The Omaha guide., 1940-07-13
FROM TERROR
IN BROWNSVILLE TENN
APPEALS FOR AID

wounds in his chest lie mad
been lynched.
The NAACP. is calling on all
citizens TO contribute to a fund for
the relief of the Brownsville exil-
es and for the purpose of attack
ing the whole situation to the end
that coldred citizens may return
to their homes, vote in the 1910 e.
leetions, and pursue sfeir normal
lives.
In his letter to the NAACP. Ill
isha Davis wrote;
81 gambied everything, ~
home, my business, my life, my
family (wife and children) in ~
der to prove To those peopl
Brownsville that the MA ACP.
YVES all right. AIT present ! am
separated from my family. I am
not making any money. I do not
feel secure in the least. After
having told all in this case, my
life here. even IN this town, is
constantly threatened"
The whole Brownsville, Tenn
essee, situation has been placed in
the hands of the United States
Department of Justice by the Ma.
ACP. Dean William HASTE,
chairman of the NAACP. legal
committee, has conferred with o.
John Rogge, Assistant U. s. At
torney General; Walter White,
NAACP. secretary has conferred
with William McClanahan, u S.
Attorney at Memphis. Mr.. White
made a trip to Tennessee during
which he gathered firsthand in
formation on the Brownsville case.
The Brownsville situation from
beginning to end, is a story of the
most open, fragrant, and unasham
ed exercise of mob terror and
lynching that has come to light in
many years.
1t has been shown conclusively
that Brownsville officials, inclua-
ing a night marshal and candidate
for sheriff, a night policeman, a
county highway commissioner, ana
Others were among the leaders of
the mob which drove Brownsville
NAACP. leaders from town.
Elisha Davis was walked in the
night, forced TO dress at the point
of q pistol, and his wife was told
"You will never see this black
again. VIZ are going to kill
him..
Davis was taken to a river bot
toVn about six miles from town
and was asked about the purpose
of the NAACP.He was threatened
with death unless he told the NAM
es of the members of the branch.
Finally, he was released and told
to- leave the county and never to
show his face there again. His
wife and z children are at the
mercy of the hoodlums in Browns
vile.
AT the recent NAACP. confer
ence in Philadelphia, Pa. outrag-
ed delegates contributed spontan-
eously the sum of $155 after the
Reverend Buster Walker had told
a graphic story of the terror in
Brownsville.
The present fund being raised by
the NAACP. is for the purpose
not only of Individual relief for the
families of terrorized Brownsville
citizens but to carry on the fight
to clean up the Tennessee town so
that colored people may enjoy the
rights to which they are entitled
as citizens.
Every pressure is being brought
to bear on the federal and state
governments Ito see that these leo-
pie r restored in safety to their
rights
i Meanwhile Brownsville is try
ing to block every effort to get at
the trouble. Officers are posted
on the highways leading into the
town and r turning back all col
ored people who do not live in
Brownsville.
Contributions for the Browns
vile case should be sent to the
NAACP., Goth Fifth avenue, New
York, N. Y. Checks may be made
payable TO Mary White Ovington.