St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-03-13

ing revelations resulting from the
riots here, February %, over the
occupancy of the Sojourner Truth
housing project is that the Ameri-
can Negro is just about fed up
with talk of democracy and now
demands some action"
This was the observation of Roy
Wilkins, assistant secretary of the
NAACP, who came here March 4,
to consult with and pledge coopera-
ton to the Citizens Committee
carrying on the housing fight.
Gin eleven years of travelling
for the NAACP, and in twenty
years of newspaper work, I have
never found such bitterness on such
wide scale as I have found in
Detroit" said Wilkins. The cooler
heads among our people are trying
desperately to hold the situation in
hand. They know that when there
is violence between Negroes and
whites, Negroes always lose be-
cause the police and the soldiers
always join the whites against the
Negroes. That is what happened in
Detroit. Although whites started
the riot and were armed with ev-
cry kind of weapon, the police
arrested 100 persons-two white
and 107 Negroes.
despite this, the rank and file
of Negroes want to fight. They
are tired of talking. They are
rapidly coming to the point where
they do not believe or trust any
white person or any government in
stitution.
Tore Up Draft Cards
"The Sojourner Truth riot came
in the midst of war. The disgrace
full action of the Detroit police de-
partment has made this housing
project fight not only national,
but an international incident.
Young Negroes here tore up their
draft cards last Saturday-in pub
lie. One man got up in a public
meeting and said he was of draft
age and would probably be called
to fight in Asia or Europe, but 1
will take my fighting and dying, if
necessary, right here on the streets
of Detroit for some democracy for
my own people,
Another man came up before
Judge George Murphy on a dis
orderly conduct charge in connec-
ton with the fighting at the prof.
ect. He said to the Judge: Il have
two boys in the U. S. Army fight
ing for these people (the whites)
and you can sentence me to any
years yon want, but when I get
out l am going to start fighting
again just where 1 left off, The
charge was dismissed for lack of
evidence.
Cops Aided Whites
Zone hour of good police work
Saturday morning, February %,
would have prevented the riot, it
is agreed here. The cops let the
whites form a mob, erect barri-
cades across the street, stop moving
vans containing furniture of Negro
families seeking to move in, and
beat and stone Negroes. But when
Negroes attempted to protect
themselves and to break through
the barricades, the cops went into
action against them"
Protests and demands for action
are pouring in upon Detroit and
Washington officials from hundreds
of individuals and groups over the
country. The national office of the
NAACP wired Attorney General
Francis Biddle the day of the riot
asking the Department of Justice
to act. President Roosevelt has re-
ceived many calls for firm action
by federal authorities.
Mayor Edward ]. Jefferies of
Detroit was showed under with
protests.
Here in Detroit Citizens Com
mittee headed by the Rev. Charles
Hill is meeting every day at noon
at the Lucy Thurman Y. W. C. A.
for luncheon and pep and strategy
talks. The daily attendance aver
ages more than 100. Sub-commit-
tee reports on picketing, publicity,
legal action, finance, and other
matters, are given each day.
Picket City Hall
A picket line has been thrown
about the City Hall calling on the
Mayor for action. About 300
pickets were in line March s.
Neighborhood leaders are doing
house to house work in the five