The Omaha guide., 1956-02-24
Riqhfs of American Citizens
Should MOI Be Temporized

Excerpts from Address of Governor G. Mennen Williams OF Michigan
to the Israel Histadrut Campaign. Chicago, Illinois.
Charity. of course, begins at home, and Americas support of
free peoples all over the world will be effective only to the degree
that W support freedom at home.
Israel is not the only place where we must concern ourselves
with the rights and duties of men to live peaceably side by side,
each paying to the other the respect which is due to all. Right here
in the United States we have our own areas in which the rights Of
citizens are in jeopardy.
Let me take this occasion to say that I stand unequivocably with
those who believe that the rights of American citizens must be pro-
tected. whether they are black or white, and whether in the North
or the South. / do not agree with anyone, whether in my own party
or in other parties, who would temporize with this question, or wait
for it to 60 away.
some of our citizens for daring to register to vote. or for publicly
advocating the rights which belong to all Americans.
In the face Of these incidents, the Federal Government, it seems
to me. has remained inexcusably inactive. There is a Federal civil
rights statute, which specifically forbids interference with the right
of citizens to vote, as well as other violations of the rights of ci-
zenshiP-
/ believe the President and the Attorney General should invoke
this law in these cases, if state and local authorities are unable or
unwilling to see that justice is done.
The school segregation issue is another phase of the question. !
do not agree with those who say that federal grants in aid should
be given to schools which remain segregated In defiance OF the
Constitution and the courts.
This question appears likely to disrupt efforts to enact a des-
perateIy needed federal school aid measure. 1t seems to me that
question whether federal aid can be given to segregated schools
Such a ruling would clear the air and perhaps make it unnecessary
to inject this question into the school aid bill
The argument has been made that things are going well because
we have made some considerable progress in the area of civil rights.
It is true. and I agree. that the vast majority of our Southern cii-
zens are men and women of good will, struggling with a grave and
Ione1xtandfng problem. II is also true that over the greater part of
the South the Supreme Court indignation decision is being put into
effect quietly, efficiently, and IS rapidly as could be expected
But I do not agree that things are really going well when an
American citizen can be literally stoned away from a public univer
siy because of her color, or when homes are bombed and shot at
because American citizens have registered to vote. When these
things happen it is time for all men of good will, in the North and
in the South, to stand against them-because when the bell tolls for
one mans rights it tolls for the liberty of all
And / think it is time for the President Of the United States,
and I believe it is his duty, to exert the great power and prestige of
his office. as head Of the Federal Government, to see that the rights
Of United States citizens are protected in every part Of the Union.