Evening star., 1962-11-26

YOUNGSTERS dCCeIlueQ CIle SCd-
dium high school football
game.
What I saw at the stadium
easily could have duplicated
what I saw covering the Lit
tie Rock school desegrega-
ton case, or the bus station
mob during the Freedom
Rides to Birmingham, or the
Emmett Till case in Missis-
sippi.
The difference, ironically.
was that the predominant
number Of offenders were
Negro. The explosive of hate
stemmed mostly from my own
people.
I saw the stadium, filled to
a great extent by Negroes,
suddenly terrified by rowing
herds Of hoodlurns who set
upon whites, men, women
and children, with the most
profane language and physi-
cal mistreatment. In the
twinkle of an eye while leav-
ing the stadium, / saw a
young Negro woman thrash a
white man with an umbrella;
I saw groups Of toughs bat
tering q white boy on a
ramp; I saw conflicts dotting
the landscape as far as I
could see.
1t was apparent to me early
in the game that tensions
were high. When the Eastern
team ran onto the field, the
cheers were thunderous.
When st. Johns team was
introduced, there was an
avalanche Of boos. At the time
of Eastern's touchdown, the
response was such I thought
the concrete stadium was
shaking.
From then on, the outpour-
ings dwindled and a strange
sort Of revenge moved in. AS
st. Johns amassed their
winning margin, a moody de-
lection set in among certain
elements, clearly a small but
uninhibited minority. Behind
me, I could hear shouts Of
Kill him" on tackle plays.
Then, I heard comments such
as Lets get out before the
fighting starts" My little boys
told me about people drink
ing behind us.
When the fight started on
the field, I thought this was
a signal for somebody with
supervision to realize the
seriousness Of the situation.
I couldn't explain why East
ern coaches allowed bench
members to dart onto the
field but again, team mem
bers tried to restrain the
ousted player.
Thank God, the st. Johns
coach held his reserves on
the bench. Minutes seemed to
elapse before police rushed
onto the field. Too long, I
thought, but again the vast
majority kept cool, calm. Yet
danger was imminent. The
existence Of troublemakers
was noticeable to many per-
sons in the stands. I told my
young son to quit waving his
"St. Johns" sign
By the time the game
ended, several score more
police ringed the field but not
enough to make an impact.
HoodlumS swung at members
Of the st. Johns team as they
made their way to locker
rooms, and a wave Of young
sters swept across the field
in the direction Of the st.
Johns stands, enough to COM
pletely fill the playing sur
face.
Police held some off but
the hoodlums then headed
toward the nearest exit, SPELL
ing out one thing-an outside
fight. Fist battles erupted
everywhere, in the stands and
out. Youngsters tried tt
snatch st. Johns pennants
Others were slapped, beater
by roughnecks who dasheC
away.
Like myself, hundreds oi
parents at the end of the fray
tried to herd children through
a raging sea Of humanity
Attacks, beatings, outbreak.
erupted everywhere. My Older
son was pushed down anc
trampled as a group Of
Negroes chased a white boy
I could feel the hopelessness
the tragedy Of the situation
I could see the terror anC
fright on faces of many par.
ents who expected the game
to be the highlight Of a per.
feet Thanksgiving Day.
Should the games be can,
celed? I would hope that w
as Americans, white anC