The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-29
Party Defends Stand
Taken On Housing Issue

Replying to statements shout the
Socialist party which were made In
the May % issue of the Chronicle.
In John Woods column. Judah
Drob, state secretary OF the Social
list Party Of Michigan. declared that
"the Socialist Party IL now. and al
ways has been, IN favor Of complete
equality for Negroes In every
phase OF social, economic and politi-
cal life" The full statement fol-
lows:
John Woods assertion in his Il
Cover the Town" column in the
Michigan Chronicle OF May u, 1913.
that the Socialist Party has aban-
doned the fight for bi-racial occu-
pancy Of housing projects. just
isn't true. The Socialist Party Is
isw, and always has been, in favor
Of complete equality for Negroes in
every phase Of social, economic and
political life. This Is one OF our
most basic and cardinal tenets. and
a prime component OF our convic-
ton that democracy must be COM
ple.e and all-embracing.
Socialists are doing their best to
sell the policy Of bi-racal housing
10 those upon whom they have
home influence. We believe that
there never is a wrong time TO fight
the good fight. We know that Ne
groes have every right 70 demand
full equality OF treatment every
where, in housing, in employment,
in restaurants, in schooling, in
recreation, in the armed services,
and in every other activity you can
name. We are determined 10 do
our best to promote the carrying on
OF that struggle, and to help bring
about the complete victory OF de-
mocracy.
Only recently. the national chair
man OF the Socialist party. Nay
nard Kruger, made a campaign for
alderman in the Sixth Ward in
Chicago. His campaign, in a ward
with a mixed racial composition,
was for the abolition Of all restric-
tive covenants. That campaign was
unanimously successful, and Krue-
ger came within q very short dis
lance of victory, running q close
second to the victor. This is only
one example Of many and only q
racent one, to prove that the Social
list party Is always on the fighting
lines to break down the imprison-
ment Of Negro citizens within
| American ghetAoe thst are scarce
" any better than the ghettos d
Europe against which the whole
might Of our nation II supposed &
be lighting.
Within the UAw(IO. Socialist
are only q part OF the group that Il
called by many uninformed per
sons "the socialist group" There ar,
many people in that group who arr
far from straight on the race issue
Just as there are many in the cp-
posing group usually called thu
Communist group" even though i
includes some non-Communists'
like Bill Nicholas and Jane; Lin
dahl who need plenty OF re-educa
ton on the problems OF the rac!a
nynorities in this country. II is n
secret tina. within the group o
which they are a part the Socialist
are continuing 70 try 70 sell the ide'
OF complete equality OF treatmen
in housing.
Many OF the leaders Of the Negr'
community in Detroit are sub
scribers 10 our national weekly
The Call" and have noted tina
We always give plenty % space {
stories describing the hgat for "a
cial equality in. Detroit Many Q
the readers OF the Chronicle hav
listened to the Norman Thoma
radio broadcasts every Sunday 9