Arizona sun., 1947-02-28
Los Angeles Minister Enters
Race For City Councilman;
Supports ID. R. Program

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2O.-Grow-
ing unity around the candidacy of
Rev. Jonathan Lyle CASTOR for city
councilman from the seventh dis
tr.ct was indicated in the Negro
community today.
The Negro churchman issued a
statement yesterday reaffirming
his support for the program laid
down by the late President Roose-
welt, after Albert Patrick withdrew
from the race.
Rev. Caston's statement was i'm
mediately hailed by Mrs. Chariot
ia Bass, editor and publisher of
The California Eagle, who an
nounced her endorsement of the
churchman for the April primary
election.
Patrick, dental technician, was
backed by many progressive forces.
AT joint press conference with
Rev. Castor, he said he withdrew
in order to assure that both
whites and Negroes in our district
shall have the opportunity to vote
Tor a Negro candidate in the fl
nalS.'
CHANCE FOR UNITY
POINTING out that he whole
heartedly agreed with the intent
and purposes" of Patrick's with
drawal, Rev. CASTOR said:
"Mr. Patrick's withdrawal of
fers the Negro people the Oppor-
tunity to unite around one pro-
gressive candidate. I recognize
fully that unity between Negro
and whitlxe people in the seventh
district can be attained only if
L, as candidate, campaign vigor-
ously on a program laid down by
the late President Roosevelt.
This L intend to do and I well
come the active support of all pro-
gressive people and organizations
in the district"
Rev. CASTOR listed four kew
points in his platform. They are
support for labor's rights, support
for rent control and low-cost hous-
ing, opposition to all forms of dis
elimination and opposition to red
batting.
Reverend CASTOR is minister of
the Trinity Baptist church. He
has participated in religious and
community affairs in this area for
II years.
Born in st. Louis, where his
brother is a member of the board
OF aldermen, he studied at the Uni
versity of Chicago and the Uni
versity of Southern California.
He is a v.ce-president of the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People and a
member of the board of the Young
Mems Christian Association. He
served as a chaplain in both World
Wars.
Reverend CASTOR achieved dis
tinction in the community for his
successful struggle against II re-
str,ctive covenant suits in the Ar
lington Homes district, which lies
between Western and Crenshaw
avenues.
Las year, with Attorney Loren
Miller, he formed the Arlington
Protective Association to defend
II Negro home owners facing re-
strictive covenant suits. Because
of the successful struggle put up
by the association, all suits were
dismissed.
The Baptist minister asserts he is
q firm. believer in labor'S right to
organize and bargain collectively
and he announces he will firmly
oppose all anti-labor legislation
now pending in Congress or Sacra-
mento.
Nor does he think the Los An !
geles police force should be used
as a strikebreaking agency he said.
He advocates abolition of the no.
torious Metropolitan squad.
cit is the paramount duty of all
citizens" he said, to enter into this
fight on the side of labor, which is
a major pillar of democracy in this
country"
Rev. CASTOR said he would intro
duce an emergency resolution in
the city ouncil freezing rent con-
trolls at their present levels if he.
is elected. He is in favor of low-
ering taxes for small home owners /,
and small businessmen.
STOP BRUTALITY
"The big corporations in our city
must be made to pay their share of
city government" he said.
Rev. CASTOR said he is "alWays
that the present wave of
police brutality against Negroes,
Mexicans and other citizens be-
stopped Immediately"
He announced intention, if elect
ed, of introducing an ordinance in
the city council embodying the
principles of the Fair Employment
Practices act. He said, the police
commission should be superseded in
by an impartial board of
prominent citizens who would rule
on brutality cases.