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8 ~ 1 OPN al Ota NS. 10 610-106 oan ben #0 MO. 27 ‘ t UNITED STATES ra ERNMENT an © ? Aseae. Dir. JZ ° Asst. Dir.: Admin. LY ~ Memorandum ti C. File: bt Gen. inv TO . + fhe Director DATE: §/24/7 Meeciien er ? , FROM Ojeut at Bowhgs flee ke avy ‘te TERS gd 0a} Prcining . Satine ee aN Q4UTENG I ‘eka vid.. 4 Ih suRjEcT: CONGRESSMAN bikans@ “énttt 4 Ea AME a Cons a COMPLAINTS RE HANDLING OF CIVIL RIGHTS CASES Research rai IN KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA pee _ = . " Director Sec'y Late on 8/23/73, Jerome Zeifman, Chief Counsel of the House Committee on Judiciary, called to advise me of a telephone conversation he had just had with Congressman Edwards. He said Edwards is currently in California and has spent considerable time in the Kern County area where there is a great deal of unrest in connection with labor activities involving grape pickers. Several individuals have been killed or injured during this labor unrest. Zeifman said that Edwards is very concerned that the investigations of this situation are not being handied properly. He said Edwards specifically expressed his concern that the publicly stated policy of former Acting Director Gray to the effect that outs Agents would be sent in to handle civil rights cases is not being followed in this instance. He said Edwards feels a number of Agents should be sent into the area from other FBI offices and that they specifically should be Agents with Spanish speaking ability. He sai Edwards had commented that he recently had some contact with the Phoenix FBI Office and had been highly impressed with the competency of the number of Spanish speaking Agents availabie there. .? ae ® . 4 ox (CORDED Bex Batt tidal 66 053 Zeifman advised Edwards has ited the FBI ReSident Agency3.~ office in the area where this labor problem is centered expressing ‘ his concern over these cases and also has communicated directly with the Department of Justice about this matter. He said Edwards feels his expressions of concern have not generated the proper response and Edwards is now suggesting that he be allowed to convene his ttee on, on Civil Rights and Constitutional Rights of the House Committee on Judiciary to conduct hearings in California concerning the handling ¢/4 of these cases. Zeifman said at Edwards’ request he has discussed this matter with Pat McSweeney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs in the absence of Assistant Attorney General Mike McKevitt, and that he expects .a reeponsg FPR McSweeney. Zeifman said he was meyeaLy. seyising Me, AG. th at, (bHa4 FRE ppuld be aware of this siesations HEPES 2 UNGUSSIFIED: =e or SS - Mr. Callah 7 AUG 30 1973 - Mr. Gebhard) TE2a¢a3 _BYEX1035 7: Lea 1 1 i - Mr. McGowan ag x Con 1 —_ ae | (CONTINUED-OVER) ' - - Mr. Bowers b aw oe 7 tilcs pert} 7 YAN 14 ae a ee a W ~ Mr. Herington