Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-09-05


nouncers here in Washington.
For weeks prior to the March,
the daily press and radio had
stressed the potential violence In
herent in the March and gave Mt
tie attention to the goals and ideals
that the March signified.
Governmental officials allowed
employees to remain away from
the job, but advised them further
not to participate (although they
could If they wanted to) and to
remain away from the downtown
area of Washington.
Each day the major radio and
teleWsion stations blared forth
editorials which advised metropoh-
tan area people to stay away, and
implied by inference that the only
possible thing that could happen
was violence and bloodshed with
(they seemed to say) "all these
Negroes in town."
Many Fled City?
On the night before and during
the early morning hours Of Aug.
28, radio commentators were stres-
sing the fact that the airhnes, the
railroad and bus stations were
crowded with persons (mostly
whfte) fleeing the city.
So afraid were the city fathers
that security arrangements and
precautions taken were reported to
be greater than those usually ac-
companying a presidential inaug-
uration.
To prevent the marchers from
gettinug intoxicated and possibly
tearing UP the town, the city and
surrounding Maryland and Virginia
counties closed all bars and liquor
in restaurants was banned.
Commentators Disdainful
On the morning of the March,
shortly after the first bus arrived
from C3arlOsdale, Miss, national
TV commentators began stressing
the fact that the turnout certain
ly would not be what the March
leaders had expected and their
voices, according to listeners, SEEM
ed 10 indicate disdain and appre-
hensfon for the whole affair.
And then It happened, as If by a
miracle.
Buses and cars began to stream
into town in an uneven, but steady
stream. The buses were met at
their point Of entry INTO the city
by motorcycle policemen who rad
ioed ahead for location and per-
mission to park at previously
designated spots.
I Aeft the Washington Monument
grounds at 7:45 am. TO go TO the
Statler Hilton hotel where a CORPS
Of newspapermen met the 10
March leaders and accompanied
them on their morning round Of
to certain selected Con-
gressnen and Senators.
There were Approximately be-
tween three and four thousand per-
sons scattered over the huge area.
returned to the Monument
grounds at 11:15 and what I
saw was unbelievable.
A sea Of people 80 immense
and so vast had gathered within
those few short hours that the
ground beneath them could not
be seen. They carried posters
and signs demanding freedom
now" and pass the bIIp (the
AdministratiOn's civil rights
bIl).
At that moment there were ap-
prosdmately 100, 900 already on the
Monument (grounds) and the LIN
coin Memorial. As our caravan Of
cars drove from Capitol Hill, past
the railroad station, thousands Of
persons could be seen making the
long trek from the train station
10 the Monument grounds - be-
cause there were not enough buses
to transport them - and they did
not want to be late.
What kind Of people were
these that the white population
Of Washington did not want to
meet or greet?
I say in truth, at first glance, as
I watched them from the window
Of our rapidly moving limousine,
they were the most beautiful peo-
pie I had ever seen.
An element which contributed 10
their beauty was that the people
were not just Negroes, but were
many whites who had Joined Ne
groes from whatever towns and
cities they had come. They walked
along the streets as though thew