Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-10-21

| fAhHbhN@Ay1
Now the third thing that was
done during this special session OF
the Legislature was to organize
the modern version Of the Ku Klux
Khan OF the South and this group
calls itself the Citizens Council.
They announced to the world
what they plan to do and I want
10 give you their plans at this
time.
First Of all, any colored per-
son who says that he wants 10
vote to 20 TO n mixed school In
Mississippi IL TO be claSsed ms a
"trOublsmaker."
II he works for white people, he
is 10 be Immediately fired:
II he lives In a house that does
not belong to him and does belong
10 a white person, he is asked to
move.
II he is a cotton farmer and has
cotton that has 10 be ginned be-
fore he sells II, none OF the gins
in the community are to accept his
| cotton.
II he has notes at the bank
where he is supposed to pay in
stallments over five-year per-
Tod. that bank note is to be de-
clared then due" and he must pay
in fun or lose his property.
Such a colored person Is not TO
borrow money at any OF the
banks or at any Of the agencies
in the community.
Now. ladies and gentlemen,
I'm not telling you about con-
dItions behind the Iron Curtain
I'm telling you what's happen.
Ing 10 tho colored citizen who
desires 10 BE- q first class citi.
rem In Mississippi. U.S.A.. In
this year Of our Lord, 1858.
They have carried out those
threats.
Just a few days ago. had q
patient from Belonzia, the county
seat. n county where the Rev.
George w. Lee was killed. and
I'll tell you more about that a
little bit later.
But this fellow came to me and
he said, You know. Doctor. on my
little i20-acre farm. I have picked
10 bales Of cotton and have them
stored in an old house on the
place.
The only reason that I have II
stored there is because In my
county none OF the gins will pro-
cess my cotton.
You see. after the cotton IL
taken out Of the field the very
first think you want TO do In to
get II to n gin. The gin viii send
Il TO a federal compress and the
federal compress will give re-
ceipt for II. so that II anything
happens TO IL. the federal com
press Is responsible and the in
dividuRl is not responsible"
He said. I'm fearful that some
body Is going to set a match 10
that house and burn up the cotton
that I have stored there"
And then he said. Tn lose my
farm because won't have money
10 meet my notes this month"
said 20 him. Brother Thigh
man. what's the trouble down
therc7"
He said. We'll. you know. reg
istcred two years ago 10 become a
voter In Humphrey County and
that's one OF the 90 counties In
Mississippi where colored people
have not voted since the days Of
Reconstruction"
And he said each Of those gin
owners told him that " he would
20 to tho courthouse and scratch
his name off the registration list
they would process hIs cotton.
Hut 80 long as he remained .
registered voter % Humphrey
County. ther~ not q gin In that
county that would accept u.
Ladies and gentlemen, AZ
looked into the eyes Of this man.
a man now about so years of age,
and saw the tears streaming
down his checks because he want
eded 10 be man in the United
States OF America and because he
was being deprived 81 his con
sututional rights, I was made 10
saw:
"Oh God. how long win such
| condition exist In these United
! states OF America"
But he had no other choice
lie went the next morning and
scratched his name of the list be-
cause no didn't want 90 lose the
farm and the home that his father
| had worked and shaved for
He had three children in school
Al Alcorn College tn Mississippi
~ he wanted thnS" children
10 60 TO school. he had to
strike his name off tho list In
order 20 get his cotton Einned In
BrIonEi. Miss
These are some Of the terri &c