Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
GerstenfeId Protests
Two American Day
Rallies al Same Hour

Scheduling of two 81 Am an
American Day" rallies at the same
hour Sunday aroused controversy
today after Rabbi Norman Gersten-
1eld had complained that the Com
mittee for Racial Democracy in the
Nations Capital had set itself ur
IN competition with sponsors of the
observance on the Monument
Grounds.
A member of the committee. DR.
Gerstenfeld objected to use of his
name in an advertisement, declaring
there will be more sincerity. less
hypocrisy at its meeting, head
lining Harold L. Ickes, former Sec
rotary of the Interior, than at any
other meeting in the city
The rabbi will give the prayer for
peace at rally sponsored by the
committee for the District of Co.
lumbia in Sylvan Theater. where
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King will
speak. Both rallies will start at
3 pm.
Calls Reference Insulting.
Describing the advertisement as
utterly rude DR.. Gerstenfeld said
he believed that sincere people back
Ing the racial meeting in Turner'S
Arena were 'unwittingly derisive" in
their insulting reference" to a
community affair designed to pro-
mote unity.
He was answered by the Rev. DR.
Francis McPeek, cochairman of the
Committee for Racial Democracy
who said the Turner's Arena meet
ing was not planned to interfere
with or compete with the Sylvan
Theater meeting. Originally May
II, the date was changed to fit Mr.
1ckes' program, he explained.
While we regret that the two
rallies are taking place on the same
day and at approximately the same
time, it is presumptuous to assume
that the entire population will at
tend en- masse either one meeting or
the other" DR.. McPeek said.
The advertisement was an edi-
torial reprinted from the Pittsburgh
Courier, cosponsor of the Turner S
Arena rally. The full committee
agreed to advertise at a meeting
DR.. Gerstenfeld did not attend, a
spokesman said He did not know
II committee members had approved
the wording of the advertisement.
Will Broadcast Answer.
DR.. McPeek and Leon Ransom
chairman of the committee. will
answer Rabbi Gerstenfeld in a
radio broadcast over Station WMAL
from 1920 to II pm. Saturday
The rabbi first voiced his opinion
in radio broadcast at the same
hour last night.
Mr.. Ransom, Washington attor-
ney said today the racial rally
definitely will not be in competition
with any other meeting.
Remarking on the fact that the
Howard University Choir will sing
at Sylvan Theater, he charged that
colored people, "as usual. are Serv-
ing as Ministries to entertain and
amuse the crowd, and not as dig
nifled, intelligent speakers to place
before the Washington public a
case of their need and deep aspira-
ton for flrst-class American citizen
ship"
Musical Benediction.
Rabbi Gerstenfeld pointed out that
neither Catholics nor Jews will make
speeches at Sylvan Theater. The
choir will offer the musical bene-
diction" to prayers by priest anc
rabbi, he said,
Emphasizing that he supports the
work of the committee, Dr.. Gersten-
field said it should have checked the
community calendar and avoided 9
meeting conflicting with one sup.
ported by all civic forces
although regrettable, the failure
to do so is to be overlooked, but
when my name is linked up with an
act Of such public rudeness. most
sincerely and most diligently pro-