The Ypsilanti daily press., 1943-07-06
DETROIT RIOTS

Together with the overwhelming
majority OF the youth OF Detroit,
negro and white, the Young Com
| munlst League condemns the
shameful anti-negro outbreaks.
These anti-negro attacks were
not spontaneous" or accidental.
They were a well-planned, well-or-
ganized conspiracy on the part OF
Hitler's Fifth Column to create
chaos, violence and death, TO strike
and halt our war production; to
wreck the home front unity of the
American people, TO help fascism.
This insurrection is aimed at our
nations war effort and our Com
mander-in-C chief.
The unfortunate revelation that a
| larse percent OF the rioters were
youth only serves to underscore the
fact that part of the treasonous
Fifth Column-Ku Klux klan inten-
tiOns were TO despoil the patriotic
efforts OF American youth on the
battlefront, in war production, and
in civilian life.
The Young Communist League
sharply condemns the participation
of youth in these riots. The repre-.
hensible actions OF the police who
aided and abetted the youth part-
cipants in their anti-negro attacks
should result in the removal and Sc
we're punishment for this surrender
of civic authority. We support
| the demands of responsible negro
and white leaders OF labor and peo-
Piles organizations for the immedi-
ate Indictment and punishment OF
all instigators and their aides.
However. it would be naive to
assume that youth are unpatriotic
or solely responsible for these out
breaks.
The youth in their teens and
twenties vino participated in these
actions due to their backward pre-
judices were tools Of the organized
conspiracy against our city and
country The reactionary Hearst
press, who for weeks prior to the
outbreaks carried on a Hitler-like
incitement against negro youth,
added fuel to the fires of race pre-
judice.
1t is these same subversive ele-
ments who helped to scuttle the
creation OF an overall civilian de-
fense program to channelize youths
efforts for y.ctory 1t is these same
fifth column elements VINO emas-
culated all demands for educational
and recreatlonal grants. It is they
who participated in violating the
overwhelming sentiment ani de-
sire of Detroits youth for passage
OF the IS year old vote to give
youth full citizenship rights in ac-
cord with the duties they today per.
form.
Now they seek TO utilize a frus-
trated, idle section of the youth for
their own despicable ends.
II is obvious that the unsolved
problems and grievances OF youth
have in nc small part been utilized
by these treasonous elements. The
removal of these causes will at the
same time remove the causes for
future outbreaks and guarantee the
mobilization of all youth for full and
total prosecution OF the war against
Hitler and the Axis.
The Young Communist League OF
Michigan. an organization of negro |
and white youth. pledges full and
unstinted support 10 cement an un-
breskable unity between negro and
white youth.
Tho \n,4po r,,,,,,upfst aa g,,a ~
Detroit particularly calls on patrio-
tic white trade union. church AMI
community youth TO fight to over
come all forms OF discrimination
and prejudice among the ranks OF
white youth.
Above all. It calls on youth to
play their part in smashing the
Axis Fifth Column conspiracy, 10
strengthen the home front. to back
up our boys who are fighting to
crush the Axis on the battlefront
In order TO meet the imperative
task OF mobillzing youth for victory
and umity. the Young Communist
League urges on the city govern
ment the following five point pro-
gram to be put into effect:
I The immediate convocation
by elementary and high school prin.
cipals of special assemblies TO
clarity The present situation and
TO place the responsibility where it
belongs-on the Axis Fifth Column.
2. The revision of curricula in
line with Supt OF Schools Warren
Bows suggestion TO teach negro
and white youth their democratic
traditions and the great role of
negro Americans in American his
tory and in the present war effort.
3. The immediate reopening of
all schools. Immediate reopening
Of all Fairgrounds with paid super
yisors. Establishment OF new play
grounds and recreational centers
especially in congested areas. Pro-
gram Of maximum expansion OF
rocraaffnp.I facilities