The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-08-28

10 discuss the ODllgatlOn ana duty
81 each OF them to preserve civil
rights Of American citizens. We
suggest that as far as law and
property will permit, the Federal
government through these and
other agents assist In and insist
upon the wedding out from city
and state police forces members
OF the Ku kIux Khan. Nazi Bund.
plack Legion. or any other anti
minority and anti-American or
ganlzation.
IL. Vacillation with respect 10 the
Fair Employment Practice COM
mittee. cancellation Of the railroad
Mexican. and Detroit hearings,
which was interpreted by many
people TO be weakening OF the
FEPC contributed materially TO
the belief by the anti-minority
forces in Detroit that they had
The administration on the defen-
sive. IL emboldened them. II is
imperative that vigorous and un-
qualified support be given to the
Fair Employment Practice COM
mittee and the principle which 1t
symbolizes 70 demonstrate 10 such
organizations as the Ku Klux Khan
that the FEPC will be given full
administration support. We sub
nit also that the provisions and
sanctions OF the Executive Orders
SSO2 and 9346 establishing FEPC
should he extended so as to In
clude employees as well as en-
ployers. so as to prohibit discrim-
nation by employees rs well as
by employers.
IL. A vigorous campaign OF af-
frmative propaganda through
radio, moving pictures, posters
and other media TO educate the
American people that people OF
all colors. races. and creeds are
fighting this war. To accomplish
this. the administration should
vigorously insist on restoration OF
the domestic di, sion OF the or
flee OF War information, which Is
the logical agency to do this job.
There should be added to the staff
Of the OWL experts in this field,
and the OWL itself should be re-
quircd 10 do a more vigorous job.
Summary
/. The race riots in Detroit,
Beaumont. Texas. Newark. MI.
Los Angeles, and other cities,
towns. and Army camps during
the spring and summer OF l943
are but incidentally an issue OF
race. Divisive forces are utilizing
race hatred TO achieve more sin
lister ends. They capitalize on
wartime tensions, apprehension
about the present and future and
other disturbing factors TO attain
political. economic. sectional or
personal gains. One cannot too
clearly keep in mind the parallel
between the use by similar forces
OF anti-Semitic preiudices in Ger
many in the late eos and early
SOS. and those who would use
anti-Negro, anti-labor. anti-Cath-
clio, anti-Semitic. or anti-admin-
istration prejudices in the United
States in 194S.
2. What happened at Detroit
and other places and what In
evitably will happen In other
cities unless there Is re-
yersal OF the American attitude
On race is the direct product OF
timidity. vacillation and lack OF
clarity I'm thinking on the part
OF the majority OF federal. state
and municipal officials and other
leaders and molders OF public
opinion. Disaster 10 the country
as whole is inevitable unless
demagogues and those in high
places or low Who capitalize up
on prejudice and ignorance are
stopped.
3. Following the last war. there
was disgraceful succession OF
race riots in Washington, DC:
Chicago. Ill; Phillips county.
Ark; Omaha. Neb.: and other
cities. Negroes were iynched on
returning to the United States
IRON France for no other offense
than wearing the uniform OF the
United States Army in which
they had fought abroad to win the
war. Antl-Negro forces in World
War II are not waiting for the
end OF the war. as was evidenced
IN Detroit Unless positive action
r. taken by the federal, state. and
municipal governments. and un-
less there Is manifested more
.~1f~htn.o1 .tftlnan nv the nrnqn