Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-04-28
Mayor

CONTINUED From Page One)
DR.. T. R. M. Towards Regional
Covpcil of Negro Leadership sched-
uled to meet here Friday.
l see no reason" Mayor Thomp-
son said, "for any change what
soever in our policy of segregation
on buses, or in any other way in
Jackson"
In Jackson Negro passengers
take seats starting from the rear
of the bus and white passengers
from the front by City ordnance.
Negro passengers do not have
to stand where there are vacant
seats on buses, especially those
traversing Negro sections, which
was one of the main issues which
provoked the Montgomery boycott.
Mayor Thompson also said he
could see no good to come from
such rallies as the one planned
Friday at the Negro Masonic Tenn
pie in Jackson by the Regional
Council on Negro Leadership.
my personal belief" he said, "is
that meetings such as this will
cause only friction and trouble and
hurt all the efforts made by respon-
sible white and Negro leaders to
work out their problems.
81 believe this is evident" he
continued, because of the type
of speakers who are being invited,
men who are interested only in
proving the point of non-segre-
CATION no matter how harmful it
will be to Negro citizens them
selves.
Powell, King Not Coming
The council had invited Rer.
Adam Clayton Powell, Negro Con-
gresham of New York City, and
the Rev. Martin Luther King, lead
er of the Montgomery bus boycott.
Both declined after Gov. ]. p.
Coleman urged them to postpone
indefinitely" their visit. Mayor
Thompson pointed out that Jack
sons situation is entirely diff
ferent." He said no such boycott
has been in effect here and that
no racial problems have developed
in regard to City Bus Lines in
Jackson.
"This Supreme Court ruling will
have no effect on actual practice
in Jackson" he said. eve are ex-
ceptionally fortunate in Jackson
that we do not have individuals
or groups who are interested in
agitating race problems and whose
only desire is to stir up trouble
and strife between races"
Compliments Negroes
eve have fine class of Negro
citizens who have helped provide
for themselves outstanding facili-
ties such as schools, swimming
pools, an auditorium, streets AMI
other things which contribute to
the happiness and welfare Of peo-
ple," Mayor Thompson said.
eve have made tremendous pro-
gress in the past few years." he
said, "and not a day passes that
our Negro citizens don't impress
upon me that they are happy and
satisfied with the situation exact
" as it is and are thankful that
they live in such city as jack
son where opportunities for growth
and development, with due regard
to the custom of segregation, are
unlimited"
AS to court cases that might
arise here, the mayor said well
cross that bridge when we come
to them"
AS to the Friday meeting Mayor
Thompson said: 81 believe that
Negro citizens in Jackson who are
really interested in their own well
fare and who are trying to do rlgnt
will not be swayed by these radi-
cal speakers who will try to make
them lose sight of the wonderful
OPPORTUNITIES in Jackson"
The mayors statement marked
the first time that he has spoken
freely on segregation. In the past,
he has either avoided comment or
released carefully prepared state
ments.
Patronize Our Advertisers