Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-20
Amnesty Group Charges Mill City
Police Bias Against Wally Nelson

Minneapolis policemen this week
were charged with discriminatory
action" against Wallace Floyd Mel
son, one Of the nations outstand-
ing conscientious directors, as the
result Of an incident last Satur-
day in which Nelson was alleged
ly forcibly thrown into n police
squad car and taken TO the police
station.
In a strong statement Of pro-
test against the alleged discrimi-
natory treatment, Irving Blumberg.
1924 Russell Ave. No, member OF
the executive committee Of the
Minneapolis branch NAACP, who
was present when the incident
happened, said that he was part OF
the group Of three men and three
women carrying placards, dis
tributinR literature and seeking
signatures TO petitions asking am
nesty for conscientious ObAectorA
still in Federal prisons.
Gathered At POstORiee
According to Blumberg, the
group had first gathered at the
Minneapolis poStoffiOe and then
proceeded into the Minneapolis
loop. The group included, in ad-
dition TO Blumberg. Galen Cain,
Arthur Sternberg, st. Paul attor-
ney. and Madeline Rusk, Mary
Alice Beck and Helen Salvail.
BIumberg stated they stationed
themselves in front Of Powers de-
partment store at Fifth and Nieoi-
let, standing near the curb 80 a.
not TO obstruct the pedestrian traf.
fic." He said that about thirty
minutes later, the patrolman on the
corner "came over 70 inquire what
we were doing" but when the
group explained, the patrolmAn
"made no specific objection"
According TO Blumberg'S state
ment, n little later the patrolman
came over 70 tell them that a squad
car was on its way ito take rs
down 70 police headquarters for
questioning" Il was decided that
Il wouldn't be necessary for the
whole group TO 70, and StsrnberR
would represent the group ct po-
lice headquarters while the others
continued 70 carry plaeards and
obtain signatures.
All Answered the SalAs
Blumberg said that when the
squad car arrived, Stsrnberg
agreed TO 20 down TO hesdquartsrs'
but when q policeman asked Blum
berg II 81 were coming. too" Blum
berg replied, "No, not unless you
insist" He states the others gave
the same answer.
Blumberg said that StsrnberE
proceeded TO get into the squad
car, when zone Of the policemen
who had been talking TO Wally
about ten feet away, started drag
ginR wally toward the police car.
While wally was not resisting, he
evidently was not going along will
ingiy."
According TO his statement he
protested and charged Nelson was
being mistreAtsd because Of his col
or. Biumbsrg said that when one
Of the officers asked Nelson for his
Identification card, the latter said
he saw no reason for producing one,
that he was mindinG his own bust
ness, ~and considered Il inappro-
pirate for police 10 ask him 70
idsntify himself" This reply. Blum
berg stated, caused -two police
men to grab hold Of WAIly. literally
lift him OF his feet, and throw
him into the squad ear"
Refused % Go
wednesday. Nelson said that
when thu police officer asked him
10 60 down TO hsadquMrtsrs. hs told
the officer be was TOO busy," and
that he dIdn't care 70 90. Just -
the others had also stated Nelson
stated that when the policeman told
him the captain wanted 70 90 him.
10 replied n the captain wanted
% sss him, The eaDanin could eOns