U.S. TROOPS TRY TO CHECK VIOLENCE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31649, 8 April 1968, Page 1

U.S. TROOPS TRY TO CHECK VIOLENCE

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, April 7.

Federal troops, National Guardsmen and police were working last night to hold down new outbreaks of the racial violence sparked off across the United States by the assassination on Thursday of Dr Martin Luther King.

In Atlanta, Georgia, thousands of anguished Negroes filed past the body of their leader whose death has led to riots in which about 40 people have lost their lives.

President Johnson sent 5000 Federal troops from Colorado and Texas into Chicago to help stop the arson, looting and deadly sniper fire. Paratroops and United States marines joined National Guardsmen and heavy police forces in Washington.

The heavy show of armed force, together with the employment of tear gas and smoke bombs, brought a relative lull to the violence in Washington at nightfall.

Three battalions of the Pennsylvania National Guard were placed on stand-by alert to assist beleaguered Pittsburgh police in ending widespread arson, looting and vandalism that plagued the city for the second night The Mayor of Pittsburgh,

Mr Joseph Barr, ordered all taverns closed until Wednesday and the Governor. Mr Raymond Shafer, closed all liquor stores in the state until further notice.

The Governor of Maryland, Mr Spiro Agnew, declared a “state of emergency and crisis” in Baltimore. Chicago today counted 10 dead, Washington six, Detroit two and Minneapolis, Memphis and Tallahassee one each.

More than 1000 persons have been injured and at least 4200 arrested in rioting and disorders in 50 cities across the nation.

More than 730 persons have been injured in Washington, and more than 200 in Chicago. Washington police counted 3260 arrests, Chicago police nearly 800. In Atlanta, Negroes filed past the body of Dr King last night in the Sisters’ Chapel at Spellman College.

Four blocks from the chapel, police reported, Negroes looted stores.

Beside Dr King's coffin, Negro students handed out pamphlets charging that “black people are killing his spirit.” The pamphlets said: “Black people are using the death of our great black

leader for an excuse to rob and steal and destroy. We are asking you in the King’s name to respect his death.” At a news conference before the body went on view. Dr King’s widow, Mrs Coretta King, said: “The day that the Negro people and others in bondage are truly free, I know my husband will rest in a long-deserved peace.” President Johnson set today aside as a day of mourning in the nation, but the Mayor of Atlanta, Mr Ivan Allen, proclaimed Tuesday, the day of the funeral, for mourning in Atlanta. He called Dr King a “martyr for ages to come.” Senator Robert Kennedy, who supplied Dr King’s widow with an aircraft to return the body of her murdered husband to Atlanta, cancelled his campaigning until after the funeral. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey postponed all political trips and it was speculated that President Johnson might send Mr Humphrey to represent him at the funeral. One thousand troops were flown to Memphis, Tennessee, to reinforce nearly 4goo guardsmen for the massive memorial march for Dr King tomorrow.

About 40,000 mourners were expected to parade eight-abreast for six hours through the streets of the city where Dr King was shot on Thursday. Fears mounted that the march might spark another wave of destruction in the city that began the eruption of nation-wide violence.