Evening star., 1949-08-29
Robson Backers Plan.
To Visit Dewey Today,
Demand Riot Inquiry
Sy the ksseeiotsd Press

NEW YORK, Aug. 29.-Backers
OF Paul Robson plan to call on
Gov. Dewey today and demand an
investigation of the riot that can
celled a concert by the Negro
singer Saturday night.
Their demands-coming in a
furry of charges by Robson and
others-include the custer Of sew
eral Westchester County officials.
Groups of Robson supporters
plan to call on Gov. Dewey and At
torney General Nathaniel Gold
stein and make charges that the
officials failed to give police pro-
lection at the riot scene near
Peekskill. N. Y.
Robson himself claimed the
disorder was part of a National
terror" and an attack on the Negro
people. and demanded that Gov.
Dewey start an investigation.
No Comment from Dewey.
The Governors Office last night
gave no hint of what his reply to
the demands might be.
James c. Hagerty, Gov. Dewey's
press secretary. said, I'VE have
received no official request for an
investigation and we have no COM
ment."
Robeson's followers charged that
two officials aided an anti-com-
munist rally of veterans groups
that preceded the three-hour riot.
A huge crowd, estimated at S 900
persons, was caught up in the
surging battle, which ragged in
darkness in a wooded picnic grove
where Robson was scheduled to
sing.
At least eight persons were in
jured, two seriously.
Marcantonio Attacks officials.
The concert was sponsored by
a branch of the Civil Rights Con-
gress, labeled subversive by the
Justice Department.
In protest against the concert,
several veterans organizations
staged parade outside the picnic
grove. The riot was set off when
the parade and a crowd of con-
cert-goers clashed on a road in
the woods.
Representative Vito Marcan-
tonic. State chairman of the
American Labor Party. said the
attack on the concert was Or
ganized with the direct knowledge
and aid. of County Clerk Robert
j. Field and Assistant District
Attorney Leonard Rubehfeld.
Neither Mr.. Field nor Mr.. Ru-
benfeid was available for COM
ment.
State Police Investigating.
About 1000 persons gathered
yesterday at the Katonah IN. "
estate of DR.. Samuel Rosen to
demand the State investigation.
A spokesman for the New York
State police said the troop COM
mander in the Westchester area
is investigating the affair. but no
details of his findings are avail
able.
So far. the spokesman said. no
body wants anybody arrested" as
a result of the disorder.
Peekskill Police Comdr. John
E. Hayes said his force took no
action in the affair because it was
two and a half miles outside its
jurisdiction.
He said his force was >alerted
to handle any disorders arising
inside the city limits"
Robson Assails Action.
Frederick E. Weeks. chief as
sistant district attorney, said
there was nothing to warrant
action by him so far because
there have been no arrests and
no defendants to be questioned.
Robson. at a press conference,
called the disturbance IAN inva-
sion of civil rights. a major crime,
which I doubt any American will
place in the category of demo-
cratic procedure.
II will be no part of loyalty to
this kind of America" he said.
II will be loyal to the greater
part of the American people"
He added "the white citizens
of progressive thoughts feel that
this was one Of the most disgrace
full acts in the State of New York
and every New Yorker must blush
for it."
Parade Called Spontaneous.
Clyde Lewis Of Plattsburg, N. Y,
newly elected national commander
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
said neither National or State
units of the VFW had anything
to do with the disturbances.
The parade. he said, was a
spontaneous demonstration oy +he
local post of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars working in conjunc- :
tion with other groups of the area.
IF there was any lawlessness,
the unlawful will have to answer
to the community. The Veterans
of Foreign Wars does not advocate
lawlessness. It does, however be-
lieve in peaceful demonstrations, +"
he said.
Milton Fynt, commander of the
Peekskill Post of the American
Legion, said:
Our objective was to prevent
LOST.
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