazardly on bread lines, in pool
rooms, in flop houses, in block COM
mittees. Most of them were a raw
element, just drawn into the move
/ AF
participated in a clash with con-
stituted authorities. For the first
time, they were learning the mean
ing of revolutionary proletarian
struggle. They were awakening to
realization of something over
whelming: the power OF their c!scs.
We approached the garage at the
corner of Front and Madison Sts.,
where about 300 of us were to stay
over night. Another group of about
200 was sent to the italian Labor
Lyceum. A third was to stay over
night in a Polish Club, in the for
mer building of a Catholic Church.
There were many women in this
latter division.
IN THE POLISH CHURCH
With shouts and laughter we
poured into the Polish church. A
large building--one big hall with a
platform; few steps leading down
to a kitchen in the basement. The
hall was almost empty except for
a few dozen chairs. But the entire
building was well heated and the
floor was clean. We sat down on
the chairs and on the floor-some
$50 men and women. There was
great deal of shouting, singing,
joking. We were all somewhat in
toxicated with our own victory
Supper was served down below. The
tables could seat only about 80 and
we had to eat in three shifts. But
that made no difference, since the
meal was gobbled up in a minute
or two.
Exhilirated after the march, and
cheered by the warmth of the room,
we started dancing. Somebody
banged the piano which we dis
covered on the platform. Soon
several dozen comrades were whirl-
ing around the hall. This did not
prevent others from spreading their
belongings on the floor and going
to sleep. 1t was o'clock. Soon
everybody would settle down for a
nights rest.
KNOW OF POLICE
| ACTIVITY
We knew that there we're police
attachments on the corner Of
Chestnut and Adams. We knew
that street meeting was to take
place not far from the church. We
knew, however. that. our speakers
! were to address the local crowd.