The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1949-12-24
Miami. Florida
December Is, 1886

OSCcHlU0T lop 1900
The Honorable City Commissioners
The Director of Public Safety and
The Chief of Police Of the City Of
Miami, Florida.
Gentlemen:
AS we approach the season COM
memorating the anniversary of the
hymn of the angelic chorus, Peace
on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men,
the undersigned committee, repre-
senting, through the Inter-Denomi-
national Ministerial Alliance, and
various civic, business and fratern-
al organizations, the 10000 colored
citizens, or one-fourth of the pop
ulation of the city of Miami, en-
ploy this method of sending to you.
and to the other three-fourths of
this City's population. the Seasons
Greetings. With these greetings we
join our. hope, our wish for the ere
alton. cultivation and lasting preser-
walton of inter-racial peace and
goodwill.
We are persuaded that at least
once year, we should send mes
sage of thanks and appreciation to
those. in public and private office,
in business and private industry,
who have been fair and just in their
dealings with and toward us, and
who have given freely of their good
offices and influence in creating
and perpetuating better inter-racial
conditions, and improving the lot
of our large mass of under-privileged
people. But we are also convinced,
that as good citizens, we should be
derelict in our duty, both to those
in authority and those we serve,
should we fail to respectfully, yet
vigorously complain of your tolera-
ton of certain conditions allowed
to exist. yet easily remedied, which
we believe aggravate an increasing
ly unsatisfactory condition.
Among such conditions we might
mention: ~ Arbitrary misuse and
abuse OF authority by individual POI
lice officers: (2) federation of open
violation of Sunday closing ordi-
nances in our section; tS) A sad neg
lect of recreational facilities and
civic improvements in the territory
in which we live and work.
Let US call your attention to in
cident which took place at the city
park on Thanksgiving Day. The To-
cal high school football team was
engaged in a game with the team
from the high school in Tampa. The
game was scheduled on the open
ing day of the Colored Teachers AS
sociation's Convention, at which
time more than one thousand visit
ing teachers were in our city. 1t
was played on the only available
ground for such purpose, the city
park. This park has no fence. and
in order to protect gate receipts
and pay expenses. it is always nec-
essary to employ officers to guard
the fence lines against those who
would come in for nothing. In this
respect we believe the Negro is no
different from anyone else. 1t seems
to be human nature not to wish to
pay for athletic spectacles which
we can see free.
There can be no doubt that the
police officers met great difficulty
in controlling this fence watching
crowd. In their provocation over
some incident which happened out
side the field. the police went on a
rampage, entered the grounds and
very unfortunately belted the
coaches OF the visiting team. These
coaches Immediately ordered their
team into their cars and back to
Tampa, Many persons had just
paid their admissions and hence
got nothing for their money. On ac-
count Of the shooting and beating,
which took place outside the field.
and the loss OF admissions the crowd
was very tense. and certainly q
more serious. If not more disgrace
full situation could easily have de-
veIoped.
Il is our position that two things.