Evening star., 1962-11-28
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Stadium Violence

Stadium Violence
The vicious undercurrent Of
racialism was never more ap-
parent in this community
than when the THANKSGIVING
game between st. Johns and
Eastern High School erupted
into a riot-a riot that GER
tain forces in this city insist
upon calling a race riot.
Unfortunately, as the din of
voices increase, it is the in
depreciation that becomes ra-
cial not the incident itself!
I maintain this was a school
riot instigated by Eastern
High School, and they should
be punished accordingly.
However, to halt the city
wide competition is unfair to
other schools. I would hearth
ly recommend that Eastern
be withdrawn from the city
championship game for one
year, If not two.
AS a native of this city and
a graduate Of Dunbar High
School. I can recall the sheer
danger involved If my school
won a drill or a game from
Armstrong High School. In
those days, it was called
school fights" by the press
and radio people. These days
it is called a race riot.
School Superintendent Han
sen is to be commended for
insisting that cool heads"
should consider this problem.
George Wallrodt Of the Po-
lice Department is to be COM
mended, too, for his sane in
depreciation, and sure ham
ding of the incident on the
day it occurred. I am forced
to face myself with a ques-
ton: Who or what institu-
tions would profit most by a
r. racial incident or the sounds
of one" In the end, this may
be the most important ques-
ton, not whether there
should or should not be a
city-wide game.
AS a Negro, / look around
my native city and see my
people displaced by highways,
abused on welfare, broken by
the high rents of the land
lords, refused jobs, unable to
participate in the apprentice
ship programs which would
give experience and make
them employable. These are
the elements Of a race riot.
ROsemarie Tyler.
= %%
When a football contest
erupts into violence, strong
action is necessary.
Many decades ago inter-
collegiate football turned to
a Superlatively violent stage.
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler,
an outstanding educator, was
courageous enough to ban
football from Columbia Uni
versity at that time. The ban
endured for some decades, in
spite of partisan slurs.
When D. c. high school
football produces such dis
graceful results let us hope
that some responsible official,
civic or educational, has the
courage to abolish football
in inter-high competition, or
in all high schools until the
lesson is properly learned
That it is only a game, and
that there is such a thing as
craftsmanship.
EIbridge Colby.
s. =
It is sad, what happened
at the football game at D. C.
Stadium on Thanksgiving
day.
We older people keep hop
ing that our young students,
who will be the leaders of to-
morrow, will be wiser than
we are in regards to our ra-
cial differences.
Sports has always been
the one place where race,
creed or color did not mat
ter, and then we have to have
this incident.
Wouldn't it be fine sport
manship and in practice with
their faith If the st. John S
team (who should remember
that we Catholics believe and
should practice Christ's
teaching that we are all
brothers) would invite tn e
Eastern team to their school
for a social event even
coffee, cake - and all shake
hands - and not let this
unfortunate event mushroom
into a wider difference be-
tween the different colored
students.
But then these boys are at
a very emotional age and the
matter should be handled by
the adults, coaches, princi-
pals etc.
There is enough discord all
over the world. We as Amer
leans should start to try to
keep peace among our own
people first. Lillian Scuderi.