U.S. black leaders confer

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 8

U.S. black leaders confer

NZPA-Reuter New York In response to what many blacks believe to be a worsening racial crisis in the United States, 15 black leaders have met in New York and agreed to launch a counter-attack on “the callous neglect of blacks, the poor, and America’s cities.” Their statement issued through Mr James D. Williams, spokesman for the National Urban League said that consensus issues of “critical concern for the civil-rights leaders included full employment, rebuilding our cities, welfare reform, affirmative action, economic development, and the rejuvenation of moral and social purpose in this nation.” The meeting, the first since the 19605. and intended as the first in a series of conferences was called to co-ordinate the strategies and tactics of the groups whose leaders attended. Numerous calls over the years for a summit meeting of black leaders have been blocked by conflicts over strategy among he half dozen or so main organisations, and by the lack of anyone to take the lead. The last big co-opera'ive effort bv black groups was the march on Washington led by the late Rev. Martin Luther King, jun. in August, 1964. Monday marked the 14th anniversary of the march on Washington.