The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-20
A Deliberate Lynch Verdict

THE Supreme Court of the United States has just
decided that the lynch courts of Virginia can have
the body Of George Crawford Negro worker framed
murder charges.
back to Virginia from Massachusetts, where he wants
to be tried.
The Massachusetts, judge Lowell, had refused to
grant Virginia the right to extradite Crawford on
ground that Negroes Virginia are denied the right
to sit on jTies
There is a grisly significance in the fact that the
Supreme Court decision comedies with the marked
rise in lynch violence against the Negro people, that
it practically comedies with news of another savage
lynch feast in Maryland
The Supreme Court decision is a calculated an
swer to the struggles of the Negro masses, rising
against their uncomfortable oppression There can be
question about this 1t is an illusion to believe
that the Supreme Court does not hear the voice of
its capitalist masters, and serve its current needs
The significance of the Supreme Court decision is
that this body of allegedy impartial" udges-all the
more deadly and dangerous for its of judicial
aloofness from the common class struggles of the day
has gone officially on record considering the jim
crowsm Of the Virginia Courts something that must
not be disturbed, something against with which no
fault be found For It certainly is incredible that
these august judges dare to deny the existence of
jim crowism.
1t must leap TO the mind Of every worker that this
decision the gravest danger lives of the
nine scottsborc boys. well TO the life of Craw-
ford!
The Supreme Court does not consider 1t a matter
worthy of serious attention that Negroes are barred
from jlries In Southern Courts
What is this if not throwing the full legal authority
of the Supreme Court in support Of the whole hideous
system of jim-crowism in the courts?
THE Crawford emphasizes not only the ruling
class character of the Supreme Court, but reveals
in CHASTITY light how sinister are the attempts of the
leaders of the National Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People to conceal the ruling class
character Of every capitalist cot-up to the Supreme
Court.
The NA.AOP. consistently fought to keep the case
strictly within the bounds of capitalist legality The
voices Of the Negro masses and the white workers
were deliberately kept out of the courts. No mass
indignation, no mass actions, meetings, demonstra-
tons, kilograms, were permitted
The result is obvious. Crawford is being handed
over to the tender mercies Of the Southern lynch
court without any mass resistance being offered.
The International Labor Defense, the League of
Struggle for Negro Rights have been fighting to or
gsnize the anger of the Negro and white masses on
the Crawford frame-up.
They still are ready and eager to cooperate in
building up around Crawford the only wall that can
save hinr-rnass pressure
1t is with the Negro and white masses that the
Crawford and Scottsboro decisions rest. 1t Is the
million-throated Of the masses that has thus
far kept the nine Scottsboro boys out of the hands
Of the executioner.
And it is the only force that can save them and
Crawford.
Renewed vigilance for the Scottsboro boysi
Rally, Negro and white, TO Crawfords detensel