Evening star., 1961-08-31


most serious crisis.
But police continued elaborate
security measures, ready to act
promptly, as they did yester-
day, when they arrested five
persons near the schools.
Inside the schools nine Ne
groeS-siX girls and three boys
attended classes and ate in
the cafeteriaS, shattering At
lanta's long time tradition of
segregation.
The persons most vitally con-
cerned-the pupils and teachers
took the transition quietly
and without incident.
Find No Hostility
Several of the Negroes said
their reception was about what
they would expect when enter
ing any strange new school. All
agreed they found no hostility
or discourtesy among their
schoolmates.
Arthur Simmons, jr., Is, said
one white girl at Northside
High stopped me in the hall
and welcomed me. Another
spoke to me in the lunch line
and chatted a few moments"
Mary McMullen, who entered
Grady, reported several girls
walked up and spoke to her.
"One girl said she thought it
was nice what we were doing
and said she didn't know
whether she would have had
the courage to do it.
The comments were made
during a news conference a few
hours after the nine completed
their first day at the schools,
Northside, Grady, Murphy and
Brown. Total attendance at
the four was ,486.
Several white pupils reported
little attention was paid to the
Negroes. Their general feel
ing was that no one was friend
ly but no one was particularly
unfriendly
Leave and Arrive Early
BY prearrangement the Ne
groes arrived few minutes af-
ter the start of classes and left
a little early.
About the time the schools
were closing for the day, Presi-
dent Kennedy opened his news
conference in Washington with
salute to Atlanta and Georgia
citizens and officials for their
courage, tolerance and, above
all, respect for the law"
He said "the orderly manner
in which the deSegregation was
carried out, with dignity, and
without incident" was the re-
suit of vigorous efforts over
several months by officials ard
citizens of Atlanta.
The President said that "too
often in the past such steps in
other cities have been marred
by violence and diSrespect for
law" He urged other commu-
mites which face similar transi-
ton to take a good look at
what Atlanta has done.
Attorney General Robert
Kennedy telephoned his con-
gratulations to Mayor Harris
field, Police Chief Herbert Jen-
kins and School Supt. John
LetSon.
Leaders Elated
City and school officials, re-
ligious leaders, and business
and professional men all were
elated at the peaceful start Of
desegregation and the praise it
received.
The Mayor beamed when he
said eve are very proud Of At
lanta We hope the whole world
will witness how a proud South
ern city is obeying the law Of
the land"
L. j. O'Callaghan, president
Of the Atlanta Board of Edu-
cation, said the successful out
come was largely due to the
good work of the teachers. Il
think what has happened is
really remarkable" he said.
Gov. Ernest Vandiver re-
iterated his opposition to inte-
grafton. But, he said, Il am
grateful there has been no vio-
lence. Our fight will continue
to be in the courts, not on the
school grounds"
Move Called Harmful
The Governors executive Sec
retary, Peter zack Geer, an
outspoken segregationist, said
"integration is obnoxious to the
people of Georgia and will pro-
mote harmful effects to both
races"
In the only incidents reported,
five persons were arrested,
charged. tried, convicted and
sentenced within 31a hours. All
protested their rights were be-
ing violated.
Bill Gene Cody, "a, of Arling-
ton, Va, clicked his heels, gave
a Hitler salute and shouted
"Sieg He'll" when he was SEN
fenced to 80 days for violating
a Georgia law which prohibits
disturbing a public school. He
said he was a member of the
American Nazi Party.
The other four, all teen-agers
from suburban Dekalb County,
received 80 to 60-day sentences
on similar charges.
Cody was arrested at Grady
High when he failed to obey an
officers order to leave the area.
He argued with police and tried
to make a speech when he and
the others we're run through the
police lineup. He appeared in
court wearing a T-shirt with
the words white people have