Poor Camp In Washington

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 17

Poor Camp In Washington

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 13.

The Rev. Ralph Abernathy and other leaders of the “poor people’s campaign” wiH break ground early today for the building of “Resurrection City U.S.A.” in the centre of Washington.

The plywood and tent city is expected to house 3000 poor people who began arriving in the nation’s capital yesterday. The poor people en route from all parts of the country, planned to stay in i Washington for an indefinite period of

time petitioning Congress and the Federal Government for greater assistance.

Almost 500 people, who travelled in buses from Edwards, Mississippi, for seven days, arrived in Washington late yesterdav. They joined more than 100 other members of the southern caravan who were rushed to Washington a day earlier because they were ill and required medical care, food and rest. The first arrivals were being cared for at 10 reception centres established at local churches and social service centres where they will remain until they can be accommodated at “Resurrection City.” A 200-man crew will begin erecting the prefabricated plywood structures after the ground-breaking and dedication ceremonies led by Mr Abernathy, the campaign head and successor to Dr Martin Luther King as president of the Southern Christian Lead ership Conference. The 15acre site is located between two of Washington’s most famous landmarks, the Washington monument and the Lincoln memorial, and only a half-mile from the White House.

The leadership conference, sponsor of the campaign, has been issued a permit to remain on the Federally-owned parkland until June 16 with a provision for extension. Until all eight caravans of participants have arrived and publie demonstrations begin, around May 20, the poor people will help to erect the city, have picnic lunches beside the reflecting pool and enjoy entertainment pro grammes. Some 2000 people, most of them visiting Washington only for the day, took part in a welfare mothers’ march led by Dr King’s widow in the Negro district yesterday. At an opening rally after the march, Mrs King urged mothers and other people to adhere to the doctrine of non violence.

The leaders of the poor people’s campaign have pledged that their people will remain non-violent, but Federal and National Guard troops have already been placed on alert in the event of a disturbance. The Washington metropolitan police force has also augmented its

forces to deal with the large numbers of demonstrators.

The Attorney-General, Mr Ramsey Clark, said yesterday that law enforcement authorities were prepared to deal swiftly with any law-breakers. He said he believed the campaign leaders were dedicated to keeping the extended protest peaceful. During yesterday’s march, dozens of campaign marshals worked continuously to keep the procession orderly and to prevent demonstrators from mobbing Mrs King. Their efforts, and those of local police, were entirely success ful and there were no incidents reported.