St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-05-24

/ tioe. IF a civil rights bill that
has some meaning In not passed,
he asserted, voters In 1858 and
1850 win know where to place
the responsibility"
Remember, he warned, "A civil
rights bill that contains the phony
/ Jury trial amendment In con-
tempt proceedings viii not be a
civil rights bill with meaning and
win not protect the Negroes night
/ 10 vote"
Mr.. wilkins reviewed actions
| Of certain southern state legis-
( latures and courts against the
| NAACP These laws and injunc-
tons, ne declared, deny basic
American freedoms. They deserve
the attention Of every American,
for they can and Will be used A.
gainst white citizens as well as
colored. They are so oppressive
that they may well force the MA
ACP 20 consider new methods Of
operation"
Right To Vote Stressed
we are here" labor leader
Randolph declared. ito assert that
the issue in the crisis Of civil
rights in our nation today does
not involve opposition Of Negroes
70 whites or whites 10 Negroes.
There are leaders In certain cir
cles who would like 10 make this
the Issue, but the real issue in
wolves conflict between certain
basic social and moral values, such |
as freedom against slavery, truth |
against error justice against in |
justice, the right to vote against |
Acknowledgement, law and order
mob rule"
Mr.. Randolph, who presided
over the meeting, paid high trib-
ute to the work of the NAACP |
for civil rights and democracy
under the able resourCeful and
leadership Of Roy
Likewise. he lauded Or.
King for the magnificent, chal-
longing and successful struggle
against segregated buses in Mont
He warned that the southern
legislative and state court actions
against the NAACP may at some
future time be invoked against
such organizations as the Knights
n Columbus, B'na Birth, AFL-
Go or the Council Of Churches
n Christ In the U.S.A. Further ne
called upon the pilgrims not TO be
'dismayed by the frightful wave
~ violence and persecution a
gainst persons OF color now
sweeping the South"
King Halls May nth Ruling
For all men Of goodwill" DR..
King declared in the final address
OF the meeting this May II de-
cision came as a joyous daybreak
10 end the long night OF enforced
segregation. II came as a beacon
light Of hope TO millions OF dis
people throughout the
world who had dared only 10
dream OF freedom"
The denial OF the right TO vote
the young clergyman declared,
rs a tragic betrayal OF the high
est mandate OF our democratic
and Il is democrRy turn
ed upside down. SO long as / do
not firmly and irrevocably possess
the right to vote do not possess
myself. / cannot make up my
mind 1t Is made up for me, I can
not live as a democratic citizen.
observing the laws I have helped
10 enact can only submit to the
sdict OF others"
There are four areas In which
dedicated and courageous leader
ship" must be developed. he as
serted III we are to solve the
problems ahead and make racial
Justice a reality" First, he said,
here must be strong. aggres-
'ive leadership from the federal
In the second place.
he declared, there Is need for
strong leadership from the white
northern liberals"
Thirdly. we must look for
strong leadership from the mod
crates Of the white South" And
finally he stressed the urgent
need for strong courageous and
Intelligent leadership from the
Negro community"