St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-03-09

AcothAhAN was AAAtANA hAAt aif0AA-
,renee on Civil Rights of which
Roy wilkins. NAACP head. In
chairman. Arnold Aronson OF the
National Community Relations
Advisory Council Is secretary.
A highhght of the assembly
was series Of first-hRnd, eye
witness reports from southern
victims OF civil rights violations
including economic pressures and
other forms OF intimidation. A.
mong those appearing were Gus
Courts. president OF the Belonzi,
Miss. NAACP branch who was
shot because he refused TO remove
his name from the voting list; L.
A, BlaclSman. president OF the
NAACP In Ellorec, 3. C.. who has
defied the Ku Klux Khan which
sought 10 run him out OF town and
others
The assembly delegates visited
their own senators and represen-
tatives IN Congress on Monday
and Tuesday TO impress upon
those legislators the necessity OF
reporting out OF committee and
passing civil rights bills
The assembly seeks enactment
of an eight-point Legislative pro
gram which includes an effective
FEPC. withholding federal funds
from any institution which defies
the constitutional prohibition a
gainst segregation In public facili-
ties. making lynching and other
race-inspired acts OF violence a
federal offense, and abolition OF
the poll tax.
Also, protection OF the right to
vote, giving 10 the Justice De-
partment's civil rights division
the authority to protect civil
rights In all sections OF the ma
ton, creation OF a permanent
Federal Commission on Civil
Rights, elimination Of remaining
segregation In interstate travel.
and provision for majority rule In
the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives
wilkins addressed the opening
mass meeting OF the conference at
the Metropolitan Baptist church.
1928 Il. St.. N. w. Sunday at 2:3o
p. m.
The southern victims Of eco
nomic and other reprisals gave
their reports Sunday evening at
the Interdepartmental Auditor
ium.
A call issued for the civil rights
conference said that the "Consti-
tuition and Supreme Court are be-
ing flouted openly"
Citizens are being denied their
constitutional rights" II continu-
ed. "and prosecuted for demanding
them. To permit these violations
10 continue Is TO sanction lawiess-
ness and defiance OF the Govern
ment OF the United States"
1T ls essential" the call de-
clared, that Congress enact legis-
lation In this session to safeguard
the civil rights OF American cit-
zena and the processes Of orderly
government"
Participating Organizations
In addition 10 the NAACP, the
approximately so national organi-
nations participating in the as
sembly include, the American CIV
n Liberties Union. American
Council on Human Rights, Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor and Con-
greas OF Industrial Organizations.
American Jewish COMMITTEES.
American Jewish Congress,
American Veterans COMMITTEES,
Americans for Democratic Action.
and Catholic Interracial Council
Also AME Zion church, Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church. the
Elks, Jewish Labor Committee
Japanese American Citizens
League, National Association Of
Colored Women. National Baptist
Convention, USA.. National Bar
Association. National Catholic
Committee on Race Relations. Ma
tionaI Community Relations Ad-
vsory Council. National Council
OF Negro Women, National Coun-
ell OF Jewish Women, and Nation
al Negro Business League.
Also the National Newspaper
Publishers Association. National
Religion and Labor Foundation.
the Masons, Unitarian Fellowship
for Social Justice and the Workers
Defense League.
Delegates from Minneapolis in
cluded l. Howard Bennett, presi-
dent Of the Minneapolis branch Of
the NAACP, and s. Clair Beeman
Of the United Electrical Workers
CLIO, General Mills Local 1i60.
Both Bennett and Beeman were
quoted In news dispatched from
the conference on the Associated
Press and u. p. wires.
Annual Pre-Enster Tea. Prin-
cess Oziei Chapter No. 10. OES.