Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-03-02

condemming this incident and In
pledging cooperation to the fam
lily and in extending heartfelt
sympathy against un-American
actions Of a few bigoted neigh
bors. As a result one OF the in
stigators OF this near riot was
forced out into the open. He
weakly denied that he objected to
Negroes moving into his neighbor-
hood. claiming to have been mis-
quoted in the press.
Also in the summer OF 1855.
young couple rented an apart
ment in North Minneapolis, De-
posit money for the apartment
was paid by mail and followed by
a check for the FIRST months rent,
When the operator OF the real
estate and rental agency found
that the young wife was a Me-
gro. he tried To violate the terms
Of the rental agreement. He later
offered the couple an apartment
in the building after NAACP in
tercession. but by this time the
couple had already rented other
quarters, and II was inconvenient
for them 10 move. II was thought
that this rental agent might have
deliberately delayed fulfilling his
agreement in order TO discourage
the young couple A suit for punt
tive damages Is still pending UNI
less settlement can be reached
out Of court.
The examples listed here pre-
sent n cross section of complaints
OF discrimination In housing
which are constantly being
brought to the attention OF the
NAACP
In the legislative field the Min
neapohs Branch contributed OF
its funds and energies towards the
successful campaign In the 1855
state Legislature for the passage
of an FEPC bill The bin was
drafted by the legislative COM
mittee OF the Minnesota State
Council for FEPC, under the
Craftsmanship of l.. Howard Ben.
nett. who Is now the branch presi-
dent Other NAAcP officers and
members testified before legisla-
tive committees and lobbied for
the bill in cooperation with the
Minnesota State Conference of
NAACP, and as members of the
Council
The non-discriminatory clause
in the contracts. deeds and other
conveyances connected with the
Glenwood area Redeveiopment
plan were also originally drafted
by Mr. Bennett and In was largely
through the insistence OF NAACP
representatives. with officials OF
the Urban League. Mayors Coun-
ell On Human Relations, Joint
Committee on Equal Opportunity.
and other groups, that these
clauses were Incorporated In the
plan.
All OF these incidents and acti-
vities have been described in
this spaper This IL
by way OF review and may be
said to present a picture Of pro-
gress in Minneapolis
While we do not intend 10 dis
count progress. and while the
NAACP in Minneapolis IL proud Of
the role II has played in the great
campaign 10 eliminate segreRa-
ton and discrimination as set by
the association, we are disturbed
at the lack OF cooperation which
we receive from the public in this
city
We submit that while thus far
we have not had TO face up TO
terrorism. rioting. and economic
reprisals In Minneapolis, while
We have not heard OF the forna-
ton OF Citizens Council. such as
are prevalent in the south, here
in Minneapolis. the NAACP pro-
gram and goals have not been
reached.
We have just scratched the sur
face. The fight in the south is our
tight too. The 1854 Supreme
Court decision gave us a mandate
10 continue our militant and force
full compaign here in Minneapolis
az well IA all over the country
Contrary TO recent statement
by a Negro political leader in
Minneapolis, ours is not mod
crate" campaign. but a hard hit
ting and aggressive battle in
which snugness conplarency and
grsdualisrn have no part This IL
also tn contradiction 10 state
msnts made by any candidate or
candidates for the presidency Of
The T.. s
Minneapolis residents. Negroes
IN particular should awaken from
what We consider a. a disturbing
~ Ie,hargic and aeif-astiSfied
apathy and rive 81 their time and
money 70 the campaign for full
citizenship for all Americana
II they are Mortified by the
brutal murder 81 Emmett TIL and
the treatment % Autherins Lucy
the best way 10 show II Ia by sup
porting the SAACP program
through It's local branch
Tho main r~ason We never
snJoy snail talk ls that u In
vAriably con~s In large do~~s.