Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-02-18

Minneapolis Spokesman and st,
k,
cnue, Amcs, Iowa, then was re.
fused entry at three other hotels.
Finally, after contracting Ne
gro member OF the community.
Jones was accepted at tho North
orn Hotel. Jones reported that he
had stopped at Johnny simonaen's
truck stop, being forced 10 lay
over because HIS rig could not be
loaded until tho temperature rose
To- zero or better,
After he had been at tho truck
stop. on u. \, Highway NJ, just
south Of Grand Forks, for short
time. Jones reported. simonscn de-
manded that h. leave.
"IIe said some southcrncra there
were complaining about my being
al tho truck atop,
This In the worst situation I've
over run into" Jones said, Tho
people truck for have asked me
10 take this run because they did
not want mo 10 20 south where l
would run into discrimination.
Hut this In brutal" Jones' con-
tinued. Down In the south q VIC
tim Of discrimination can find
some plao. for colorcd, But when
they refuse YOU In place like
Grand Forks, there Ia just no
place for you 10 60"
Jones said he operates his own
rig. but hauls for Eldon Hunt In
Ameh, Iowa.
lie said he had been victimized
by acts Of discrimination and ra-
cial cpithcta In Grand Forks ever
since the movement began To re-
peal North Dakota'H ban on inter
racial marriages.
II haven't been bothering any
"hHl'Iif 5bN'H Hehs W hihpty
been minding my business and do
Ing my Job,
II went 20 the law firm OF Pet
crson and Davis % soc what legal
action ! could take, They tell me
there Ia nothing I can do"
Jones waa contacted by phone In
Ames and he said that he had 10
ait up all night In filiing sta
ton the first night he was forced
Ia leave tho truck stop because hs
couldn't find n place 10 stay and II
was too cold Ia sleep In his truck.
After ! was asked TO leave the
truck stop ! tried 10 get room
at the Columbia hotel and was
told by the desk clerk that there
were no vacancies.
II then tried tho Imperial hotel
and WINS told thr same thing and
M was leaving tho hotel I saw
two Canadian soldiers register and
! went back 10 IN. registration
desk and was told by the clerk
that the soldiers had reservations
~ little later met the soldiers
on the street and asked them N
they had reservations and they an
swcfed no" Jones said during the
telephone interview.
Jones went ON To say that he
left the south trying Ia escape the
very things that he has been en-
countering In North and South
Dakota.
In Sioux Fails. s. ID. 7 was
sold 20 gallons of water for diesel
oil at IIideaway Truck stop that
caused over $1,000 damage To my
rig" Jones claimed.
Ito also claimed that he wna
charged elgh, dollars for 20 quarts
~ oil that regularly sells for s5.25
In South Dakota.
Jones claimed that there In de-
libcrate campaign being conduct
cd all over the nation 10 drive Me-
grocs out ~ the trucking In.
duHtry
lie bases his charge on his 20
years experience AS driver and
pwner
Conditions have become 10 in.
,plcrabie Jones' stated. that
hardly any company viii hire No.
! gro drivers because Of fear Of
. what may happen 10 their trucks"
IIc cited himself M an example.
At one time ! had five trucks
and tratlcrs on the road represent
.ug an Investment Of $500 and
because 81 discriminatory insur-
ancc rates and sabotage done 10
| my rigs I was forced 10 sell four
. ~ my trucks within the past three
| ycprB." Jones said.
Jones pointed out that he is
f1rcsd 10 pay two 10 three hun
drcd dollars year more for In
surance. despite the fact that he
had only one accident In 20 years
~ driving.
Jones Is expected 10 be In the
Twin Cities this week end 10 meet
with members % the legal redress
committee 81 the Minnesota state
conference ~ the NAACP
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