The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-30

burgn Courier; Prank Marshall Da,. wis, executive editor of the AsSoci- ated Negro Press; Emil LengyeL Emil Ludwig, Waldo Frank, Don Freeman, Donald Ogden Stewart
 Rep. Adolph J. Sabath of Chi- cago, chairman of the House Rules Committee; New York assemblymen Daniel G. Burrows and Hulan Jack; William Jay Schieffelin of New York; Judge James s. Watson of New York; Dr. Max Yelgan, presi- dent of the National Negro Con- gress; James Kelly, grand secretary, Negro Elks, Birmingham, Alabama; Jeannette Testu, stae representative and Washington state member ot the Democratic National Commit- tee.
 In transmitting the signatures to President Roosevelt, Congressman Marcantonio acknowledged letter to him in which the President said:
 T share your feeling that recent outbreaks of violence in widely scattered parts of the country en- danger our national unity and com- fort our enemies. am sure that every American regrets it.
 T have asked the heads of sev- eral government agencies, includ- ing the Attorney General, to give special attention to the problem
 Congressman Marcantonio, in connection with the 800 signatures said:
 T give you assurance of my per sonal support, and of the support of the International Labor Defense and of the signers of this letter. who represent millions of Ameri- cans, to your leadership and poli- cies and to the various agencies of our government to strengthen the forces throughout the country which are combating in their communi- ties, the Axis evil of attacks upon racial and other minorities."
 The original letter, which the 300 signed, reviewed the recent out breaks of violence against Negroes and other minorities in the country, expressed appreciation of the Pres ident's opposition to these practices, and concluded:
 'T'he time has come, MT. Pres ident, when you and only you can strike a blow against those Nazi who strike at the very heart of our democracy at time when it fights for it's very existence. Only your voice, MT. President, as the Ma tion'S Commander-in-C Chief has the authority necessary to rally every decent force in American life against these influences that seek to under mine our national unity.
 Ut is with high seriousness of purpose that we urge to go before the people of America and the people of the world and speak out against those forces attempting to tear the fabric of national unity. We urge you to make an historic f1reside chat dealing specifically with the events mentioned in this letter. We urge you to place your high office back of guarantees that Negro people and other minority groups will be freed from every hindrance which prevents their full participa- ton in our war effort: that every member of our armed forces will be given full and adequate protection by the federal government wherever he may be. And we urge you to effectuate these vitally necessary declarations with proper directives to the various agencies of govern ment under your direction.
 Such action will sustain the nor ale of thirteen million Negro people and millions of other minority groups whose labor and devotion are essential to victory. Such action will extend it's influence to hundreds of million of peoples of darker races throughout the world, without whose support the war cannot be won. Such action, we believe, will win the deepest understanding and re- sponse of all the American people"