The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-23
Cops Attacked
Peaceful Meet,
Inquiry Shows
Inspector Valentine Is
Compelled To Admit
Fault of Police

NEW YORK.-Who turns peace
full street meeting into disorderly
"riot"P
The clearest, completest answer to
tilis question was revealed in a most
dramatic way at the investigation
conducted by Chief Inspector Of
Police Lewis j. Valentine into
charges of police brutality at Sat-
urdays Scottsboro demonstration on
Lenox Avenue between 126th and
127th SITS.
Not only was it positively proved
that police deliberately attacked a
peaceful meeting of 300 or 400 Ne
gro and white workers who we're
causing no blockade of traffic, but
there was plenty of evidence to
show that the IN. Y. Times" re-
porter 'cooperated with police in
deliberate lies to whitewash the
brutality of the police.
In fact, all the witnesses who had
been present at the demonstration
with the single exception of Irving
Spiegel, Times" reporter testified
that police had broken up the leet-
ing on no provocation whatever
At Valentines hearing, at which
were present only q few police
chiefs, the International Labor De-
Tense attorney Friedman, A. L.
Wirin Of the Civil Liberties and a
few reporters who were admitted
only after protest delegation had
demanded a public hearing from
Mayor LaGuardia, the truth came
out.
Prove Cops Attacked
Fifteen Negro and white workers,
including three reporters, testified
that the meeting was quiet and or
derby until the cops arrived, that
several police cars and an emer-
gency truck were at the scene be-
fore any trouble at all had started,
that traffic had not been blocked,
that cops had Immediately waded
into the workers, that Detectives
Ames had asked for a permit when
none was needed and that he and
Normoyle had hurled at least eight
tear gas and smoke bombs, that po-
lice had swung their clubs, fists and
sticks, that a Negro patrolman,
Charles Brown, had pointed his gun
at the crowd and had beaten Ne
gro girl in the face with his fists
until she fell on the street.
Valentine Forced to Admit Cops
The workers charges Of brutality
were further confirmed when the
cops began to testify. They told
such obvious lies, contradicted
themselves and the statements of
the other cops so often, that VAL
entine became disguised and at one
point said:
There was no disorder until you
men arrived. There was no traffic
tie-up. Why do you persist in say
ing you had to break up the meet
ing2"
But most of the time Valentine
attempted to minimize and condone
the brutal attacks on the workers
by the police. At one point he even
concurred with one policeman in
citing the Constitution of the U. s.
for legal right to break up the DEM
onstration.
"The constitution" said the cop,
'gives the right for people to peace
ably assemble and right of freedom
OF speech. 1 thought the assem-
blage wasn't peaceful so I think we
| had full right to break it up"
spoke to Valentine after the
hearing. I asked him if he had
called the Times before the hear
ing.
Eyes" he replied. We called them
for the reporter to testify. They
gave us fine cooperation.
Valentine said the transcription
of the hearing will be given to La
Guardia and the latter will issue q
statement.