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NY 100-25857 « The "Daily Worker* issue of June 3, 1948, reported that five a thousand people picketing the White House on the same date in protest against a ( inaction on civil rights legislation, were led by PAUL ROBESON and BENJAMIN a J. DAVIS, New York City Commmist Councilman, The pickets were a part of a delegation of seven thousand from nineteen states organized by the Non= partisan Delegation in Washington for Civil Rights legislation and the Committee for Democratic Rights. This group opposed the MINDI-NIXON Bill —_ and pressed for passage of anti-lynching, anti~poll tax and fair employment practices legislation. When questioned by a reporter concerning his being a member of the Communist Party, ROBESON replied, "That question has become the basis of the fight for civil liberties, and until that fight is won, I refuse to answer it. That is the only reason I have for not answering. ing on a motion in Supreme Court, New York County, New York, for an injunc~ tion restraining MAX YERGAN from representing himself as the Executive Direc- tor of the Council on African Affaire, YERGAN'S counsel told the court that a dispute had arisen within the Council when the Department of Justice included it among a group of organizations listed as "totalitarian, Fascist or subversive.* At that time he stated that YERGAN told reporters that the Council sought only to interest the public in improving conditions among the peoples of Africa and was not "totalitarian, Fascist, Communist or sub- versive. PAUL ROBESON criticized this statement, according to YERGAN'S C counsel, stating to members of the Council at e subsequent meeting that —_, The *New York Sun*® of June 4, 1948, reported that during a hear- YERGAN should have attacked the Attorney General. YERGAN'S counsel also told the court that YEPGAN was the rightful Executive Director and that the ROBESON faction was seeking to "pull a squeeze play to get YERGAN out” because of his efforts to rid the Council of Commmist influence, The "New York Times" issue of June 4, 1948, reported tha on the previous evening, at a meeting at.the Manhattan Center, New York City, sponsored by "Masses and Main Stream", PAUL ROBESON renounced the MUNDT- NIXON Bill. He stated that it was the responsibility of artists and writers to make strong opposition to any legislation seeking to crush civil rights ) a in the country. : Confidential Informant on ce coed reported that, vere J ing to M @ Council on ae en Ax er Executive Dire Affairs, Masa McLane RINE, member of the Executive Committee of the’To