Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1955-04-29
Operation White Minutemarl-

Reminiscent of the 10Th of April when the minutemen
of TITS poured their deadly fire into the retreang British
regulars the April Goth 1855 mnueman demonstration
On that day busy America dropped all its pressing personal
business the civilian soldiers of section sprang to
the eoors demonstrate what they could do with national
emergency.
Within two hours over 100000 flower Americas
young manhood modified Trucks wheeled the roads,
planes air; guns rolled into positions troops were
depoyed at strategic points vital guarded
units were assembled This regular army! This
was the National citizen sodery the nation
stepping the front did the minuteman of IT'S
Arkansas with the rest of the nation In the DEM
thousand Arkanans marched counter
marched, unanswered
The Arkansas demonstration was effective IN most par
tcuars It displayed which concevaby could be
fatal The operation excluded oneourh of the population
of the state from the test While printed signs were in e
idence, it still demonstration Of No Negroes Wanted
The Arkansas National Guard to have about the
ulbera racial policy of public enterprise in which
the state engaged Negroes evidence The demon
if 1855 far state is concerned to be
demonstration limited to white people only. It
OPERATION MTNuTEMAN, but OPERATION WHITE MIN
ITEMAN It was demonstration of unreadness to utilize the
Negro citizen In ire defense program
While radio, TV the press ard every medium OF
cation exo the public contribute to the country by
porting the those who direct the policies of
guard arbitrarily exclude fourth of the people from it
The practice is inconsistent and detrimental 1t inconsistent
gives the impression that the Negro is not wanted
military service whereas all know that one hundred
DER expected of the Negro the
all other loyal citizens in time of Try to imagine what
would happen white politician who in time of war
would advocate that all Negroes be exempted from the draft
Why refuse give preparation in time of to group
which you always in time of war? What could be
inconsistent?
The practice of excluding the Negro
public welfare inconsistent Not only does it insult
the loyalty patriotism of this large group, but 1t leaves
large section of the manhood of the state unassembd and
unprepared As result this must be inadequate in
of crisis The hosghedness of policy who de-
beratey foment and maintain such policy is appalling The
whole mpeed because somebody Goes to
Negro with gun.
Moreover hardly needs be pointed that the
cusion of Negroes from the National Guard is point in
propaganda against the democraee The Russians giving
guns all their Enthusiastically literally, gladly in
haste. The contrast may make difference
Everyone who has paid attention the history Europe
knows that conflict between the East and the West is in
eabe The United States has become the spearhead of the
While craftsmanship desirable thing and
may off the crisis for while nothing
altogether. In the in the past the dominant
international relations combination of brains
MEN wise will this temporary peace
train all its citizens in defense and win friends for itself
by fair dealing.