The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-06-28
Is
Fruit From The
War Drive
Youth Assembly
DEGREES Persecution
OF Group

The Detroit Youth Assembly to-
day declared thar The Presidents
statement against NEGRO discrimi-
nation in the war industries was
direct result OF rising tide OF in
dignation. Negro and white. against
Jim-Crow IN America.
Referring 70 the Z.eEler case and
10 race discrimination al Bohn Alu-
minum, General Motors and Kelsey
Hayes. Edward Tolan declared as
chairman OF The Youth Assembly
we oppose discrimination not only
in the war industries. but in all
plants and IN our city. state and
federal departments as well.
Mere requests for jobs for Ne
sfoes in the war industries will
neither solve the problem of Jim
crow in America which is much
broader. nor serve a. an effective
cloak for your undemocratic war
aims SAID the statement which
was addressed TO the President.
Declaring thar our active insis-
ience on the rights OF the Negro
people is a touchSiore ~ our sin
,eriiv as supporters Of democracy"
The Youth Assembly statement asks
why the President has not refused
war contracts TO discriminaiory
employers which IL Is within his
power 10 do The statement which
iakfs the form ~ an open letter 10
3 he "a -
President himself lin HIS capacity
~ commandef-in-'hlef ~ the arm
I'd forces il directly responsible
for Jlm-Crow in the Army. Navy
and Air Force The Youth Assembly
asks Why the Presiden, has remain
cd silent regarding the lynching OF
NegrO soldier IN Uniform. tho
numefogs I.cgler cases. police
brutality against Negroes both in
me norm and in the south. and the
piseon-holnc ~ the anti-lynching
and Anii-Poll Tax Bills.
Declaring increased persecu-
ton. OF Negroes and an groups il
result of the present war-drive.
The Youth Assembly adds. Your
words viii be received by Detroit
youth as evidence Of the growing
effective opposition to your war
drive. and as p signal for a strong
'r struggle against discrimination.
against war Jobs and for democ-
lacy.
The full text Of the Detro
Youth Assemblys statement fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. President.--
We n The Detroit youth Assem-
biz are glad that you have seen ri
10 condemn discrimination againsr
Negroes IN The war industries. Such.
statement reflects the clear de-.
Sizes OF the Association people. VIC
oprse discrimination not only In
ihs war industries. but in All plants
and IN our city. state and fedora
deparimenis as we'll.
We in the Detroit Youth Assem-
bis ind il necessary 10 speak
shafply ON the question OF dis
elimination against the Negro
people Our 30. 0o0O Negro ci'-
il"ns are deprived OF a large part
~ our American democracy hy
.lim-Crow. race hatred, and POLL
taxes Here in Detroit, plants such
as Bohn Aluminium. Kelsey-Ha
and General Motors either do MOI
hire Negroes or else employ them
only IN the most meniel and back
breaking jobs. our active insistence
on me rights Of the Negro people
10 tombstone OF our sincerity AZ
supporters Of democracy.
Aren't YOU. Mr. President, re-
epon-ihe for 1im-Crow in the war
industries? Isn't II within your
power 10 withhold war contracts
form employers who discriminate
against Negroes? why do YOU say
that Industry must take the inta-
tive and examine" it, employ
meni and training policies Haven't
Won as commander OF the armed
forces. retained Iim-Crow regi-
monts in the Army by your own
decree? Haven't YOU, as President
permitted Iim-Crow in the Navy
and Air Force? Have you spoken
our against discrimination against
Negroes by our conrts-the numer-
Gus Ziegler cases. the recent lynch
inps % Negro soldiers in uniform
police brutality against Negroes
both in the north and in the south,
Did you protest the pigeon-holing
~ the Anticipating and Anti
poll-Tax Bills?
Haven't you allied yourself Mr..
President. with southern reaction
and Jim-Crow indusirialists 10
wage war for imperialist gain?
Isn't this the reason for your at
tcmpts 10 stifle American labor
and impose war-dictatorship on
the people? Are not The bayonet-
ting OF workers and the lynching
Of Negroes the Inevitable results
Of national policy OF war and re-
action?
But You have soon that the peo-
pie are not iniimidated. or fooled.
Your verbal opposition 10 Jim
Crow IN the war industries has
becn compelled as YOU stated by
the rising tide % public indigna-
tion Negro and white. Al the con-
sequences cf your war drive Our
Confined on page A.