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TO | : The Director FROM SUBJECT: foNGRESSMAN DON WARDS ornomas 1ot~ m9. 10 tor0-108 ots Gin ero ho. a7 ‘ t UNITED STATES ERNMENT . ; LY * Memorandum ; DATE: g/24/7 va ? (ue pe BY Biv ET ris Ae ; COMPLAINTS RE HANDLING OF CIVIL RIGHTS CASES IN KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Director See’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 handled properly. He ; said Edwards specifically expressed his concern that the publicly : stated policy of former Acting Director Gray to the effect that outside 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 i should be sent into the area from other FBI offices and that they Re specifically should be Agents with Spanish speaking ability. He said}. Edwards had commented that he recently had some contact with the Phoenix FBI Office and had been highly impressed with the competency a. : of the number of Spanish speaking s available there. FI 1 Ye FOUE = 3s Zeifman advised Edwards has vi: ited the FBI ReSident Agency 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 tte one 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 me ctr a re of Assistant Attorney General Mike McKevitt, and ab He expe jie Zespons McSweeney. Zeifman said he was me tae be, io th ppula be aware of this situation. : S NOOSSIFIED aw 1 - Mr. Callah VEX: 7 AUG aT } - Mr. STE Daca 6 BB Lae 7 oad - . McGowan — —_ — 1 - Mr. Herington a9 57 mer (CONTINUED-OVER) ) es +{] - Mr. Bowers Sie - . ew phh 974 x LO SEE 4 (8) ° ‘