St. Paul recorder., 1963-06-20
Medgar Evers' Death
Was An Execution

The killing of Medgar Evers in Jackson, Miss,
has been described by reporters lynching. It
than that 1t was execution
Whether we will ever know how and by whom
the sentence of death decreed, and how it was
carried out is question nobody at this writing can
That the people who hold the regns of
power at this time in Jackson decreed the execution
(perhaps by looking the other way while the de-
cision was made and carried out) might be open to
argument If so would be interested to hear
what they have to say for themselves. We would be
especially interested to know why after plenty of
warning the police were not around to protect an
American citizen and war veteran whose activities
had brought him worldwide attention-and placed
him in grave peril of his life. The Jackson police
knew of this peril. Where were they?
Medgar Evers took the stand he did knowing
that the power elite of his home town, the capital
city of Mississippi might pass sentence of execu-
ton upon him, and knowing that he might expect
exactly the kind of police protection which he
ultimately received, namely, none. None, even
though the police had been forewarned by an un-
successful attack the night before Medgar Evers
said that he not afraid to die-that on the
contrary he hoped it might do some good
Against this background it is nauseating to the
point of violent illness to read newspaper coumnsts
like Arthur KroCk of the New York Times and Min
neapolis Star who want believe that the power
elite of the South being sadly and egregiously
put upon. The President is accused of phrasing his
appeals for civil rights 80 broadly that ut could
only encourage the seeking of redress in the streets
instead of the courts" Well, for gracious sakes Or
to get timed in with Krock and Governor Wallace
Odds Zounds!
Mr. Krock thinks that the Important judicial
where trespass private property is illegal and
where it is not" In Mr. Krocks view it is trespass
and therefore illegal for Negro to seek service on
the premises of presumably public chartered and
ucensed) corporation offering its services to the
general public, except where the courts have specif-
tcaly ruled that Negroes have the right He thinks
the important thing is to stress the distinction" be-
tween legal and illegal" exercise of the right of
petition.
Having followed Mr.. Krock for many years we
have no doubt that he sincerely believes Americas
second-class citizens can be persuaded to respect
this line which he draws between businesses which
have been officially forbidden by the courts to deny
Negro cup of coffee, a lunch a drink of water
the use of the rest ROOM and those businesses which
have not. This Is line which has been carefully
thought up to crowd everything into the courts and
license most businesses to keep on legally" dis
CIlHlldlulS HOW rluculouS! we doubt that Mr..
Krock sell this line outside of a home for the
senile.
Mr.. Krock suggests that "the enforcement of
this measure"-the Administrators Civil Rights
program-would be less difficult if the Administra-
ton would emphasize:
That the rule of law will prevail"
That the government cannot be scared into
accepting rule Of law in which wrongs are re-
dressed at the expense of the rights of others"
(Lest there be the slightest misunderstanding Mr.
krock is referring to the rights Of corporations
operating restaurants, hotels bus stations ETC. to
refuse Negro drink of water, cup Of coffee and
the use of a public rest room)
This kind of tripe appeared on the very day of
the execution of Medgar Evers.
The only further comment that seems necessary
Is the observation Of veteran police reporter:
Given the circumstances Of Medgar Evers' execu-
ton, there is absolutely question that the police
authorities, If they want to, can come UP with
executoners. They probably come UP with the
people who issued the decree OF execution The Jack
son authorities do this The FBI can do IT, This
Is an absolute proposition. If they want to- they can
do it."
We shall await with interest the results