St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-06-16

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nth, could be relied upon to be-
James Farmer, himself a former
staff member of the National AS
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP), called
on NAACP Executive Secretary
Roy wilkins to apprise him Of the
trip. Certain aspects Of the rides
are at variance with basic NAACP
policy and Wilkins could do little
more than suggest local NAACP
people who would possibly give
the riders aid and comfort along
the way.
When the rides resulted in blood
shed at Montgomery, DR.. Martin
Luther King was in Chicago. 1t
was Sunday and DR.. King was
scheduled to fly into New York for
an appearance on open End" a
television program, with Wilkins,
DR.. Gardner Taylor, Jackie Robin
son and myself. Instead, and I
think rightly so, King flew into
Montgomery and used his towering
influence to contain the Negro
population.
In reality, King had nothing to
do with the freedom ride; nor, as I
have said, did the NAACP. Yet
they all combined to offer comfort
and bail to the embattled riders.
More, as Montgomery was making
headlines, additional Freedom Rid
ers under separate auspices were
boarding buses in Atlanta for
further assaults against segrega-
ton.
This kind of ground-swen action
cannot be contained. No one leader
or group of leaders for that mat
ter-can promise anything. They
didn't start the rides; they cannot
control them.
Secondly, the point of compro-
mise was passed at Montgomery;
the issue is defined and we are
now in a fight to the finish. The
various civil rights organizations
differ on many things, but in this
they are one: The assault upon
segregation must get stronger, not
weaker; more intense, not less fire.
quent. predict a most amazing
summer: The slogan will be &c
South for Your Vacation" and the
South will be overrun by youths
and adults, Negro and white, flout
ing the traditions of segregation
Thirdly, current events have re
duced the civil rights struggle to 6
moral issue. The Attorney Gen
erals plea that we cease our eff
forts is like the policeman telling
the good man not to shoot the
thief for fear that the report might
disturb the slumbering community
Would the Administration admon
ish the Africans of Angola to rela'
rather than upset the North At
lantic Treaty Organization? o.
would it advise the Africans O.
Kenya not to press for independ
ence because the white settlers ar
not quite ready to surrender tn
cherished white highlands
Finally, am moved to common
that we Negroes are convinced tina
we are, on the whole, better Amer
cans than our white brothers. W.
believe in what our freedom docu
ments say; the white power struc
ture does not. It follows then-a
least in our minds 1t does-that |
this country is to be saved, If it /
to assume the posture it profese:
I'VE must carry the load by insist
ing that the Republic become wha
it swears 1t already is.
Although we file our suit In tn
name of civil rights, we actual
appear as a friend of freedom an
human justice. If our plea Is hear
and acted upon, the West-th
United States, really - will TAX
a long step toward correcting II
relationships with the non-whit
peoples of the world. Most of thes
peoples are Western in mind an
temperament; their estrangemer
they call it "neutralism" -
largely due to our default on ii
matter of mistreatment and e.
ploitation.
Il In basic terms, then, this is viii
the freedom rides are about. tt
unpredictable Negro is on Il
loose; he is apt to oppose segregj
! ton anywhere, anytime, in ar
= manner. And when he does Il
! powerful leadership organization
will forget their pickering al
close ranks about him.
III We know the Republic is er
barrassed by these incidents. B
experience has taught us that o
relief Is coincident with that eI
- barrassment- We deny, howev,
- that we occasion the embarras
ment. When we sit in a waith
room, we are taking the Constit