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THE PEOPLE’S PAPER < Vol. 5 Abernathy: 'Next Time I Come, I Won’t BeComing To Make A Speech - I’ll Be Coming For Action’ The Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), spoke in Augusta Saturday and promised to return with professional pickets, organize a massive boycott of white-owned businesses and lead a march down Broad Street. “We are going to intensify the picketing,” Abernathy said. “I’ve got to bring into Augusta additional staff from national SCLC to organize this picketing. Because we’re going to picket in Augusta like you’ve never seen it before. “When I come back to Augusta, I will not be alone. I will not come to make a speech. When I come back to Augusta, I’m coming for action. If we have to tear up the town to do it, then let’s tear up the town.” Abernathy spoke in a vacant lot on the comer of Ninth and Gwinnett streets, and emphasized SCLC’s commitment to non-violence. The rally was sponsored by “We Want Our Share”, a group 0 ' aWi^ga t DICK GREGORY Dick Gregory To Climax BSU Activities By Audrey Frazier Renown author, lecturer and humanitarian Dick Gregory will climax this year’s activities for the Black Student Union of Augusta College. Gregory will speak at the Performing Arts Theater on campus at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The Black Student Union, which is a public service organization, has performed various community services. The members have participated in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s anniversary, the Concerned Mother’s anniversary, and the Dr. Martin * Luther King play. Also S2OO was donted to the Bethlehem Community Center. A milestone in the BSU’s history was the election of two campus queens who were representatives of the BSU. Miss Sharon Aiken and Miss Janette Simmons were elected Miss Christmas Belle and Miss Homecoming respectively. The BSU had a successful Black History Week which climaxed with “Talent and Fashions Unlimited,” a Black cultured, talent and fashion show. Recently the BSU sponsored P. O. Box 953 that has been picketing downtown stores for three weeks seeking a 50-50 racial employment in local businesses and in local government; support for Black-owned newspapers and the Black-owned radio station, and better recreational facilities in the Black community. The group also demanded that the Wallace Branch Library be kept open. The county has decided to leave it open for the rest of the year. TIME TO CALL PREACHERS INTO QUESTION The Rev. Charles Wells, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, told the more than 250 persons attending the rally not to support ministers who don’t support the boycott. “The preachers,” he said, “wear those fine clothes, ride in those big cars, live in those fine homes and many of you are supporting them, and they aren’t supporting you. “The time has come to call the preachers into question. Tell them that unless they get behind the boycott, that you’re going to boycott that Augusta’s first Black music and arts festival. Dean Roscoe Williams is advisor of the BSU. Officers are Charles Martin, president; Carl Jones, acting vice-president; Audrey Frazier, secretary; Sharon Aiken, assistant secretary; and John Beal, treasurer. Gordon Ross resided as president for the fall and winter quarters. The BSU expresses deep appreciation to the community for support shown throughout the year. As a lecturer, the former professional comedian has become the most soughtafter speaker in America on college campuses. He visits more than 300 colleges each school year. The St. Louis native became a state champion in high school and college in track and field and later entered the entertainment field and rose quickly to the top. “The number one firoblern in America oday is not air or water pollution. It is moral pollution.” “There is a great social collection plate.” Wells also berated Blacks who shop in shopping center stores that are being picketed downtown. He told the rally, “I want you to get the message over that if we’re boycotting Belk’s, we’re boycotting Belk’s downtown, in Daniel Village, and everywhere there’s a sign that says B-E-L-K-’-S. If we’re boycotting Davison’s, White’s or Cullum’s, that means boycotting everything that looks like Cullum’s, looks like White’s, and looks like Davison’s. All of them have got to go.” Abernathy told the enthusiastic listeners, “Your demands are very simple, and we’re getting ready to start a revolution. It reminds me of Montgomery, Alabama 20 years ago. We had simple demands. The city could have granted those requests and we wouldn’t be where we are today. But they wouldn’t grant those demands and a movement was bom.” If they don’t give you more jobs then keep your money in your revolution going on in America today,” he states. “And the wonderful thing about this revolution is thaj it is not Black against white. It is simply right against wrong. The number one problem in America today is not air or water pollution. It is moral pollution." Famed Black Scientist, Percy Julian, Dies OAK PART, 111. - Dr. Percy L. Julian, one of the leading scientists of his time and a great Black American of all time, died Saturday, April 19, at St. Theresa’s hospital in Waukegan, 111., at the age of 76. Dr. Julian, whose work as a research chemist was hailed the world over for many years, had obtained 130 chemical patents. He won international acclaim for his work with the soybean. In his chemical lab, he isolated the soya protein that became the basis of AeroFoam, the extinguisher known in World War II as the Navy’s Augusta, Georgia pockets,” he said. Augusta, he added, labors behind a false image. Augusta wants everybody to believe that Augusta is that little fine, cultured town in