The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-07-14

When We hear OF Scottsboro We
think of Alabama; when We hear
Iof Herndon We think Of Georgia.
Both states put together will pro-
duce such . clear picture Of the
rising tide Of fascist reaction un-
til the most simple-minded person
can readily understand THAT Is
taking place in these United States
today.
All basic constitutional princi-
Piles have been openly violated In
these cases. They have brought to
the surface the political suppress
sion of the Negro people, long hid
den in a maze of judicial trickery.
Time was when such cases could
come TO trial without, at the same
time. exposing the naked character
OF ruling class justice.
! But, all things must change. The
new approach to the question OF
the enslavement OF the Negro
people has come about only since
new forces have come upon the
stage OF action. These forces, re-
evolutionary in character, are max
| ing such a determined drive to pro-
tect the rights of all oppressed
classes, until the depressing class
must seek cover for itself In the
channels of reaction.
Article OF the United States
Constitution Is as follows:
Excessive bail shall not be re-
quired, nor excessive fines impos-
ed. nor cruel and unusual punish
ment Inflicted"
The victims of the Scottsboro
frame-up were never admitted TO
bail; Angelo Herndon was similar
~ treated. One of the customary
ways OF violating this section of
the constitution is TO set the bail at
such a ridiculously high figure un-
til the victim can not possibly
raise IT,
Not only in Alabama and Georgia
but in practically every state IN
the union glazing examples of the
violation of the constitution by
those who are supposed to uphold,
protect and defend IL may be found.
The case OF a Negro worker In
Detroit, Michigan, who had bail of
fifty thousand dollars set by
Justice loving Judge" may be cit
ed. This worker. named Victory.
was accused of "slashing" a white
woman, who had recently come to
Detroit from the lynch-infested re-
gions OF Louisiana. where Norman
Thibodeaux was almost lynched by
a mob led by the district attorney
and the sheriff on a frame-up
charge OF numbering a white girl.
1t was later discovered that this
girl had been murdered by her
step-father; this, after an innocent
Negro worker had been lynched by
the side OF Norman Thibodeaux for
the "crime."
The white ruling class, aided
and abetted by the Negro mislead-
ers. are resorting to the foulest
means In the effort to stem the
rising tide OF revolt on the part OF
tinued enslavement. Side by side
with the white workers, the op-
pressed Negro masses are strug-
Cling for way out of their mis-
cry. But there can be only one way
out-the Revolutionary Way. They
are gradually realizing this.
The cruel punishment being in
flicted upon the Scottsboro boys.
and upon Angelo Herndon; the
violation on the part OF the govern
ment itself. OF the fundamental
constitutional rights of Negroes.
are symbolic of the national OPP
preston unleasher against them.
II the Negro people would be
free. then the Scottsboro boys and
Angelo Herndon must first be
freed. Because 1t Is they who are
symbolic of all the cruelty and
barbarity used by capitalist justice
In perpetuating the enslavement OF
a whole nation OF people! We must
Free them!
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