Mayor’s ‘Shoot-To-Kill’ Order Condemned

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 12

Mayor’s ‘Shoot-To-Kill’ Order Condemned

6V.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright)

CHICAGO, April 16.

The decision of the Mayor of Chicago (Mr Richard Daley) to issue his Police Department with a “shoot-to-kill” order in case of further racial disorders, was condemned by civil rights leaders today.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson,; who was standing behind Dr, Martin Luther King when he] was shot dead, described; Mayor Daley’s order as “a Fascist response to the rioting.” He said that Mayor Daley, who had ordered the police to kill arsonists and maim looters, was more concerned with property than human life. “RiotS are illegal, but not illegitimate,” Mr Jackson added. Yesterday Mr Daley accused the Chicago police of laxity during the riots that followed the murder of Dr King, and accused the city police superintendent of failing to issue, a “shoot-to-kill” order as in-1 structed. The three-day riots in Chicago caused seven deaths, hundreds of people were injured, and an estimated 5N.Z.18,928,600 worth of damage was done. Many civil rights leaders ] have stressed that the rioting throughout the country might have been worse had the police not shown consider-

able restraint. On the other hand, several Congressmen have complained that frequently the police stood by and watched looting take i place. I Other observers noted that ■ for the first time in many ! years, the racial disorders

r were not precipitated by alii legations of police brutality. ■- Alderman Leon Despres y said the police did not have eto obey Mr Daley’s latest order. it “No statute provides the y death penalty for arson,” he s I added.