Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-06-17


Council OF the Episcopal Church
sent out an advisory statement"
urging support Of the Negro sit-in
demonstration. The Rev. c. c. J.
Carpenter, Bishop Of Alabama
quickly issued q statement saying
that Episcopalians In the diocese
Of Alabama should ignore" the
Councils advice.
In the same week, the national
board Of the YwCA came out In
support Of the sit-ins; the Mont
gomery YWCA quickly met and
issued their own statement, deplor-
ing the national stand. The local
branch IL now studying the posi-
bility Of breaking off relations with
the national organization.
There IL a tragic irony in the
tact that, az the Southern whites
increase their own segregation
from the outside world, the South
ern Negroes become much more
involved in the life beyond their
own communities. At the same
time that the Bishop Of Alabama
was telling his flock to ignore the
words Of the National Episcopal
Council, and the white girls Of the
Montgomery ''Y" were considering
cutting off relations with the ma
tional organization, the Reverend
Ralph Alternately was in Ghana,
attending a conference on non
violent action, and Mrs. A. w.
West had just returned from Wash
ington to report to the Negroes
Montgomery Improvement Associ-
alton on the recent White House
Conference on Children and Youth.
Don't worry about the Negroes
here" one white Montgomery resi-
dent told me. They're doing fine.
It's the whites you ought to worry
about"
Atlanta
Once during every session of
the Georgia legislature, the states
two us. Senators return from the
battle in Washington to give Of
their wisdom and inspiration to
the troops at home, and In turn
be duly honored for their latest
forays against the federal menace.
This occasion IL usually-and es-
pecially in recent years. time Of
solemn rejoicing and rededication
to the common cause Of states
rights, segregation and the preser-
walton Of the cherished Southern
traditions. Standing ovations from
the state legislators, as well a.
from the grateful citizens packed
in the gallery, are a customary
part Of the tribute accorded the
Senators. But this year it was
different. When Senators Richard
Russell and Herman Talmadge
made their appearance at the last
session Of the legislature, the pol
iticians rose and cheered as usual,
but the gallery was seated and sill
ent. 1t was filled with mothers
who carried signs that said Save
Our Schools"
The mothers were members Of
an organization called HOPE (Help
Our Public Education), which was
formed here a year and a half ago
and has spread throughout the
state. Its purpose is to keep the
public schools open in compliance
with a federal court order for the
beginning Of indignation in Atlanta
schools this September. Until two
mothers Of Atlanta school children
got together in November, 1858,
Ito do something" about the posi-
BILE shutdown Of public education
in the face Of court Indignation
orders, there had been no public
discussion Of the issue locally be-
yond the usual political oratory
promising that ut can't happen
here"
The mothers who organized
HOPE held public meetings, cir
culated literature, sent speakers to
talk on the issue before any group
throughout the state, and for the
first time brought the subject into
the open. Their work has been
much like that Of the mothers'
group formed to try to open the
schools In Little Rock-except that
HOPE began before q crisis came.
Mrs. Donald Green, one Of the
mothers on the HOPE board, said
recently: Since we started q year
and q half before the shock of
the actual court order, we hope
well be able to save the day. We've
gotten help from the mothers In
the Little Rock group, and moth
ers' groups in other states have
asked US for help. There's q real
feeling Of fellowship among these
groups In the South"
JEWEL PRIEsTER MECHANIC |