St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-05-12
State Wide Group Organized

AT the kickoff meeting weeks ago Saturday, April 81
of the new state wide Committee Civil and Human Rights
got the impression after listening Jim Oppenheimer that
the body to itself chiefly with state FEPC
legislation.
IN Minneapolis however, by the group selected from
each congressional district numbering from each district
and two additional Officers the group given the responsibility
or planning statement OF purpose ana an organization Tor the
creation OF statewide group concerned with Human Rights
took a different direction.
During the weeks interval members of the organizing
had learned that with the emphasis placed FEPC
by Mr. Oppenhemer Mr. Langley of Red Wing and others,
who would otherwise have stayed because of interest in
broader human rights folded their tents and quietly
withdrew because FEPC appeared to be the major emphasis
Conversations with these people from ousate revealed
that while they themselves favor FEPC they do
the Twin City members that FEPC not the starting point
here They feel however that the FEPC laws will be the in
etabe final purpose among Others OF statewide civil and
human rights program.
During the several hours of discussion the question
raised repeatedly If have Governors nterraca Commits
SION with an appropriation for educational purposes from the
legislature, why do create statewide organization
The wo,fold w. c. Leland leader in the
men stated that Father Frances Ggan, Mr. Oppenhemer
the and he had discussed this and had been agreed
that FEPC the chief purpose of the group legislative
conditions barred activity its behalf by the office of the
Governors lnterracal Commission Secondly indicated
that even the purpose of the organization to
clude FEPC 1--WE think this desirable since there is state
FEPC Council made up of representatives of forty organa
tons) there still is great need for organization which
the office the nteraca Commission to ask its as
sstance in the development of local educational programs
civil and human rights rather than to have state organization
in the position of seeming impose such an educational pro.
gram from above
1t pointed out that Clifford Rucker the Executive
Secretary of the Governors nteraca Commission would be
the natural cOordnaOr of all those human relations
in which the Governor and the becoming
interested The recent Indian Conference at Bmd where the
Indian leadership to grips with Indian problems their
right nitiators of policy, in sharp with
other meetings where minority members have felt that
they themselves in policy making
corning their affairs.
Ii felt that local group trying to learn about civil
and human rights might well study them together with
bers of minority groups who know what problems
and bring to the other with these prob
lens which from their often bitter
perences For example study of the charter of human
of the united nations would be purely academic
study of it in relation to the problem of the Negro community
LSueur the Indian legislative and reservation and educa
tiOnal problems Ppestone the relief problems Mile
the reservation and employment problems Cass Lake
the general status of Indians everywhere.
The group expressed its feeling, and agree, that
necon between the UN Charter and the migrant workers
Minnesota from Jamaica at LeSueur and from Mexico the
Red River Valley could be far vital and alive than study
groups on theory alone
The resulting formulation then, of the purpose of what
was Christened MINNESOTA CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ASSOCIATION follows:
''THE PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE AS
IMPLIED IN ITS NAME, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY;
l. To promote interest in Civil and Human Rights and de
velopment of for and responsibility toward such
basic Foundations of them the United Nations Charter
Human Rights, their definition in national and state
constitutions and other fundamental documents.
To initiate and support programs for public education
designed 10 implement these Human lights
To promote wider local understanding of and sympa
thetc support for those developed for their
advancement by those citizens who do not fully share
these rights
should be pointed out that Governor Luther Youngdah
had spanked the organization by sending out letters to state