Evening star., 1946-08-06
Antilynch Legislation
Demanded as $1,000
Attend Protest Rites

More than $1,000 persons gathered
last night at the Lincoln Memorial
to mourn the recent lynchings in the
South, while speakers, both white
and colored, denounced the pre-
meditated murder" of six colored
persons and demanded that Presi-
dent Truman reconvene Congress to
insist on immediate enactment of
Federal antilynching legislation.
Three colored soldier -ampntees
from Walter Reed Hospital sat in
the van of the crowd listening ir-
tently as the public address system
carried the addresses of speakers to
mourners packed as far back as the
Reflection Pool. The amputees were
wheeled by uniformed buddies the
entire length of the prememorial
service parade which began at Ninth
street and Constitution avenue NV.
at 6:15 pm.
Scores of policemen in squad cars,
on motorcycles and on foot par
alleled the route of march down
Constitution avenue to the Me-
mortal and remained on the scene
until the services ended shortly
before 10 pm.
Gov. ArnalI Commended.
Participants in the mass me-
mortal service roared approval of
four-point resolution proposed by
DR.. Joseph l.. johnson, chairman
of the Washington Committee of
the Southern Conference for HUI
man Welfare and dean of the
Howard University Medical School.
1t was resolved that:
Gov. Arnall of Georgia be COM
mended for his efforts to punish
the lynchers of four Negroes in
Monroe, Ga, last month and for
his efforts to outlaw the Ku Klux
Klan; that President Truman call
on the full power of the Federal
Government to apprehend and
punish the Georgia "murderers;"
President Truman be asked to use
his executive power to outlaw the
Klan and any other organization
which seeks to foster racial or re-
ligious hatred. and that Congress
be reconvened to enact Lynch
ing legislation at once.
Picketing Invited.
The memorial service was called
by the Southern Conference for
Human Welfare, officials said, "be-
cause of the mounting wave of
mob violence and police brutality
in the South"
Henry Beitscher, president of the
Washington Industrial Union Coun-
Gil (CIO), invited District Negroes
and union members to picket a
radio station at 9:15 am Friday, Is
minutes before Senator Bilbo, DEM
ocrat, of Mississippi, chairman of
the Senate District Committee, is
scheduled to make a radio appear
ance. Mr. Beitscher said Senator
Bilbo, white supremacy" ticket
winner in recent senatorial pri-
maries in his home State, would be
given "the reception Washington
has long had in store for him."
Both Senator Bilbo and Governor
elect Gene Talmadge of Georgia
were booed time and again as
speakers continued to mention their
names in connection with the recent
lynchings of William Gordon and
James johnson in Columbia, Tenn;
Mr.. and Mrs. Roger Malcolm and
Mr. and Mrs. George Dorsey, who
were shot at Monroe last month.
Fitting Site, Says Foreman.
DR.. Clark Foreman, chairman of
the Southern Welfare Conference,
said sit is fitting that We in the
Nations Capital are meeting at the
shrine OF man who has done more
for the South than any other South
erner. Tonight you are expressing
he determination we all share to
abolish mob violence and lynching."
Other speakers on the program
were the Rev. r. w. Brooks of the
Ministerial Union, Frank Jackson
of the American Veterans Commit
tee, Richard Bancroft of the United
Negro and Allied Veterans, E. S.
Grattan of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, DR.. Max Yergan,
president of the National Negro
Congress; Charles H. Houston of the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People and
the Rev Albert T. Mollegan of |
Alexandria, Va.
The Washington Community |
Chorus led community singing of
patriotic songs under the direction |
of Warner Lawson. Representatives
Of more than so civic, fraternal,
labor and veterans organizations |
participa ted