Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-08-17

his press conference, Aug. 1.
Mr.. Kennedy made his remarks
within 4S hours after the NAACP
leader had sent a wire calling upon
the President ITO speak out in
condemnation Of the persecution
-. Of the Rev. DR.. Martin Luther
King and his associates for peace
fully protesting racial injustice"
In his press conference, the
President said: IT find it wholly
inexplicable why the city council
Of Albany will not sit down with
the citizens Of Albany, who may
be Negroes, and attempt to secure
them, in a peaceful way, their
rights.
1.-THE United States Government
is involved in sitting down at Cen
eva with the Soviet Union. I can't
understand why the government of
Albany cannot do the same
for American citizens"
The President further said that
the Federal Government would
TRY to provide a satisfactory SOL
ution and the protection of the
constitutional rights of the people
of Albany And the situation
today is completely unsatisfactory
from that point of view."
Denial of Rights
In his telegram to the President,
dispatched on July 80, Mr.. Wilkins
charged that THE time-honored
rights of assembly and petition for
redress of grievances have been
denied and a community of $4,000
is being repressed in ruthless fash
ion Practically on the eve
of the Tooth anniversary of the
drafting Of the Emancipation Pro-
clamation, the United States of
America is witnessing in Albany,
the nouting not only Of that docu-
ment, but Of the Bill of Rights.
This is a peril to all Americans
and well warrants the attention of
the President of all the people"
Previously, on July %, the NAA-
CP leader had sent telegram to
John Bailey, chairman Of the DEM
ocratic National Committee, ex-
pressing dismay that mo word Of
protest or dissent has been heard
from Democratic National Com
mitteeman James Gray, Albany
publisher, over the vindictive treat
ment" of the civil demonstrators
In his city.
The jailings of DR.. King and
others, the wire said, had been
carried out with the apparent
acquiescence If not encouragement
of Committeeman Gray" which
"does not enhance the image of the
Democratic party among millions
of Americans who are outraged
over the incredibly arrogant con-
duct of Albany officials towards
their Negro citizens.
NAACP Branches Rallied
Mr.. wilkins kilograms were fol-
lowed up, July 81, by letter sent
to the Associations 1900 branches
in 48 states urging political action
ON behalf of the Albany victims.
The letter called upon the
branches to:
1. Wire their Representatives in
Congress and let them know how
you feel about throwing people in
Jail who peacefully protest racial
injustice"
2. Send kilograms to President
Kennedy calling on him Ito speak
out against the Albany disgrace
and to have the Department of
Justice intervene"
8. Urge local and state leaders
Of both major political parties Ito
impress upon the national party
leaders how Negro citizens feel
about the Albany outrage"
4. Intensity their voter registra-
ton campaigns in order to roll up
a heavy registration for the fall
elections. 'The best way to back
up DR.. King is to notify the can
didates and parties that we intend
to act at the ballot box next No
vember in favor of the friends of
freedom, regardless of party"
The NAACP, the letter points
out, is among organizations in
Guided in the temporary restrain
ing order issued by United States
District Judge j. Robert Elliott
on July 20. Mrs. Ruby Hurley, the
Associations southeast regional
secretary, was named in the order.
A hearing on a permanent injunc-
ton began before Judge Elliott in
Albany on July 80. Representing |
the defendants at the hearing was
Donald L. Hollowell, Georgia
NAACP attorney.
The arrests Of DR.. King and his
associates, Mr.. Wilkins said in his
letter to branches, ''is an attempt
by the segregationists to suppress
mn protests and to keep conditions