The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-07-03
CH|DES POLICE.
FOR BRUTALITY.
With COLORED.
Says Complete Democracy
And Equality The
Only Solution

In letter. bristling with fact
obtained as an observer OF certain
phases Of the riot last week. Or
Edgar Keemer. prominent younl
Detroit physician and surgeon
severely criticizeS Detroit police fol
their brutality. and blsmes sub.
Vcrsive elements" for instigatns
the rioting.
The letter reads as follows
Louis z Martin. Editor
The Michigan Chronicle
Dear Mr.. Martin:
am convinced the Detroit race
riot was instigated by subversive
elements who are conspirinH 10 dc.
port or exterminste the Negro peo-
pie and 10 crush the progressive
labor movement q the working
class as whole II was only one
incident in q sequence Of events
which are sure 10 come soon unless
drastic action is taken now.
In this case treir tools were or
ganized gangs 81 hoodlums and
prjudiced southerners OF the City
and State Police forces. The gangs
on Belle Isle and along Woodward
began by s:oning. beating and
knitting every Negro encountered.
This practice. In the reverse. was
later begun by Negro gangs in
other districts.
Police officers were just as pro-
vocstive. Regardless OF published
accounts 10 the contrary. know
the Paradise Valley" riot began as
a defensive one. At lao am. Mon
day was Standing among q group
OF orderly people at the corner OF
st. Antoine and Adams. There was
no violence OF any kind on that
corner ut that time although we
heard rumors Of brswls on Belle
Isle. Suddenly police in several
SQUAD cars drove up and, without
warning. began throwing tear gas
bombs and shooting at men and
women as they began TO run. Al
Sam. saw police drive up TO the
corner Of Hastings and Farnsworth
and fire unfortunately in all di-
rections. Al $40 pm. heard State
Troopers cursing colored women at
Oakland and Owen. When the name
calling was returned by the crowd
the troopers fired repeatedly at
point blank range. Two were killed
and many more lives endangered.
These are not "rumors." They are
facts.
Although many more Negroes
were beaten by white hoodlums
than in the contrary. yet how many
times did officers fire with deathly
intent into crowds OF white civil
fans? wasn't there. fortunately.
but the scoresheet Of deaths gave
me my answer.
The looting of stores and the few
armed offensives were deplorable,
II Is true, but in view OF the pro-
vocations these were psychological
" expected complications, antici-
pated in advance by the instigators
so they could label us as a race OF
thieves.
Unless two outstanding factors
are Immediately remedied there are
sure 10 be many more outbreaks
throughout the country.
First: Fascist. subversive groups.
be they Kluxers or their cousins,
who are working TO stir up strife
between the races so that they may
divide and conquer" just as Hitler
did. must be found and punished.
This riot was not accidental but was
planned in crafty fashion to fire the
hate Of worker against worker, a
hate that would consume their at
tention and energy thus shunting
them off their present track Of get
ting a fair share OF the pie which
they produce. The Michigan
Chronicle has played the leading
role here in exposing these disloyal
-mongers. II deserves congrat-
ulstions from all. II is time, how
ever for the F.BI. 10 imprison the
guilty individuals.
Second: The Negro must be given |
every one OF the rights guaranteed
him under the Constitution. The |
Liberty and Justice for all" men,
TONED in our Oath OF Allegiance TO
the Flsg must be made a reality |
now. We can no longer endure
fighting for Democracy in a Jim
Crow army. hate strikes in factories |
when we are given earned promo
tions and segregated housing pro-
1ects built with government money.
In short. we can no longer endure
being designated and treated as .
~second-class" citizens with separ- /
ate facilities set aside for us every
where we turn from the cradle 10
Tie grave. A separate Army Air
Force 20 combat Messerschmidts |
over Pantelleria down 20 separate /
chambers wherein we are 70 deposit I
excreta from our bodies, as in pub ,
lie buildings throughout the South :
II should be crystal clear 20 every .
individual. trade union and pro-
gressive organization Of every race
that there remains but one solu-
ton complete democracy and
equality here and now. To homo
sspiens, with his complex mental
and emotional makeup, bodily
freedom is not enough. Until po-
Itical. economic and social equality
IS attained here and everywhere,
there will be no lasting peace for
anybody anywhere.
II is too late 10 accomplish this
IN America by education" Witness
the fact that after rs years of free
dom. during which time education
had its chance, we still have neither
total justice nor total equality. II is
TOO late for democratic political
pressure Take note of your Mayor,
given solid support by Negro lead
49, and uofarc baraYea he ~ VACCINE.