Negro Rights Bill Goes To Senate

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 17

Negro Rights Bill Goes To Senate

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 10. The House of Representatives last night passed a civil rights bill to protect the legal rights of Negroes and improve their opportunities for renting and buying homes. The vote was 259 to 157.

The measure will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to meet stiff opposition. The open housing provision, the most controversial section of the bill, bars discrimination in sale or rental of about 40 per cent of the nation’s homes—mainly large blocks of flats and new housing developments. It would not cover individual home-owners. Powers In Stale Another important section of the bill gives the Federal Government authority to intervene in crimes of violence against Negroes and civil rights workers where local State authorities fall to prosecute anyone. The use of force against a Negro exercising his legal rights, or against a civil rights worker, would become a Federal offence. A further provision of the bill would make it a Federal offence for anyone to cross a State line to lead or take part in a racial riot. The congressman who proposed this clause, Representative William Cramer (Republican, Florida) said it was not aimed at peaceful demon-

strations but against agitators deliberately trying to stir up trouble. Other sections of the bill aim to end discrimination against Negroes in the selection of State and Federal juries. The United States AttorneyGeneral also would be given broad powers to seek civil court injunctions to prevent anyone from interfering with a Negro's legal rights.

In Milwaukee, a homemade bomb ripped apart the local office of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People early today. Officials of the civil rights group said it was a “deliberate attack.” Several hours later, a bomb threat was received at the City Hall and the building was evacuated while police and firemen searched.