Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.
About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1983)
\ - w- PAGE 12—The Georgia Bulletin, August 18,1983 Washington March: A Preview Catholic Lay Speaker Remembers 1963 Demonstration in Atlanta in March of 1965. BY JAMES B. BURKE WASHINGTON (NC) - The Catholic layman who dared the 1963 March on Washington to believe that the United States could end racial discrimination within two decades says now that he was “optimistic.” “There have been some significant changes for blacks since the march — improved access to public transportation and lodging, and voting,” said Mathew Ahmann, associate director for governmental relations of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. “But some basic problems have not changed in the past 20 years,” he continued. “Blacks are still not allowed a full economic role,” he said. The economic situation, in fact, is getting worse for minorities, he said. On Aug. 28, 1963, Ahmann, the 32-year-old director of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, shared the podium at the Lincoln Memorial with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and addressed the 250,000-strong March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A 20th Anniversary March on Washington for Jobs, Peace and Freedom on Aug. 27 will commemorate the 1963 march and protest current unemployment, denial of rights and the arms race. Ahmann was the only designated Catholic among the 10 main speakers at the 1963 march. Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle, now retired archbishop of Washington, led the march in prayer. Other bishops attending were Cardinal Lawrence Shehan and Auxiliary Bishop T. Austin Murphy of Baltimore, Bishop John J. Russell and then- Auxiliary Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler of Richmond, Bishop Michael Hyle of Wilmington, Del., and then-Auxiliary Bishop Philip M. Hannan of Washington. Ahmann said to the march, “What man can say this great country with its democratic ideals, its vital and resilient spirit, its sophisticated resources cannot bring an end to racial discrimination at home now, and within a decade or two end the other disabilities under which, for so long, so many Negro citizeps have labored?” Between 1960 and 1982 "\ the adult black male population increased 92 percent, Ahmann said, but employment of that population increased only 42 percent. There has also been a “dramatic rise” in black households headed by women in the period, he said. ‘‘As for quality education and a decent income for blacks, we’ve been very negligent,” he said, suggesting placards at the 1963 march might have better carried a greater emphasis on “jobs” than “freedom”’ “Without picking on any one political leader, the responsibility is ours,” Ahmann said. “Overall we have just not done the job and the problems are getting worse,” he said. BY JAMES B. BURKE WASHINGTON (NC) - Leaders of the 20th anniversary March on Washington say they will revise their policy papers to assure Jewish groups that a Middle East plank is not an attack on U.S. military aid to Israel. They also denied that dissension over other issues is brewing in the ranks of the broad-based New Coalition of Conscience, which is sponsoring the march Aug. 27. In large urban areas, resources are not committed to “quality education,” he said. He pointed to an inner city school in Chicago which had no books. “That sort of thing still happens,” he said. Regarding the labor force, Ahmann faulted “lots of tokenism.” He encouraged the Catholic support for the march “looks good,” according to a U.S. Catholic Conference staff member, and one Catholic woman who participated in the civil rights March on Washington 20 years ago recalls it “as a picnic with the Lord.” The March on Washington for Jobs, Peace and Freedom, scheduled for Aug. 27, is one part of a year-long “mobilization” by the New Coalition of Conscience, which includes civil rights, labor, religious, peace, environmentalist and government to provide young people and those who might be excluded from the labor force with job training. The Aug. 27 anniversary march is coming none too soon, according to Ahmann. “It’s certainly time to say, ‘We had better do something about these problems,” he said. women’s groups. The coalition also plans to develop support for a legislative program on jobs, peace and freedom. The Rev. Martin Luther King led the Aug. 26, 1963, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which drew more than 250,000 participants and was telecast to millions across the nation. The 1963 march is considered by many to have been instrumental in securing passage of civil rights legislation. “My. r greatest love has always been the missions of the Church.” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen applied his special gifts to making his greatest love the greatest love of every Catholic. He believed in American Catholics, saying “they want to put their faith to work.” '83 March Set For August 27 Responding to his urging, they did—by supporting the missions through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Bishop Sheen made the missions a household word—he was a strong, clear voice reminding us that “the world is dying for a little bit of love.” The world is still dying for love, the love of Christ shared by His mission Church. As Bishop Sheen did so many times, the Propagation of the Faith calls on you for prayer and sacrifice: to give, not from your “extras,” but from that which sustains you—in imitation of the total sacrifice and love of Christ. Yes! I want to give my love to the world through a genuine sacrifice for the mission Church. Enclosed is my gift of: □ $2,400 □ $1,200 □ $600 □ $300 □ $150 □ $50 □ $25 □ $10 □ Other $ □ I will send a monthly donation when possible. Name u ML N s Homeowners and Businesses Secured by Residential Property We Pay Cash ior existing 1st & 2nd Mortgages Call 955-2121 ME EQUITY JI° 11 Cl CENTERS,INC. The Money People® We strip any “straight” chair for$QOO 7 EACH Revolutionary new method! Completely safe for fine furniture, metal, wicker, etc. Call for our low prices of other items. 426-0597 STRIP-EASE OF ATLANTA PIANO INSTRUCTION • all ages Pre-piano Rhythm Group (3-5) Lee F. Blitch 373-3216 Located in Christ The King Parish Pin, anJWeeJL Alterations Clerical Garments Altered & Repaired Also Choir Robes, Confirmation Robes, First Comihunion Dresses ft Suites Alfredo Avino, Prop. 3074 Roswell Rd., N.W. Corner E. Pace Ferry 233-6643 ft Roswell at Buckhead Address City State _ Zip Please ask the missionaries to remember the following intentions at Mass k .. . . r M n f Send your gift to: * The Society lot THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH The Reverend E. Peter Ludden 680 W. Peachtree Street, N. W. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 .-J J^mericana Healthcare Center We Care ... Quality Loving Care Long Term & Rehabitation 4360 Johnson Ferry Place Marietta, Georgia 30067 404-971-5870 Wills Corporations Personal Injury Richard A. Rice Attorney At Law 523 1087 1400 Bank of the South Atlanta, Georgia 30303
