Jackson Protests 'Just Started’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30147, 3 June 1963, Page 11

Jackson Protests ' Just Started’

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) JACKSON (Mississippi), June 1. A national negro leader, Mr Roy Wilkins, speaking to a press conference after being arrested for picketing, said tonight that demonstrations against the colour bar in Jackson have “just started.” They could go on for two years.

Today, police arrested 88 negro youths when they attempted to stage a mass protest march. The marchers, carrying American flags, were headed off by police lines and promptly loaded on to lorries. Motor-cycle police roared out to stop them before they reached the city centre.

The negroes were protesting against the arrest of a 61-year-old, Mr Wilkins, executive secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. Mr Wilkins and two other negroes were arres ed for picketing a white department store and freed on 1000 dollars' ball.

Shortly before, in an effort to ease rising tension, the Mayor of Jackson (Mr Allen Thompson) agreed to three negro demands—to hire negro police for , negro districts, to appoint negro crossing guards for negro schools, and to upgrade negroes working for the citv. But he rejected one of the negroes’ main demands In their fight against the colour bar: formation of a bi-raclal committee to work towards solving racial problems. Today's march, with negroes walking in pairs, started from N.A.A.C.P headquarters About 100 negroes joined in the march. Other trailed in cars.

Mr Wilkins was charged with restraint of trade. He was released along with Edgar Evers, aged 37. State head of the N.A.A.C.P., and Helen Wilcher, also 37. They were arrested on the same charge. Mr Wilkins arrived in Jackson from New York on Friday He assumed his picket role in front of a shop where violence flared last Tuesday during a sit-in that started the current desegregation drive Maltreatment Charged In a telegram to President Kennedy, Mr Evers asked for a Justice Department investigation of the treatment of negroes arrested during demonstrations. Mr Evers accused police of mistreating children and alleged that medical treatment was denied when demonstrators were arrested yesterday. More than 500 negro demonstrators mostly children were arrested yesterday and put into an improvised detention pen described by a negro leader as a "concentration camp ”' The Mayor meanwhile announced he was planning a fund-raising drive for up to 1.000.000 dollars to help build more detention centres United Press International said a number of today’s marchers, who were aged between about 13 to 20. broke rank; and fled when they approached the police lines. Hundreds of the negro

youths gaoled yesterday refused to eat a field kitchen meal served to them at the detention centre today Officials said they did not know whether the negroe’s refusal, meant the start of a hunger strike. Officials said the youths destroyed cots and smashed windows during the night, and then refused breakfast Some of the youths under 12 years of age were released in the custody of their parents, but the others were held for trial on charges of parading without a permit Ln Tallahassee, Florida, about 80 negro demonstrators staged orderly protest demonstrations today in front of a segregated theatre Yesterday a State Judge dismissed contempt charges against 220 negro demonstrators and. recognised their right to picket and protest peacefully At Baton Rouge. Louisiana two department stores closed their lunch counters indefinitely in view of threatened d emonstrations.

Negro groups met in Washington in a two-day closed session to Jay down policy for demonstrators. The meeting was called by Mr Jack Greenberg, head of the legal defence fund of the NA AC P

Mr Greenberg said leaders would advise denumsrmtors

on actions they may take that would be upheld in Court. Subpoena Evaded

Meanwhile, the Alabama Governor (Mr George Wallace), yesterday refused to accept a subpoena directing him to appear at a Federal Court hearing. The attempt to serve a subpoena on Governor Wallace was carried out by three United States marshals, who were blocked by helmeted State troopers and two bodyguard* who ringed the Governor. The subpoena directs Mr Wallace to appear on Monday at a Federal Court hearing on a Government suit to enjoin him from interfering with the admission of two negroes to the University of Alabama. A subpoena was previously served at the Governor’s mansion but Mr Wallace contends it has no legal status since it was not handed to him personally. The United States AttorneyGeneral (Mr Robert Kennedy), sent Mr Burke Marshall, hi* top aide in the civil rights field, to Birmingham (Alabama) to argue the Government’s case for an Injunction on Mr Wallace