Evening star., 1949-09-05
Cars and Buses Stoned
After Robson Sings;
Scores Are Injured
Eioht Vehicles Overturned
And One Set Afire in
PeekskiII Demonstration
Pictures on Page A-3J
by the A,sociofed Press

PEEkSk1LL, N. T., Sept. o.
Scores were injured and windows
in hundreds of automobiles "were
shattered last night as a throng
departing from a Paul Robson
concert ran into barrage OF rocks.
At least eight autos and an
empty bus were overturned, and
an auto was set afire as demon
strators against the left-wing Ne
gro singer got beyond the control
of almost 1000 law enforcement
officers.
Glass splinters were so thick on
some spots of road that 1t looked
as If a sleet storm had hit the
Westchester County suburbs.
Fifty-four persons were treated
at hospitals. Fourteen persons
were arrested on various charges
and about two score others were
taken into temporary protective
custody.
I Protest to Truman.
The Civil Rights Congress,
sponsor of the concert, today sent
message to President Truman
which stated Federal interven-
ton to restore law and order in
New York State is needed at once
to protect lives and property OF
citizens, particularly lives and
property of Negro people"
The message to the President
charged that Gov. Dewey had
failed "to protect the civil rights
of the thousands" who attended
the concert, and that such fail
ure, in the face of Nationwide
warnings, can only be explained
as an attack by him en the Negro
people"
Gov. Dewey had ordered State
police modified to prevent an
outbreak OF violence such as char
acterized a Robson concert in
the same area a week ago.
The congress charged, however.
that Gov. Dewey has made Jim
Crow and anti-Negro violence a
policy of the government of the
State of New York"
Helicopter Used.
The barrage of stones, bottles
and other missiles was fired by
knots of anti-leftists scattered
along three roads up to distances,
of five miles.
Many of the bus and auto pas
sengers were women and children.
The officers-including about
$50 State policemen mobilized
from a wide area on Gov. Dewey's
orders-prevented any serious vio-
lence at the concert. A helicopter
was in contact with police radio
posts in the area but they were
unable to cope with the attacks
that fiared with increasing in
tensity from town-to-town as the
concertgoers headed home.
The concert-on an abandoned
golf course-was held one mile
from the scene of a riot which pre-
vented Robeson's appearance the
previous Saturday. Eight persons
were hospitalized then when anti
leftists held a similar demonstra-
ton.
Governor Urged Free Speech.
Gov. Dewey, in ordering all
available State police into the area
yesterday, called the concert gath
ing pro Communist" He de-
clared, however. that the rights
of free speech and of assembly are
guaranteed to all, regardless OF
political beliefs"
These rights" Gov. Dewey said,
must be respected, however hate
full the views of some of those who
abuse them
In addition to the strong guard
of State troopers, police of several
municipalities and special depu-
ties, Robson was ringed at the
concert by determined supporters.
Pitting his strong baritone
against an ear-splitting clamor
set up by 1000 parading war vet
Grams and other foes. he sang
tsee robson, Page AFo