The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-07
Norfolk Unemployed Prepare
Mass Fights for Jobless Relief
Organizer Reviews Past Struggles; White Workers Join Fight
Union Members Support Fight Joint Action Of Negro and White

fashion in defiarce of the high con-
stable and police, who were met with
mass demonstration and a struggle.
Hundreds at the time declared their
readiness to go on a rent strike if the
landlords would persist in evicting
hungry families. Hundreds of names
have already been gathered on a spe-
cial petition for the tenants demands,
including many white tenants. This
fail will undoubtedly witness a mass
rent strike if the landlords refuse to
lower rents and stop eyicSions. 10000
calls to action are at present being
circulated for the tenants program
it will be presented soon in the form
of an ordinance to the City Council.
But only daily plugging, steady or
ganizational work and the self ac-
tivity of the tenants themselves are
the only conditions that will win vic
tory. Naturally, the enemy is taking
steps to thwart this militant program
by the use of legal and extra-legal
terror. Police and stool pigeons are
actively used among the white work
ers to spread lies and SANDER about
the Negro masses and the Unem-
ployed Council. Free speech and the
right of public assembly and petition
is strictly forbidden as far as the
Unemployed Council and other work.
ing class organizations are concerned.
Emergency ordinances were enacted
last fall for the purpose of throttling
the cry for bread and the growing
realization of common interests OF
black and white hungry workers.
White Workers Protest Arrest
Last Monday, Sept. 25th, Benson
and 3 totherS were tried in the Cor
poration Court before grand jury,
after months and months of inten-
tional delay, for violation Of the vici-
Gus anti-free speech law. This law
prohibits all meetings, gatherings and
assemblies in public streets, squares
and parks without written permission
from the City manager. The court
was packed with white and colored
workers. In a tense atmosphere, the
defense witnesses, and attorney ex-
posed this ordinance as naked class
legislation. The bosses jury doubled
the fine from S25 to $50 for Benson
and the others were given minimum
of IS fines. All cases will be sent on TO
the State Court of Appeals where
the validitysof these laws will be con-
tested. The open sympathy coming
from white workers at the trial in
dicates that they are rapidly over
coming the bosses race poison and
color prejudice They are beginninr
to take the blinkers off their eyes and
asking the keenest questions abou
the traditional policies and propa-
ganda of their masters - who rob
black and white.
We must admit that we have the
tendency of building barriers against
ourselves by altogether initiating the.
color prejudices of the Southern
white toiling masses and this hinders
the development of the struggle. They
are more willing to listen than we
are ready to approach-and concretely
explain our policies to them. I was
forcefully reminded of this when a
white woman Of Brambleton said to
me Eyes, these colored folks have got
to live and be protected just as good
as we-not only must we demand
bread for our kids, but for their kids
to- and whats more we white folks
should be in the fore of such a strug-
GLE" Under the further blows of the
crisis and the rapid disillusionment
in Roosevelt's sweet promises and the
hunger program of Truxton and Co.
the tactic of the militant united front
of all toilers regardless of race, opin-
ion and affiliation is being confirmed
and understood. The Unemployed
Councils are now preparing for mass
demonstrations to win cash relief and
cheaper rents. Struggles are bound
to be sharp this wintr, and the I'm
employed Council will grow by leaps
and bounds as the only organization
Of the hungry working class of Nor
folk.