The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
REFUGEE FLED
MISSISSIPPI
after Fight
Accused BY White Woman
Of Attempting To
Rape Her

worded telegram TO Governor Paul
B. Johnson of Mississippi. the Ma
tionsl Negro Congress has called
for the immediate freedom of
George A. Burrows, returned to
Mississippi by Governor Thomas Z.
Dewey Of New York. on a trumped-
up rape charge. The Congress also
protested the action of Governor
Dewey in sending Burrows back to
Mississippi as another step in the
growing alliance OF the Poll Tax
spokesman from the South with
resctionary Northern Republican
interests to destroy national unity.
and at the same time called Free
Burrows mass meeting in Harlem
at the Renaissance Casino for
Thursday night. March Is. The
statement OF the Congress released
by its executive secretary. Edward
E. Strong. follows in full:
The extradition Of George A.
Burrows to the lynch ridden state
OF Mississippi by Governor Thomas
E Dewey OF New York represents
another step In the growing alliance
OF the poll tax spokesman from the
South with reactionary Northern
Republican interests to destroy ma
tional unity through which alone
the war can be successfully pros
ecuted. and the freedom Of op-
pressed minorities won. II Is Of
immediate concern. therefore. to
the Negro people. the organized
labor movement. and other progress
sive forces in our country that mass
protests be made to Governor Paul
p, Johnson OF Mississippi calling
for the unconditional release OF
Burrows. and for the prosecution OF
his Mississippi attackers.
The Burrows case arose over
the usual charge on the part of
Southern woman that Burrows at
tempted to kiss and rape her. Up
on being given this false informa-
ton. two white men physically at
tackled and beat Burrows. one OF
whom was shot In the fight that
resulted The charge Of rape Is
false from beginning 10 end. As a
matter OF fact, Burrows was He
gally caught and beaten without
cause. endesvorcd 10 defend him.
self. and finally sought refuge in
the North.
The Courts and Governors In
the States OF Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Massachusetts, have re-
Gently refused to return Negro ref
ugecs 10 the South on the very
sound theory that Il Is impossible
10 receive a fair trial and that only
lynch law is in operation. BY re.
turning Burrows TO Mississippi.
Governor Dewey has broken with
those immediate preeedents and
has taken up where Judge fancy
lcft off in the bred Scott decision.
Clearly. the Governor is trying TO
come TO terms with such mobsters
as Tslmadge, Dixon, Dies, and Ran
kin.
The National Negro Congress
believes that Burrows should be
free We must vindicste American
democracy by disproving the
theory that any Negro can be beat
en- on the slightest pretext by any
group OF white men who. chooses TO
do so in the South. We must vim
dictate American democracy by dis
proving the theory that any Negro
in the South who attempts TO de-
fcnd himself from lynch mob has
nothing 10 look forward TO but
legal lynching in jim-crow lily
white" court We therefore. call
upon the people OF this country TO
send kilograms 10 the Governor OF
calling for the immedi-
ate release Of Burrows, and the i'm
mediate prosecution o. his sssaIl-
ants"