The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1948-12-25
THE MIAMI TIMES, MIAMI, FLORIDA
FACE TWELVE SATURDAY, DECEMBER rs, 194S
lnter-raceG Groups Protest
Local I Police Interference

Representatives of a dozen organ
cations met this morning with Mi
ami City Manager Hart and Police
Chief Headley to protest recent po-
lice interference with and back of
protection for the peaceful inter
racial gatherings.
Theresa Kanter of the Progressive
Party stated that the purpose of the
meeting was to establish and reaf-
firm the rights of people in Miami
to gather in peaceful assembly on
an interracial, unsegregated basis,
as guaranteed by the United States
constitution.
Mr.. Peter Hammond of the Uni
versity Of Miami and a member Of
the Young Progressive of America
reported that the gathering which
he attended last Friday night was
broken up without any justification
on the part off the Police, since it
was completely peaceful and order
ly and had been in progress for sew
eral hours before the Police dis
persed the group.
Mr.. James Nimmo of the AFT
Laundry Workers Local 222, ex-
planned that his union has been com.
PEELED to hold separate meetings of
white and colored members. He fur
nIIf Iof
Colored rubbed shoulders all day
long at their work, but were being
prevented from carrying on their
union activities effectively. He said
that the membership of his local
was one-third White. City manager
Hart stated the unions position was
"tenable" indicating further inter
ference would be brooked
Mr.. Howard Dixon, spokesman
for the American Veterans Commit
tee explained that fund raising af-
fairs involving both Negro and
White members of AVG were or
dered by the Police Department to
be segregated, in violation of the
stated principles Of American Veter-
ans Committee.
Also represented were ALL Long
shoremen's Local 1416, Civil Rights
Congress, Wren Social Club, South
ern Conference for Human Welfare
Ministerial Alliance and Followers
of Father Divine.
Speaking for the entire delega-
ton, attorney Leo Sheiner said that
this delegation had arranged the ap-
pointment in spirit Of full coopera-
ton with the city officials. He re-
quested first, that proper orders be
issued to police officers that there
be no further interference with any
peaceful assembly, and second that
the police department be instructed
to afford adequate protection against
interference by "hoodlums" or any
other persons wishing to take the
law in their own hands.
I'm addition to the rights guaran-
teed by the United States Constitu-
tion,' Mr.. Sheiner pointed out,
there are Federal statues which Inn
pose a penalty on anybody who vio-
lates any of the civil rights of the
A m r i a people,. Moreover
there are no state or city laws pro-
hibiting interracial gatherings" He
concluded, that, when the police in.
terferred with an interracial gather
ing which was held last Friday
night, il was they who were guilty
of a violation of the law, rather
than the people peacefully assembl.
ed there.
Mr.. Sheiner further enumerated
that over a long period of time in
terracial groups had met in the
city and there had been no record of
any disturbances or disorderly con-
duct.
Mr.. Hart stated that the acts of
the police department were done in
carrying out the policy of the City
Commission and he felt that the re-
quest Of the delegation would have
to be reviewed by that body. Chief
Headley stated that there had been