Evening star., 1961-05-22
RACIAL
Tension Mounts in Alabama Race Clash
As State roops Are Sent to Montgomery
Continued From First Page

SuTRCu 1OIWdlo d1lAlOoV w oAAO
steps of the church. Violence
errupted as the Negroes inside
were singing Leaning on the
Everlasting Arm"
First two young men wearing
sports shirts staggered up in
front Of the church. Marshals
led them back and then the
crowd thrust forward again.
Wen move in and break 1t
up," q marshal said.
Tear Gas Bombs Used
Calling for help from pool
Of more than 200 Federal men
at the scene. the marshals
pushed the rioters back down
the street. Tear gas was thrown
and some members Of the mob
hurled the shells right back at
the marshals.
Down at the end of the block
q car was overturned and set
on fire. AS it burned. the mob
quickly reformed on the side
walk directly across from the
church. The marshals moved
in again and with tear gas. once
more pushed back the shout
ing crowd as members jeeringly
cried, Vince, I love that SMELL"
For nearly 20 minutes the
battle went on. In the back
ground the burning car threw
the crowd in shadowy relief.
Its gas tank exploded long be-
for the fire department arrived
on the scene and turned water
on the blaze.
Tear gas fumes drifted over
the block. Some leaked through
the open stained glass windows
Of the church while the Ne
groes, with speech and hymns,
carried on their meeting.
Area Is Cleared
Then Alabama State patrol
men roared on the scene from
their staging area a mile away
and q little later city police
turned up in force. Under an
other barrage Of tear gas, night
sticks and menacing guns the
combined forces cleared the i'm
mediate area around the en-
trance to the church Of every
one, including newsmen.
Marshal James McShane Of
Washington, who is in charge
of the Federal officers here.
said he did not request the as
sistance of the State patrolmen
or the city police.
Il don't know who called
them" he said.
A little later, Col. Herman
Price, deputy commander of the
Alabama National Guard. ar
rived with the word Of Gov.
Patterson's proclamation Of
qualified" martial law. About
300 troops soon began moving
in carrying rifles with fixed
bayonets.
IT wonder If these troops are
going to be on our side or
theirs" one deputy marshal
muttered.
Hit by fire bombs in Mont
gomery we're the homes OF a
Negro and a white restaurant
owner who had a run-in with
the Ku Klux Klan nearly two
years ago.
The fire department said
both residences escaped with
out damage.
One bomb was thrown at the
home Of Harry Blanch, a
Negro.
The other was tossed onto
the roof at the house occupied
by James B. Peek. jr., and his
father.
Developments Listed
Gov. Patterson's declaration |
came as the climax of a day
that included these develop
ments in an atmosphere Of
fretful calm after Saturdays
outburst of violence which saw
at least 20 persons injured:
/. Gov. Patterson said the
Federal marshals and deputies
were "interlopers." In a
face-to-face meeting with Dep
uty United States Attorney
General Byron r. (Whizzer) |
White, who is in overall
charge of the Federal inter-
vention here, the Governor
warned.
IF any Federal people Vio-
late any of our State laws. We
will arrest them and prosecute
them as we would anybody
else"
2. Acting on the Govern
n1ent's request, United States
District Judge Frank M.
johnson, jr., issued an injunc-
ton against any attempt to in
terfere with the freedom
riders" He placed the blame
for the violence here and in
other Alabama cities on Klu
Klux Klan members and his
order was directed against
them "and all persons acting
in concert with them"
8. In kilograms to President
Kennedy and his brother
Robert, the Attorney General,
Gov. Patterson formally de-
manded the removal Of the
Federal officers. He said I'VE
are enforcing the law fairly
and impartially," and Alabama
does not need assistance from
the Federal Government or
anyone else.
4, The Governor also wired
members Of Alabama's con-
gressional delegation asking
them to use their influence
with the Federal Government
ito help us get the agitators
from other States out of Ala
bama." He also asked them to
do what they can to get the