NEGROES SAVED BY TROOPS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 15

NEGROES SAVED BY TROOPS

Bayonet Charge On Raging White Mob

(N Z.P.A •Reuter—Copyright)

MONTGOMERY (Alabama), May 22.

Steel-helmeted troops with fixed bayonets charged a mob of whites when fresh violence broke out in Montgomery late last night.

“Qualified martial law” was declared in Montgomery city and county as a howling mob of whites raged outside a church full of negroes.

After a lull the crowd reformed and shoved its way back in a bid to crash the line of United States marshals and other officers guarding the church. National Guardsmen began taking some negroes home from the church about dawn —nine hours after the first of about 1000 arrived for a mass meeting.

National Guardsmen, who had stood guard much of the night, loaded the negroes into military trucks for the ride to their houses. First to leave were those living within the area several blocks around the church which was sealed off by Federal. State, and local officers until the raging white mob was dispersed. Three deputy marshals were hit by stones thrown by the mob in the first outbreak of violence. One negro inside the church was slightly injured by a brick hurled through a church window. Sounds like gunfire were heard near the church, but it could not immediately be determined if it was shooting. The Adjutant-General, Mr Henry Graham, told the group that “for the wellbeing of the city and the good of the State. I am asking you to remain here for the time being, probably until morning. , ,

"I know it will be uncomfortable but it is for your own safety. However. I appreciate your co-operation. In fact. I insist upon it.” Martial law was imposed as new violence broke out around the church, in which an integration leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King, called for a continued effort to break down the barriers against negroes. The whole congregation stood and cheered as 18 stu-

dents who were “freedom riders” in the group which was beaten on Saturday filed into the church. The “freedom riders”—a group who toured the Southern States by bus to see if the Federal laws prohibiting racial segregation facilities were being observed —were set upon and beaten when their Greyhound bus reached Montgomery on Saturday. A week earlier, another group of “freedom riders” were beaten in Birmingham and a Greyhound bus carrying a mixed racial group was set on fire in Anniston, Alabama.

The Alabama Government’s proclamation of martial law said it was due to “outside agitators coming into Alabama to violate our laws and customs.” The steel-helmeted National Guardsmen with fixed bayonets enforced the martial rule last night. They scattered a howling mob that tried to overwhelm Federal marshals protecting the negro church. The mob had surged past armed United States marshals and local police officers toward the negro church. The troops were given sweeping powers to restore order throughout the city. The mob scattered as 100 guardsmen arrived, but sporadic outbreaks of violence continued even after the National Guard was called out.

The martial rule order left city and county police offi-

cers to function under pro tection of the guardsmen. The State Public Safely Director, Mr Floyd Mann, said city and State officers and the Federal marshals were working closely with the combat-ready guardsmen. The Governor’s formal proclamation described his order as “qualified martial rule,” but nevertheless it gave the Adjutant-General broad powers to take whatever action was necessary to restore peace to the State capital. Sounds like gunshots were heard in the area of the church after the martial law order was issued, the Associated Press said. There was no indication, however, that anyone had been injured. One man was reported to have been arrested a block from the church with a pocketful of shotgun shells. One United States marshal. John Holt, was struck in the face with a brick, but doctors said he was not seriously hurt. Another Federal officer was hit in the leg with a brick. Some members of the mob threw rocks at the church, and one Federal officer was struck. Another rock - thrower smashed a church window, striking a negro on the head. He apparently escaped serious injury. Eight white men were arrested on charges of failing to obey an officer. Inside the beleaguered First Negro Baptist Church Dr. King told the cheering negroes that violence against “freedom riders” in three Alabama cities neant "there must now be a full-scale, non-violent assault on segregation in Alabama.” He said that “the ultimate responsibility for the hideous action” against the freedom riders "must be placed at the doorstep” of Alabama’s Governor, Shortly after the meeting began a tear gas shell went off outside the closed front door of the church but it was not immediately clear who fired the shell. Before the National Guard troops arrived there were moments of near-panic inside the church as the howling mob raged outside. Dr. King and the pastor of the church, the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, left the pulpit and telephoned to request that more Federal marshals be sent

Another minister, the Rev. S. S. Seay, urged those in the church to be calm. He persuaded some groups, who had got up as if to leave, to return to their seats Some of the women were moaning. Mr Seay urged the congregation to sing. A few voices began a hymn, singing weakly. Mr Seay exhorted them: “I want to hear everybody sing and mean every word of it.” The hymn grew in volume. The mob made a renewed attack on the church and local police joined the Fed-

>-eral marshals in forcing back the shouting, jeering whites. The local police hurled tear gas bombs and advanced on the mob with riot guns at the ready. As the mob, though forced back, showed no signs of dispersing. every available city policeman was ordered to the scene. State police, sirens screaming, also raced toward the church. A police radio broadcast said dogs were also being sent. Local police have successfully used dogs against violence in the past. A National Guard colonel arrived at the church shortly after martial law was declared and the chief of the detachment of United States marshals there placed his men under the colonel’s command. Mr Patterson, in issuing his martial law proclamation, urged residents of the city to staff the streets and to refrain from any acts which mieht cause incidents. When Mr Mann carried the news of the proclamation to those inside the church, the negro men and women greeted it with cries of relief Mr Mann urged them to stay inside and await the arrival of National Guardsmen Who were on their way to escort them to safety. But long after the soldiers arrived there was still no move to get the negroes out of the church. Federal and State officers worked together with State and local police throughout the tense night in spite of the angry Federal-State bickering earlier in the day. The Governor previously had protested bitterly against Mr Robert Kennedy's order to rush more than 500 armed United States marshals and deputies to Montgomery to prevent further interference with the bus riders. In a tense, face-to-face meeting with Mr Kennedy’s top assistant. Mr Bvron R, White. the Governor threatened to gaol Federal officers who sought to exert their authority in the absence of a request for Federal help