◆ SpookStack

AT 77-4185 “state officials involved. Due credit should be given to the present United States Department of Justice for this much. It is quite evident that more vigorous action must ve taken by the members of the Department of Justice presenting these cases to the Grand Jury. The report of the Grand Jury on the Sikeston lynching includes a statement that begins with:.a rehearsal of evidence presented to it of the crime aileged to have been committed by the victim of the mob and then proceeds to find the victim guilty of the crime for which he was charged by stating that ‘in this instance a brutal criminal was denied due process,' Thie was of course beyond the scope of the Grand Jury investigation and was unnecessary, uncalled for and indeed is contrary to the facts revealed by other investigations. “The report further cited instances of violence against Negroes in uniform by civilian and state officials. "RAP SOLDIER ATTACKS "An attack on a Negro soldier or sailor in wiiform 4s a direct attack on ow government. Unless the federal government is willing to protect its soldiers and sailors on leave as well as while on duty, it is impossible to main- tain the proper morale among Negro soldiers and sailors and their families, and the authority of government itseif is seriously undermined. It is impossible to develop combat efficiency in Negro soldiers and sailors while denying then basic civil rights during the period of their training. “one of the most serious consequences of congestion on segregated public carriers is the almost daily conflict petween soldiers and white fellow passengers, whether traveling on duty or on furlough the colored soldier experiences the indignity of segregation. Moreover, he is often ordered to move from seats customarily set aside for Negro passengers so that white persons may be seated. With increasing frequency he 14 denied accomodations altogether when there are sufficient white persons waiting to fill the entire vehicle. -4- a eee nO ee