Alabama Enrolment Tension Growing

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 13

Alabama Enrolment Tension Growing

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) TUSCALOOSA, June 10. The Governor of Alabama, Mr George Wallace, will arrive in the university city of Tuscaloosa this afternoon, the Associated Press reported. He will take personal charge of the security control of the university in his attempts to avert violence at the enrolments tomorrow of two negro students.

Speaking on television last night to the people of his State, Mr Wallace repeated his

promise to “stand up for them,” and again asked them to “keep lhe peace.”

As the Governor spoke. 500 Alabama National Guardsnen moved into Tuscaloosa to keep down violence. The president of the University of Alabama. Mr r rank Rose, said at a press conference las! night: “I am confident that mob action will be avoided.” United Press International reported. The president said that Mr Wallace’s presence was necessary to “let people know he will not tolerate disobedience of the la w ” Between four and five thousand students were already enrolled in the university's summer school. Mr Rose said Large signs on all the main roads leading tp/the city told students that the main campus was closed, and that students were to gather at a gymnasium some distance from the main campus. The JOO combat-equipped National Guardsmen arrived in Tuscaloosa by truck ana helicopter to back up highway patrolmen and State troopers who already were assisting the Tuscaloosa city oolice in their duties Armed Civilians

Their arrival coincided with the appearance of a number of white civilians armed with oistols. clubs and bale hooks apparently bent on assisting the Governor in his integra-tion-blocking stand UP! said Fifteen of the whites were disarmed and arrested An estimated 2500 Federal troops ordered into Alabama last month by President Kennedy after the Birmingham riots are still in easy reach of he Tuscaloosa campus

Two negro students left Newark New Jersey by air last night for Alabama where ‘hey will seek admission to he University 01 Alabama on Tuesday James Hood and Miss Vivian Malone both aged 20 boarded a jet for Birmingham. after spending the weekend in New York conferring with lawyers for the legal defence fund of the National A&ociatior for the Advancement of Coloured People. Not Scared

Mr Hood said that he did not feel scared and that he and Miss Malone had no‘ undergone any kind of preparation for their attempt to break the colour barrier a' the University of Alabama You don't need any training to go to school.” he said Both students are from Alabama Mr Hood from Gadsden and Miss Malone from Mobile • An NAA C P representslive. Mr Thoma* Dent said that men from the United States Attorney General's office would meet the stu-

dents in Birmingham He had no information abou where they would spend.the ’ime until Tuesday morning when they face Mr G Wallace who has vowed to bar them personally at the university in Tusca’oosa Barred From Churches Twenty-two negroes tried to en’er white Christian churches in Jackson Mississippi. yesterday Seventeen were turned away from four Protestanit churches including the churches which the Governor of Mississippi (Mr Rose Barnett > and ’he Mayor of Birmingham ’Mr Allen Thompson' were at that 'ime attending Five negroes were admitted 'o a Roman Catholic church without incident The minister and the assistant pastor of the Methodist church which the negroes at-

tempted to enter later said that they would ask their bishop for another appointment, in protest.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the executive secretary of N.A.A.C.P., Mr Roy Wilkins. told a crowd of 3000 negroes that the demonstrations throughout the United States today are the “greatest revolution that has taken place in this country in the 20ih Century.” He revealed that tne N.A.A.C.P had sent 65.000 dollars in bail money to Jackson. Mississippi, and said that if appeals from the sentences there had to be made, the cost could mount to 265,000 dollars.

Speaking on television later. Mr Wilkins said that the United States Congress "has been a pure blank so far” on civil rights. He said that negroes had been put off long enough on civil rights legislation

The United States Vice-Pre-sident. Mr Lyndon Johnson, speaking at Medford Massachusetts. on the present segregation issue, said' yesterday: "We are now learning that

no moral issue can be postponed indefinitely. We did not settle the question on the basis of justice and equity when we had -time to do so. Now we find we must settle it with turmoil and agony " The Rev Dr Martin Luther King speaking on television in New York, denounced President Kennedy’s civil rights policies, thf “New York Times" reported The civil rights approach ot the Kennedy Administration a® compared with the Administration of General Eisenhower had merely substituted “an inadequate approach for a miserable one.” He called on President Kennedy to do more than "issue a call.” He said that if the President left the country on his planned trip to Europe later this month, he would be doing a grave disservice to his country and the civil rights cause, because the President’s projected civil rights legislation could not get through Congress "without his weight behind it on a day-to-day basis ”

Police yesterday arrested more than 100 negroes as thev demonstrated at hotels and restaurants after an integration rally in a city square in Savannah. Georgia, the Associated Press reported.

The demonstrations were the largest since negroes opened a desegregation drive a week ago Trucks, a bus and patrol waggons were used to carry th-e demonstrators to gaol There was no violence.

About 220 negroes paraded in Charleston, South Carolina. in which their leaders said was the beginning of a series of marches in the city. No arrests were reported. Call by Kennedy In Honolulu yesterday. President Kennedy urged the mayors of United States cities today to join him in converting the negro's fight for equal rights, into a "peaceful revolution ” "It is clear to me.” Mr Kennedy said in a speech "that the time for token moves and idle talk is over —that these rights are going to be won and that our responsibility, yours and mine, is to see that they are won in a peaceful and constructive manner.” M The President flew to V Hawaii with the sole purpose ' of talking frankly with the mayors on the racial issue at their annual conference. Aides said he would meet on this issue with religious leaders today in Washington and with labour leaders on Thursday. Advising the 650 mayors and other city officials to be alert rather than alarmed. Mr Kennedy warned that demonstrations could be expected in many other cities in the next few months.

Justice, he said, could not wait for too many meetings. ‘lt cannot await the action of Congress or even the courts We face a moment ot moral and constitutional crisis —and men of generosity and vision must make themselves heard in every part of the land. "Chance For Ail'’ “1 do not say that all men are equal in their ability, character, and motivation,” he said. “I do say that every American should be given a fair chance to develop in full whatever talents he has and to share equally in the American dream. “I ask you to Join with me. here and now, in recognising the rights of all Ameri. cans—in guiding along constructive channels the attainment of a peaceful revolution which will not only avoid disaster but fulfil our highest obligations.’* Mr Kennedy said he had legislation in mind that would help settle legal arguments, require all merchants in all cities to take similar action at the same time, and “meet the rising tide of discontent with appropriate nation-wide action, without waiting for city-by-city, case-by-case solutions."