Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-03-12
The Nationa!
Citizens Council On
Civil RIGHTS

Evidence of the increasing inter-
est of the American people in nation
al unity and human rights continn
to appear. New and important in
the human rights battle is the Ma
tional Citizens Council on Civil Rights
with Headquarters in the Wilkie
Memorial Building, New York City,
and sponsored by such representa-
tive Americans as Harry Gideonse
Father George B. FORBID, William L.
Bait Charles G. Birmingham, Her
bert H. Lehman, James B. Carey,
Gardiner Cowles, Jr., William Green,
Justice Meier Steinbrink, Gerary
Swope, Harry J. Carman, and Eric
Johnston.
The National Citizens Council has
three detectives. 1t believes first that
the recommendations of he Report
of the Presidents Committee on Civil
Rights must be fought for in leach
mans backyard" Communities large
and small, throughout the country
must take responsibility for winning
recognition of the rights of those
Americans who, as yet, in some areas.
are deprived Of the opportunity to
exercise their rights fully The Coun-
Gil will find a lot of support. All
over this country there are people
who not only will fight for human
rights, but who have already given
a good account of themselves. Some
times we do not hear about them.
But without them there would be
no victories for American ideals.
The National Councils second OBJ
jective is stated thus, "This Council
recognizes that Americas moral force
as power for peace and freedom
is in large part determined by the
status of our civil rights at home
The vast majority of the peoples of
the world still have the choice of
freedom. These people look into the
United States for spiritual leader
ship. We can Justify this faith only
If our example is fortnight and in
spring. If we fail, these people
will despair and drift away from
freedom and, eventually, America it.
self will become embroiled in the
inevitable holocaust"
In spite of the progress America
has made to secure the rights of man,
there are still many Americans who
are denied the right to vote, to work,
tfl get a good education solely be-
cause of their race, religion or color.
This is wrong in itself and it does
undermine our leadership in the
world. If we fail to extend the rec
ognition of human rights, we shall
fail indeed to discharge our full res
possibility.
The third objective Of the Nationa1
Citizens council is stated in this way,
"Our freedom mus be expanded = No
system of government can remain
static. Democracy is no exception.
Either we shall move forward toward
a greater realization of our basic
concepts or shall backslide in re-
treat from democracy
The Council Will find ready
response to this part Of its program.
Everyone knows that who considers
the progress of already made toward
the goals which the National Citizens
Council sets forth succh as the
enactment of Fair Employment Pra-
ctices Laws in New York Mass. n.
7. - the New York education bill
outlawing discrimination in higher
educational institutions on account
of race, creed, color, and national
origin = and. most recently, the Su-
preme Court decision declaring legally
menforceaAie restrictive covenants
which bar Negroes and members of
other racial groups from purchasing,
leasing, or selling property in ere
stricted" neighboThoods
America moves forward in the ap-.