Georgia. But Augusta isn’t anything but a city that is run by a bunch of hypocrites and a bunch of racists.” He lashed the white news media and called for leaders to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. “I want to know where is the news media,” Abernathy repeatedly demanded. “What I’m trying to get you to see is that those stations are controlled by white people. They think that what we are trying to do is not important, is not significant enough to be covered. He called upon Black leaders to file a complaint against all three of the local TV stations. You let the Ku Klux Klan have a rally, I’ll bet they’ll cover that.” Rally organizers said a survey of Broad Street businesses found that 85 per Justice North Carolina Style: pARTI " Rev. Ben Chavis And The Wilmington Ten by Angela Y. Davis On December 3, 1971, convicted Watergate criminal Robert C. Mardian sent a confidential memo, as Assistant Attorney General to John Mitchell, to the U.S. Marshalls Service. “It is anticipated,” Mardian wrote, “that Walter David Washington and Theodore Alfred Hood will be key witnesses in the trial of James Earl Grant, Jr. and Benjamin Franklin Chavis, known Black militants, after evidence secured by the investigating agents has been presented to a Federal Grand Jury to be convened in the Eastern District of North Carolina the week of December 6, 1971.” Subsequently, $6,522.22 was paid to Walter Washington and $7314.77 to Alfred Hood. Many people are now insisting that Hood and Washington are two cogs in a secret, government-sponsored plan to put Ben Chavis behind bars for the rest of his life. If you should ever meet Ben Chavis - he will probably be wearing the black shirt and white clerical collar of his calling - you will undoubtedly be shocked to learn that this is the man who is one of the DR. PERCY L. JULIAN See “Dr. JULIAN” Page 7 cent of the customers are Black but only 15 per cent of the employees are Black. “You’re not asking that they fire whites but that they hire Blacks three to : one,” the Rev. Abernathy said. The Rev. Wells, who introduced the Rev. Dr. Abernathy, said it was difficult to assess the impact of the picketing so far. “When whites start to feel an economic crunch, then I think we’ll get some results,” the Rev. Wells said. Os the employment goals, he said, “People keep talking about qualified people. We're talking about qualifiable people.” The Rev. Wells said employers should make an effort to teach Blacks necessary skills if they don’t already have them. Pressed to be specific on the date of his return to Augusta, the Rev. Dr. Abernathy said he would keep a “watchful eye” on the progress of the locally-organized picketing but would not wait for an invitation to return if he felt it necessary. most wanted ‘criminals’ in the state of North Carolina. Slight of build, he is warm and softspoken. His manner is gentle, yet intense. His Christian beliefs are, for him, an imperative to social action - action against racist discrimination, needless - /±£L ' -*»lv • M» < DEBORAH MANOR & PETER MILOVAN Josey’s Top Grads Photo by Mike Carr Deborah A. Manor and Peter Philip Milovan who have been named respectively Valedictorian and Salutatorian at T. W. Josey High School. May 1, 1975 No. 6 EBHk |Bbß| 9 The Rev. Ralph David Abernathy (second from right), leads in singing of “We Shall Overcome” after he addressed rally at Ninth and Gwinnett streets. (L-R) Mrs. Marguerite Bryant, Rev. Michael McCoy, Rev. Charles E. Wells, Rev. Nathaniel Irvin, Dr. Abernathy and Rev. Robert Pagett. poverty and all the prevailing inequities in our society. He has fought for quality education. He has protested the casual and conciliatory attitudes of southern governments toward the Ku See “JUSTICE” Page 7 Deborah is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Sibert of Savannah, Ga. but resides in Augusta with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. James B. wiwmii Emaa MK! **&»**>*■ at ■■MB# ft ***&■W F ■BBB jflv lIKBk bmb JRfli SHERRY NEAL "Little Miss Paine” “Little Miss Paine” for 1975 is Sherry Neal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A Neal of 3114 Palm Court, Augusta, Georgia. Sherry won the crown in the “Little Miss Paine” contest, sponsored by the Paine College Pre-Alumni Club. She raised the highest amount of money in the contest. The Queen’s court includes: Clarissa Walker, Parker. Deborah serves as treasurer of the National Honor Society, co-editor of the yearbook, vice president of her senior class, secretary of the Debutante Club, co-captain of the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team and is a member of the Student Council, Math Club and Pep Club. She has been selected to participate in the Pre-Freshman Summer Program at Spelman College, and plans to attend Spelman or Paine College for a degree in mathematics. Peter came from Germany to join his parents here in America five years ago. He is the son of Mrs. Ana Helga Milovan, foreign language teacher at Paine College. Peter participates in Air Force Junior ROTC. He is the president and founder of the Aerospace Club, vice-president of the National Honor Society, and a member of the tennis team. He plans to attend Geoigia Institute of Technology. daughter of Mrs. Yvonne Walker of 504 Sand Bar Ferry Road; LaSonya McCain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McCain of 1225 Beman St. and Mary Jane Norris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Norris of P.O. Box 382, Leesville, S.C. The total raised for the event was $1,032.00 Shelia Gibbs, “Little Miss Paine” for 1974 crowned Sherry. HI ’MT KENNETH ARMSTEAD Graduates From MIT Kenneth Jerome Armstead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Furness J. Armstead of Charlotte, N.C. See “GRADUATE” Page 2 20P