The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-26
PROBE Of CAMP
LEE is ASKED
BY n. A. A. C.P.
kilograms Sent Secretary
OF War To Protest
Race Trouble

kilograms vigorously protesting
the recent demoiions OF Sgt. Sam
uel A. Reed and Sgt. Clifford Glenn
mons, stationed at Camp Lee. Va.
representative Of IS labor. religious
welfare and iraternal organizations
demanded this week that "a full in
vestigstion by the secretary OF war
and a congressional committee" be
made.
Observers here were expecting
the whole jim crow and discrim-
inatory policy OF the army to be
put to a thorough test and predicted
a startling expose of the shameful
coercion and intimidation that Ne
gro soldiers must live under in the
O. military branches OF the armed
forces provided the situation is
publicly aired.
The demand for an investigation
was made in kilograms addressed
10 President Roosevelt, Secretary
Of War Henry L. Sumson. Senator
Henrik Shipstead. Senator Arthur
E Nelson and Reps. Joseph Ball and
Melvin J. Mas. from Minnesota.
after a gigantic mass meeting al
the Halle Q. Brown community
house sponsored by the local
branch NA.A.C.P.
Sergean. Reed and Sergeant
TIar, r,,ope ,trara tu.0 ~ a 9rpup NJ
on-commissioned officers at the
Virginia camp who presented lis;
of recommendation TO the COM
manding officer asking that colored
soldiers be granted their full and
equal rights on the military reser-
walton and in the surrounding com
munity
The list OF recommendations
cen:ered around charges OF dis
elimination in the assignment and
equipment of Negro Military pc
lice, discrimination on public con
veyances. discrimination in the use
OF facilities of the camp 'post ex-
changes, theatres, service clubs
sports centers and certain areas;
the discriminatory policy of the
war department in limiting Ne
groes by quota in some branches
OF he service tthe ARM air corps
and the opening of branches now
closed 10 Negroes the army glider
plot training program. 8
Maj Gen. James F. Edmonds,
commanding officer at Camp Lee
upon receipt Of the straight for
ward recommendation is reported
TO have become enraged and the
demotions of the TWO sergeants 10
the rank Of privates Immediately
followed.
Reed before his induction into
the army in 1871 was president Of
the St. Paul Branch N.AACP. and
was well known for ais militancy
in matters affecting the welfare of
Negro citizens here. He is he
brother of Dwight Reed. former
All-American end from the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota.
The noted minister praised the
St. Paul Pioneer Press, a local
white daily for its editorial Of Dec.
3. on the Incident at Camp Lee"
in which an investigation Of con-
diuons at the camp was urged
The fact must no. be overlooked
that Sam Red and his colleagues
were only asking for the full and
equal rights given TO white SOL
d.ers, but disgracefully denied to
Negro soldiers" asserted Reverend
Nelson.
As the meeting progressed other
groups pledged financial support to
fighting Of the Sgt. Reed-Sgl
Clemmons case" Among them
were the Red Caps at the St. Paul
Union station. the United Electrical.
RADIO and Machine. Workers Of
America tCIO), the ST. Paul jew
ish council and many. other organ
izauons.
V. r. Dunn, white, a labor leader
warned that the commanding officer
at Camp Lee would probably
trump upssome other reason for
the undemocrauc action taken
against Reed and Clemmons" and
cautioned persons and organlza
tons interested in the situation to
be prepared to meet and resist those
charges