The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-03-21
FACE THE ISSUE

Al lIlL l1cN
In public statement published in the daily
press, Mayor Edward }. Jeffries has attempted tC
clarity his position as regards the Soourner Truth
controversy which now has assumed lntenatona
significance. He has paced the responsibility foi
protecting Negro tenants the federal government
because he believes now that the Detroit police are
inadequate for the Job and secondly because he be-
lieves that the whole problem should be solved by
those who created it, again the federal government
Further the Mayor declared that 1T Is quite obvious
that the professional agtator and all the Subverslve
agencies are working on both sides attempting to
create COMMUNICATIVE chaos and confusion by aous-
ing every latent prejudice that may exist
The attempt OF the Mayor tu=trash- hands, at
situation that as the responsible head of the local
government he must face is cowardly and unrealistc
In the first place the so-caled problem was created
by a greedy group of Nazi-mnded jackasses who
would scrap the constitutional rights Of the Negro
people and who are willing to resort to mob violence
in defiance of the local and federal governments
which must safeguard these rights In the second
place no group or agencies which seek to defend
the legal rights of the Negro people can be called
subversive. For the Mayor to so smear the demo-
cratic campaign of an oppressed people for the full
exercise of their citizenship is to add insult to INJURY
and to strike foul blow at democracy.
The issue presents on one side group of Amerl-
can citizens who have been denied access to their
legal homes by mob that acted in defiance of our
government, and on the other, gang of outlaws
who have brazenly usurped the constituted authority
of the city government, On one side are the lovers
of democracy and on the other are those who would
sacrifice democracy for Hitherto principle. The
city of Detroit has Welded to the easonou threats
of the mob leaders and the SeieHfHef Truth project
has become an empty monument to open tyranny and
mob rule
More important still is the horrible fact that
this fascist usurpation of civil authority in Detroit
has taken place at time when the entire nation
girds for battle against fasciSm throughout the
world The federal government has declared that
I'VE are at war. This is war housing project
1t is clear that the Soouner Truth controversy can
not be isolated from the world struggle in which we
Negroes are being asked, rghtfuly too, to bear
arms and, if need be, die. Mayor Jeffries has
sumed the role of an appeaser while the nation has
declared total war. By vacillation and delay the
forces of tyranny in Detroit, as in the world grow
boder and the final clash which must if democ
racy at home or abroad is to survive grows greater
and more violent
The Sojouiner Truth issue is unquestonab?
clear and the Mayor and every citizen Of Detroit
must face it squarey. Through blood and bitter
ness the democratic world has learned at last that
we cannot appease the forces of evil iH-Ferd society
The enemy must be struck and defeated wherever
he rears his head whether in Detroit or in the unges
of Asia This is not the sole concern of the Negro
people is the responsibility Of every lover Of free
dom and democracy