Arkansas State press., 1944-06-30
A Declaration By Negro Voters


coming November election the Negro voter will judge
political parties. candidates. by their words and deeds
whether they show determination to work for full ct
zensp thirteen million American Negroes and to bet
the lot of all disadvantaged peoples. Political parties and
candidates the of Negroes must be committed
the whoeheared prosecution of the to total victory must
agree the poll by Act of Congress- the
passage of antnchng legislation the unsegragated nega
Negroes the armed forces the establishment of
permanent federal committee fair employment practices and
foreign policy of international cooperation that promotes eco
nomic and political security for all peoples
The of Negroes cannot be purchased by distributing
money through party hacks They cannot be won by
pointing jobs given few individual Negroes although the
recognition of the Negro integral part of the body poll
tic through the selection qualified Negroes for appcntve
elective offices is included the Negroes demands Ne
groes longer persuaded by meaningless genraes IN
party platforms which promptly forgotten election day
Negroes no longer belong political party They
will and Negro voters played an I'M
portant part the election of Negro Communist to the New
York City Negro Republican Judge in the same
community Democratic Mayor in Cleveland, Republican
Kentucky and in cooperation with organized labor
progressive forces in the withdrawal and defeat OF
hostile congressman Alabama Texas and California Public
officers who have made record of liberal and democratic
may expect Negroes help remove them from of1e
If their better they may expect the same
fate the next election For Negroes do not always 1no
satisfactory support they and will continue to
help unsatisfactory officials unity truly democratic
forces shall into power.
undersigned officers of church, fraerna labor
civic educational organizations with total membership
of than 65o00o0 We recommend to the membership OF
measpge All appeals or he made BY pou al parties
III rH cther rand aatea according IA ae fol-
lowing yardstick;
The Negro people like all other Americans, recognize the
war as the chief confronting country We demand
of any political party desiring the support of Negroes vigo
prosecution Of the We opposed to any negotiated
peace as advocated by the Herke forces within coun
ty Victory must crush Hitersm home well as abroad
In evauatng the merits of parties and candidates must
include those touching the life of Negroes as
group as well affecting the entire country The party
tO
port the extension of social security refuses to support
progressive public program for full post employment or
opposes enlarged and unsegated Of government
housing seeks to destroy organized labor is as
much enemy Negroes he who would prevent Negroes
from voting.
bv pol taxes white primaries, ywhite party conventions
the gerymandeng of districts any other device designed to
dranche Negroes and other voters Any political party in
power aspiring to must demonstrate its determine
ton through legislation and through vigorous criminal prose-
cuon by Department of Justice to protect and secure vo
ing as a fundamental right Of citizenship
The everserous evil ynchng and mob violence has be-
come more critical as result unrestraned violence against
Negroes in the services No national administration
merit support of Negroes unless it committed to egsa
and administrative program Tor the elimination OF ths
national disgrace.
debate combined with the refusal of senators to vote for co
tre has recently prevented the AntPo Tax bill.
Negroes longer accept the ubruge of those who
claim to favor anlynchng, anpol and other
sve legislation vet refuse to coture their
can registered Negroes will expect both major parties and
all candidates for Congress not only to commit themselves to
such legislation but also such reasonable limitation
of may be to bring these to
The program being carried through the Fair En-
ployment Practice Committee to and protect the right
to work racial religious discrimination be
tnued expanded during and after the No party
candidate Presidency Congress the vote Of
Negroes without supporting legislation for permanent federal
committee on employment practices with Sufficient ap
preparation the effective operation Of the said committee
and to adequate appropriation for the FEPC
until a permanent committee is established.
No injustice embtters Negroes than continued segre
cation discrimination in the armed forces The national
policy Of gegregang Negroes in the armed forces violates
cry principle democracy Any party candidate that hopes
to win support and Of Negroes and all progressive
gop prove their belief in democracy by adopting demo
cratic program for the Indignation Of all Americans into
SEGREGATED military forces and supporting federal legislation
designed all and the armed forces the
peaceful enjoyment of all rights Of citizenship in Amer
can community
We concerned that this bring to end imperial
Soc DECIARATION-Pngc