Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-06

North Minneapolis were described
this week by Hubert Fl. Humphrey,
candidate for mayor, as the out
growth Of a condition which has
been present for some time and
which has been permitted to become
aggravated because of the absence
Of q positive and coordinated pro-
gram to counteract its growth"
Mr.. Humphrey called for a pro-
gram of community action which,
he said, would attack the problem
in q fundamental manner"
This tragic display of racial in
tolerance" he said, requires more
than the superficial treatment of
additional police personnel. 1t re-
quires q unified community pro-
gram based upon the recognition of
the true ideals Of democracy, where
m every person is accepted as a
human being with dignity and
worth, regardless of race, creed or
color"
He proposed:
/. ITO call immediately a con-
ference Of the leaders of business,
labor, churches, youth organizations
and social agencies.
2. ITO present to this conference
the social studies, facts and Stats
ties which are available as to Incl
dents Of racial intolerance and vio-
lsnee in any section Of our city.
s. "To call upon this conference
to create an overall organization
that can and will Coordinate etfec-
lively a city-wide program
T. ITO present to all personnel
of the Police Department through
orders from the mayor and from
the Superintendent Of Police spe-
cifc information as to the magni-
tude Of this problem and instruc-
tons as to vigorous law enforce
ment to prevent violence and hood
lumism.
5. "The overall community
agency should work in close har-
mony with the Police Department,
m order that sound and effective
law enforcement may be achieved"
Mr.. Humphrey commended the
excellent work which has been done
IN behalf of racial understanding on
the part of the Conference Round
table of Christians and Jews, on
the part of organized labor, the
Protestant and Catholic churches
and the Governors Inter-raeial
Committee.
"We have heard much about the
unity in our community that has
made possible our great record of
production in the war effort. We
have pointed with justifable pride
to the fact that men and women of
all races and creeds are fighting
side by side in the cause of free
dom. Now it is discovered that a
dark, threatening crevice has been
permitted to develop in the wall
Of this unity, which, if not checked,
will obliterate the strides which
have already been made in combat
ing racial and religious intoler-
anee," he said.
Social DisintegratiOn
Minneapolis is a city graced
with many churches and numerous
progressive civic and social associa-
TONS" Mr.. Humphrey pointed out.
ave are a city of intelligent and
decent people. 1t behooves US to
discover the source Of this virus
Of anti-Semitism and to strike at it
with every weapon at our command.
Let Us not fail to remember that
minority persecution is the first
sign of social disintegration. Let us
not fail to remember that wherever
dictatorship has gained control, it's
first attack was on a racial or re-
igious minority. Let US also re-
member that where there has been
a quick and decisive application of
the instruments of law and order
TO smash those forces which would
tolerance, democracy has been
strengthened and freedom has been
preserved. The repeated incidents
Of violence in North Minneapolis
are clear and definite proof that
our attempts to eliminate intoler-
Gnce and discrimination have not
been successful. These incidents
Of violence are not the play
full tricks of youngsters. They
have been permitted to grow
because of the failure to take cog
nizance Of a situation which has
been present for many years.
"In a recent book entitled AS
signment: U. s. A. by Seldom Meme
fee, who studied social conditions
on the home front, he had this to
say: Minneapolis is the only place
in the midwest where there is really
militant anti-semitism.' This Min
neapolis' race prejudice, says Mr..
Menefee, has taken the non-violent
form but it is deep and pervasive
and might very easily turn into
anti-semitism of the violent type
Mr.. Menefee's prediction of two
years ago has now become a reality.
Violence has broken out. The prob
lem of anti-semitism is no longer
an academic question. It is with
us in its naked and cruel practices
and must be met bv a nositiye nro-