Complaint On Civil Rights ‘Retreat’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32302, 21 May 1970, Page 8

Complaint On Civil Rights ‘Retreat’

(N Z Press Assn— Copyright) j WASHINGTON, May 19. i A Neßio Congi essman has said that President Nixon’s “retreat” on civil rights had created an alienation “as deep as it is dangerous” between the President and America’s Negroes. : Mr William L. Clay (Demo-i crat, Missouri), saying be j spoke for the other eight Negro House of Representative members, made the charge and complained that the members had been trying unsuccessfully for three months to see President Nixon in an effort to heal this ' alienation. i “The members of the black! caucus of the House of Repre-I sentatives make known at thisb

[time our outright disgust ;with the President’s policies' and his refusal to give us an audience,” Mr Clay said in a House speech and in a longer statement inserted in the Congressional Record. “We sought to open some ; lines of communication be-| tween the Administration; and black people," Mr Clay said. "It was viewed as a reasonable request.” Mr Clay said the nine Negro House members had [been trying since February 18 to meet the President. They were finally told on April 20 by a White House assistant, that “we bad hoped to be able to work this out, but the President’s schedule has been so full that we just 1 have not been able to work : 1 it in. At this, point, we do not 1 foresee an opportunity in the . immediate future, but will be ; (back in touch with you if any t ’appropriate time arises.” I

Mr Clay said, “The Nixon ; posture on civil rights and the conscious, well-publicised effort on the part of this Administration to retreat from! pursuit of freedoms for black (citizens, have been at issuej tsince Mr Nixon assumed ’Office. The alienation between! the black populace and this President is severe. It is as! deep as it is dangerous, j “The President's position { on the Voting’ Rights Act ex-i tension, his position on school desegregation, his Supreme! Court nominations of two I Southern racists, his veto of I Federal education funds, and! his refusal to place a priority I on the domestic concerns of| hunger, housing, poverty and! employment, testify to his! apathy not only toward black i people—but toward all poor! Americans who since January, 1969, have truly known . what it means to be forgot-' ten.” i I