The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-07
Riots.
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Continued from Page II
man when he was caught footing
and drew knife.
Michael Young. 43, found dead
with gunshot wounds in the chest
Vincent Randolph. IS. shot by po-
liceman while footing.
Neal Lucas. shot by a bartender
An unidentified Negro, who died
from bullet wound after being
taken 10 Harlem hospital.
The damage to property has not
yet been estimated. but the area
looks like graveyard
Denies Race Riot
Mayor LaGuardia. bent on de-
emphasizing the seriousness Of the
trouble. in order 10 regain quiet
with a minimum OF effort. declared:
This was not a race riot. There
was no conflict between groups OF
our citizens. what happened was
the thoughtless. criminal acts OF
hoodlums. reckless. irresponsible
people.
Shame has come 70 our CITY and
sorrow TO great number Of decent,
law-abiding citizens residing in the
Harlem district
Il saw the recklessness OF this
mob in action. Strange 20 say. there
was no concerted action. Groups
Of hoodlums acted on their own
initiative" .......
The mayor emphasized that most
OF the persons injured were hurt
by their own neighbors, by mis-
siles thrown from windows and
rooftops,- He added further that
these thoughtless hocdlums had
no one to fight with. They gave
vent TO their feelings by looting and
destruction OF property
White Asks Cooperation
Similar appeals were launched by
Walter White. executive secretary
OF the NAACP: Dr.. John II. John
ston. police chaplain and rector OF
81 Martins Protestant Episcopal
church: Police Commissioner Lewis
Valentine. Fire Commissioner Pat
rick Walsh; Judge Nyles A. Paige,
and several other civic leaders.
Walter White said that the dis
turbanccS were not race riot in
any sense o, the term" but that
they could be traced indirectly to
mis;reatment Of Negro soldiers.
The false rumor that a police
man had killed a Negro soldier in
the presence OF his mother spread
like wildfire." White said. The
mistreatment Of Negro soldiers,
particularly in the South. is a ter
ribly sore point with Negroes.
This was the beginning Of the
trouble Had il been a Negro ci-
william, however prominent, who
was shot. there would have been
no riot"
Speaking over the city's major
networks from the l23rd Street Po-
lice station. tho Mayor said:
"A large number OF extra police
men have been assigned, and the
reserves have been called out. All
traffic is being de,oured. and all
liquor stores will be closed until
further notice.
There may be difficulty in get
ting normal sale OF food today. but
We will get busy at once on that.
We can not permit any gather
Ing OF crowds. and ask for The CO.
operation OF the people Of Harlem"
Takes Precautionary Steps
Meanwhile. ne acted 10 avert any
OF a spread OF the dis
orders by drawing a Gordon OF 6.e00
including 1000 plain
and approximately 100
army trucks around the Harlem
community.
Later in the day Monday. Mayor
LaGuardia announced that plans
had been completed 10 have 1900
reputable Negro citizens patrol the
area. AIMED with nightsticks. 10 aid
policemen in the maintenance Of
quiet He imposed a 1890 pm. cur
few for Monday night but agreed
with Mai General Thomas A. Ter
~. commanding the Second Service
command. that there was no need
Tor declaring Harlem "out o.
bounds" for service men.
Only police-escorted food and
milk delivery trucks were allowed
nto the section Monday. All buses
we're halted. One crosstown trolley
inc operated under police super
vision.
Six trucks carrying armed troops
we're sent into the district Sunday
night to round up soldiers on leave
md get them out OF the area.
Vacations for all police officers
above the rank OF lieutenant were
and those now on vaca-
ion were ordered home immedi-
ately All police were placed on
emergency detail.
Not A Race Riot"
The Rev A. Clayton Powell. pas
Tor Of tn, Abyssinian Baptist church
and a member OF 'ity council. as
serted:
1T is a blind. smouldcring and
4norganized resentment against