Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-02-15


On May 10, we got 81 votes and
our opponents got 80. On July II,
we got So votes and our opponents
got 80. The Southern Senator's
understand arithmetic. They know
that, while we would lose some
votes because certain Senators do
not agree with specific features OF
proposed civil rights laws. we do
have enough 10 win by a comfort
able majority. Hence. they fight
desperately to protect the one
weapon that they have. That Ia
endless talk.
Put In it, simplest terms. n you
are really determined 10 do some
thing about the Cicero riot and
the Moore bombing. you win have
chance 10 prove your good faith
when the senate fires the opening
gun In the civil rights fight. That
win be- the time for your 20 let
both Of your Senators know that
you want them 20 BE- ~ tough and
consistent IN their night for civil
rights ~ the southern Senators
are I'm opposing such billA
The need for civil rights legis-
Iation II all too apparent in Allan
In, Georgia, where the LOckhecd
Aircraft Company boldly an
nounced that IL would continue
the pattern Of segregation In the
employment 81 colOred people,
even though the company had a
government contract.
The need for strong Federal
legislation against lynching and
other forms OF mob violence IL
seen all too clearly In the fright
fli record Of the State Of Alabama
where SO colored people were
killed In cold blood by members Of
the Police Force in n two year
period beginning In 194s.
Here let me say that the Anti
Lynchlng Bill introduced by your
Senator Ferguson. 3. 1877. II not
an adequate bill.
Last Sunday, the NAACP held q
aouthwtde meeting Of branches In
Jacksonville. Florida. This Il the
same state Of Florida where CO.
wards have been blasting the win
dows OF synagogues and Catholic
churches with dynamite. II In the
same Florida where a sheriff
murdered a handcuffed prisoner In
the OrovelRnd case. Nevertheless,
the colored leaders Of the south,
coming from states where many
Of them are living on borrowed
time. pledged in Florida that they
would keep up the fight for jus
tice.
In the south. where = Tapping
sheet In the night wind may be
the robe Of a member OF the Ku
Klux Khan, the colored people are
more determined than ever 10
have civil rights. Down in Dixie.
where the Confederate flag II
not q novelty because Il has al
ways been dearer to rebel leaders
than the stars and Stripes. the
colored citizens have made q new
covenant with freedom.
A. we make n solemn declRra-
ton in this Northern state 10 step
up the fight for civil rights legis-
latiOn, let us remember this
simple yet heRrtbreRISing story.
Master Sergeant George Sims
came home from Korea TO Join his
family during a holiday Like
thousands Of other Americans. ne
had been in far off Asia fighting
on an outpost Of Democracy.
on Christmas night, he carried
the broken and bleeding bodies OF
his sister and his brother-ln-law
10 a hospital. The brother-in-l law
died on the way TO the hospital
and the sister died later
They werr the victims % n
bomb Sct off by some apostles Of
racial hate In Florida. This IL not
. story prepared by some clever
propaganda export In the Krcmlln.
u IL o fact. 10 II what happened
WHEN Harry T. MOore's home was
bOmbcd In florida on Christmas
night. 1891.
There arr no answers that our
statesmen can give 10 the world
when this story IN told In the
councils Of the nations America
must admit that this happened
But we can repair the damage 10
some extent u we make certain
that II becomes the kind Of Of
Tense that u punishable under
Federal Law, We can repair the
damage also II the American
people demand that every single
vestige Of racial segregation b.
wiped out from our country, This
II the job Of the Congress. the
President, and the Michigan state
officials. II IL also you job and
mine.