Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-06-27
Negroes Continue
Continued from Page One)

the ordinance:
"All white passengers boarding
their buses for transportation or
passage, shall take seats in the
forward or front end of the bus,
filling the bus from the front end"
Cali Negro passengers boarding
their busses for transportation or
passage, shall take seats in the
back or rear end of the bus, fill
ing the bus from the back or rear
end"
mo passengers of different
races shall occupy the same seat"
The ordinance was sponsored by
the Baton Rouge branch of the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People. with
B. j. Stanley, president; F. w.
Winbush, chairman of executive
board, and Rev. It. j. Jemison,
chairman social action committee.
The strike was called when the
bus company issued a directive to
the drivers calling upon them to
enforce the new ordinances.
The drivers. members Of the OPP
orators Association, an Independent
union, called the strike effective
with the first scheduled runs Mon
day morning after two drivers had
been suspended by the company for
failure to adhere to the directive,
causing an estimated 10000 Baton
Rougeans to look for other means
of transportation.
A few hours after the strike was
ended when Atty. Gen. Fred S. Le-
Blanc issued an opinion that a city
ordinance regulating the seating of
passengers by races in the buses
was in conflict with a state law re-
curing separate seats or compart-
ments for whites and Negroes,
Scott urged all Negro citizens to
refrain from riding the buses and
promi sed free transportation
throughout the city.
The boycott got started after a
radio plea Thursday night by Ray
mond Scott, Presidentof the Negro
Defense League, an active and pro-
gressive Negro civic and political
organization of the city.
To make the boycott more eff
fective and to provide transporta-
ton for Negroes a Gree Ride"
service was organized.
And numerous private cars, Ne
gro taxicabs and other vehicles
were cruising the bus routes flaunt-
ing large signs reading Gree
Rides" In some sections of the
city, Negro maids and other work
ers were being picked up at their
homes and transported to their
employment.
And, bus company spokesman
reported, "the few Negroes who
have ridden are approached as soon
as they step off the bus and told
not to ride them again"
Bus company officials who erode
the lines" during the early morn
ing hours reported that Every, very
few Negro patrons are riding"
The boycott. the bus company
said, is virtually 100 per cent eff
fective as far as Negro passengers
are concerned.
Meanwhile, Robert Williams, the
attorney for the drivers said, "the
attorney generals opinion has vim
dictated the bus drivers position,
and the bus drivers are more than
happy to resume normal service for
the riding public.
"All of the members of the en-
ployes association Of the Baton
Rouge Bus Company wish to voice
their appreciation and gratitude
for the cooperation, support and
patience of the citizens Of Baton
Rouge during the unfortunate work
stonpage."
The announcement of the attor-
ney generals opinion was made by
Gordon Kean. city-parish attorney,
who said he had requested it "be-
cause there was some question a
bout the validity of the ordinance"
"The opinion" Kean said, "ruled
that the present ordinance is in
conflict with the state statute re-
curing that separate seats or COM
partments be provided for white
and colored races and the present
citv ordinance does not comply
with the state law.
81 agree with the conclusion
reached by the attorney General
and will, at the next meeting of
the citv council. be prepared to
make appropriate recommendations
rela tive to this matter"
He could not say what the rec
concentrations would be until he
had time to study the whole ques-
ton.
He said it. was his understanding
that when the buses start operat-
inc drivers will follow the former
custom Of reserving some seats up
fro~t for white passengers.
The next REGULAR meeting of the
citv council will be held next We'd
resdav when the matter will be
discussed.
After the announcement of the
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