Evening star., 1961-05-24
JUSTICE
JUSTICE
Open Line Keeps
Leaders Informed

| EeOOefS III
Continued From First Page
am. (CST) when the first bus
rolled out Of the Montgomery
Terminal under heavy guard Of
Alabama authorities. The Sec
ond bus left at 1880 am. (CST). i.
From the conversations over
heard on the open line, Justice
officials reported that there
was obviously very close CO.
ordination between all ele.
ments of the Alabama and
Mississippi forces protecting
the journey.
This was the staten e mt
Issued by the Attorney Gen.
eral:
I'VE have been in frequent
contact with responsible State
and local officials Of Alabama
and Mississippi. The evidence
at this time Is that these off,
cials fully intend to see that
law and order Is maintained
and that any new outbreaks Of
lmob violence will be controlled
by local law enforcement Off.
GERS.
"The leaders Of the student
groups testing segregation laws
lin Alabama and Mississippi to-
day were informed that no
Federal marshals would ac-
company the buses.
1.-THE Federal Governments
responsibility Is quite clear in
this situation. Our obligation
Is to protect interstate travel
ana maintain law and order
only when local authorities
are Unable or unwilling to do
$50.
1 @TAere Is no basis ct this
|tiIae to assume that the people
Of Mississippi win be IswlesS
or that the responsible State
land local officials In Missis-
sippi viii not maintain law
and order and protect inter-
state travel.
Can't Restrict Travel
I'VE have no power to pre-
vent groups or individuals
from travelling in the South.
the North, the East or the
West,
However, we have appealed
to all persons in Alabama and
elsewhere to use restraint and
to weigh their actions careful
ly-and the need to do so is
even more apparent in the con-
text Of the inflammatory stu
alton which exists today.
II think we should all keep
in mind the President is about
to embark on o mission Of
great Importance. Whatever we
do in the United States at this
time which brings or causes
discredit to Our country, can
be harmful to his mission"
Justice officials said the Rev.
Martin Luther King and other
leaders Of the Freedom Ride to
test segregation In Interstate
bus terminals are aware of the
dangers but are determined to
carry on with the often-inter-
rupted trip.
They intend to diSembark at
Jackson and spend the night
there. Their eventual deStina-
ton still is New Orleans.
| II their activities In jackson
are classed as q violation Of
local ordinances and lead to
their arrest, they will have an
opportunity to test the racial
barriers in court.
Justice officials have repeat
edly noted that the Attorney
General could not order the
Freedom Riders to abandon
their proposed journey through
the South because everyone has
a right to ride q bus.
National Guard Ready
The Justice Departments
concern is that they ride safely.
It was understood that the
Mississippi Governor has Or
dered detachments Of MiSsis.
sippi National Guard troops to
be stationed at potential trouble
spots along the route to avert
demonstrations. Missis S 1 p pi
State Police have been assigned
to patrol the route Of the
Freedom Ride.
Mr.. Kennedy and his aides
worked far into the night dis
cussing all possible eventualities
on the Freedom Ride and seek
ing to devise methods to meet
each of them.
On the one hand, there was
every indication that Mississippi
officials are determined to
avoid violence.
On the other hand, DR.. King
made 1t equally clear that the
riders planned to make several
stops In Mississippi.
The Attorney General has
followed a program of notifying
State officials In advance OF
Federal Government plans
where the State cannot guar
antee protection against mobs.
Hopes to Recall Agents
Justice officials said there
was no present intention Of
| en1a rpin0 the force nf Ek3R