Evening star., 1960-04-26
NAACP Urges
Protection for
Biloxi Negroes

0HS" NSSsSS
BILOXI, Miss, April 26 (AP).
The Mississippi field Secre-
tary for the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement of
Colored People called on Gov.
Ross Barnett today Ito insure
the protection of Negro citizens
Of Biloxi from further mob
rule"
Edgar Evans issued the state
ment in Jackson in a reference
to race riots which occurred in
Biloxi over the week end. Two
white men and eight Negroes
were wounded from gunshot
blasts and several other persons
both white and Negro-were
injured in stonings and fights.
Mr.. Evans condemned "the
barbarous actions against Negro
citizens of Biloxi by white
hoodlums while the law en-
forcement officers turned their
attention in another direc-
ton,
He said other officers stood
less than five yards away and
permitted hoodlums with base
ball bats, chains, blackjacks
and other weapons to be used
against helpless Negro citizens,
men, women and children"
Gov. Barnett said yesterday
ne would not send the National
Guard into Biloxi until local
law enforcement officers in
dicated to him they could not
control the situation.
Accuses Officers
The fact that law enforce
ment officers permitted white
hoodlums to terrorize and shoot
up the Negro community with
out any whites being arrested
and charged for these malicious
acts" Mr.. Evans statement
continued, "is evidence of the
apparent breakdown of lave
enforcement as regards the
protection of Negro citizens of
Biloxi"
Biloxi tried to restore the
areas vacation atmosphere to-
day, but the city of $4,000 re-
manned jittery from the racial
incidents.
The gulf coast region, sup
ported mainly by tourists,
showed little of it's normal
carefree spirit yesterday.
Only a few cars moved on
the streets. The sidewalks
were nearly deserted. One vet
eran officer said late last night
Biloxi was the quitest he could
remember it.
Police, suspicious now of
any gathering. moved quickly
last night when $50 to 200
white persons gathered around
the police station.
Officials called out all city
and county police and civil
defense units. State highway
patrolmen also were on hand.
Attracted by Trial
1t turned out that the crowd
was waiting for night court and
the trial Of six Negroes arrested
in Sundays disturbances that
resulted from Negroes trying
to use the beaches reserved for
whites.
The six, charged with carry
ing concealed weapons, were
fined 500 each. They were
Paul Brown, George Seall,
Ernest Fair, Zeb Lowe, James
Francis and Malcolm Jackson.
All pleaded not guilty.
Twelve other Negroes. ar
rested yesterday. were fined
$40 to $25 on charges of rang
ing from obstructing traffic to
disorderly conduct and
drunken driving.
Officers also picked up sew
eral Negro and white youths
all armed on charges Of dis
turbing the peace. No fights
were reported.
DR.. Gilbert Mason, 31-year-
old Negro physician, was found
guilty yesterday of disturbing
the peace and obstructing traf-
fic. He was fined $25 on each
count by Justice of the Peace
Anthony Anglads.
LII. mason was arrested last .
week when he tried to swim in
the Gulf along the beach.
NAACP Issues Denial
Yesterday, the National AS
sociation for the Advancement
Of Colored People denied a civic
leaders charge that the group
inspired the weekend dis
turbances.
Anthony Ragusin, general
manager Of the Biloxi Chamber
Of Commerce, laid the blame
for the disturbances on the
NAACP and said the demon
StratiOnS were financed with