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U/hr m mi U- .'.'-HOHVSUW Vol. 1 I r I J // - B dL 13i Kt* wRX ■■'jJi JBlWlyjife, aJ ■ BE**'•"■■* , n '. • •?• *F j t 4 : ; : ~ " ' "'X *~“ **~ ~ j r —* ~■ ti 11-jwn -(iha— .'?£&* IB I|. tt » 4> IWB 1 - '-\ JB~! fijfi r< - I ■ 3." | t 9 11 <£ d ? * S^flyaaSR 1 - ■* HOUSE OF PRAYER HOLDS ANNUAL PARADE Ex-Convict ATTICA JUST A BEGINNING “ft’, i bad scene in the peniWntiaries. The main thing is thar there should be -1 hope that soon there is - there has to be some outside organization or committee that will hear these complaints by these inmates. At least hear them! “Now what you’re going to run into; when this happens, is that the prison administration is going to say that we can’t allow no interference with the running of this prison because of security. They won’t let you hear the complaints, because they are afraid that there may be some truth in it that can be proven. And just as this Attica thing says - because for a whole half day, that’s all I heard on the news - that the inmates cut their throats. The inmates did this; the inmates did that. Now all of a sudden it has been proven that the guards killed the guards. And actually all that killing did not have to take place. ”I’m gla<4 that 1 made it out. Like I said, I’ve been in and out on several occasions. Age (40) has a lot to do with my views now and with my detc nation to stay* out. Because as a young man with no responsibility, what the heck? Doing five years wasn’t nothing. But now as your birthdays begin to catch up with you. And as you kind of settle and learn a little more and face the truth within yourself - acknowledging where y\u went wrong, acknowledging all fault due yob, not covering anything up anymore. You come to'a point where you’re going to make up your mind to either do right or spend the rest of your life in J SUPPORT YOUR NAACP g BY SEND IN G ■ 1 YOUR DONATIONS ■ TO NAACP - " POST OFFICE BOX 2800 ■ I SAND HILL BRANCH J i AUGUSTA. GA. 30903 • Nfuw- Skit inn the jifnitentiary. That's your home from then on. Now unfortunately you have a lot of men and women thaf bag up like this. The penitentiary is their home; they are in and out in and out all of their lives “I just hope that the people learn a little something from this Attica incident. And the only reason that that took place is because of abuse of authority by those prison officials. There are just so many little things that they can do to a man that’s locked up; it gets to them. It gets to ’em real rough. And you will find that some of these guards begin enjoying doing these things. They look at a prison as - what the heck - I didn’t have anything to do with you coming here, buddy. The judge sentenced you; my job is to make sure you stay here. But they go a little beyond their job, just because they have the authority. ’’They have a rule in some prisons that you can be charged with silent insolence!” Silent insolence. They stick it to you. There aint Ino way you can get away. So what you have to do in these joints - you got to swallow almost all your pride. You got to swallow your arrogance. You got to swallow your pride. And you got to go along with the program. You put up ‘Sirs’ in the right place. You don’t be seen in the wrong place, that is, if you want to make it. “In the penitentiary the officials can set you up pretty quick through the inmates. Because they have this ‘rat’ system that’s in effect in the penitentiary just like it is in the streets. If you’re a fellow who I kind of skates on the border line of being right all the time - when you get into a jam with the officials. They don’t like it. They have numerous inmates that they can approach. They’ll say! There’s a wise one over there. Remember, I let you do so and so a while back. All of a sudden you got a knife in your gut. I got scars on my gut. I got 930 Gwinnett St. Augusta Ga Phone 722-4555 part 2 scars, and I’m very fortunate for being alive. The only reason I am alive, I guess, is because the man set up to off (kill) me did not know how to use a klllfe - SEE ATTICA Page 2 HUD urges assault on institutional racism WASHINGTON - Although there has been considerable improvement in the social and economic status of black Americans, it is essential that there bfe no relaxation in the continuing assault on institutional racism,“ a ranking official of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said recently. Speaking to the Hungry Club in Birmingham, .Ma., Samuel C. Jackson, HUD general assistant secretary declared that the ultimate goal of the nonwhite community should be the total resurrection of its rights and privileges so that it can share fully and equally in the bounty of American society. The HUD official pinpointed housing, economic opportunity and education as focal areas for continued pressure by the black leadership. “We have come a long way,” he said “but we have a long way to go.” He indicated that the Administration is well aware of the urgency of the situation and pointed to specific measures taken to speed the upward mobility of the Nation’s nonwhite citizens. He noted that the Small Business Aministration loaned $l6O million to 6,262 minority busnessmen in 1970. Loans by the SBA so far this year totalled $213 million to 7,776 minority entrepreneurs. Typical of these, is the recent $2,370,000 loan for the establishment of 19 fast-food to be owned by THE PEOPLE’S PAPER WANTED NEWS BOYS WANTED! 100 News Boys Good Pay CALL News—Review Office 930 Gwinnett St. 722-4555 nonwhite businessmen in Chicago, Cleveland and Washington, D.C. As an indication of HUD’s impact on the housing situation, Jackson revealed that 36,000 low-rent housing units are currently under public management in Alabama with 5,200 HUD-assisted low rent and home ownership units scheduled for completion this year. All told, HUD-assisted housing in Birmingham represents 25 percent of total construction in the State of Alabama. Turning to the problem of fair housing, Jackson noted that President Nixon’s statement of June 11 asserted that the denial of equal housing to people of all races is illegal and would not be tolerated whether practices overtly or by resort to economic considerations as a subterfuge. He also emphasized the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which prohibit discrimination in most private real estate actions, regardless of whether federal assistance is involved. “For the first time,” he said “the Executive Branch, the Congress and the Judiciary have 'all agreed as to what constitutes housing discrimination and expressed a firm commitment to eliminate it. However, in the final analysis much will depend on the vigilance and the intelligent application of pressure by black leadership at local levels.” SHOULD SHERIFF AND POLICE CHIEF RESIGN The Attica Hour by John ruffin Earlier this month, this nation was exposed to the foul stench of prison life with all its attendant ingredients - ignorance, vengeance, racism - to name just a few. To some people it was shocking, to others it was traditional authority handling a matter in its traditional way, to others it was of no concern. To still others it was another step of decadence in a nation whose headaches no amount of Excedrin can cure, irrespective of the type. The unfortunate truth is that the “Attica Hour” is every hour for this country’s black citizenry. Attica is but a minuscule of this country, the only difference in blacks and Puerto Ricans inside of Attica and those outside being the size of the prison. No part of this country escapes the “Attica Hour.” In our own community, citizens of the “law and order” mold are publicly and vigorously making plans to deny black children a chance to share a quality education (such as it is). Civil disobedience is a virtue sometimes, with those who violate the law willing to suffer the consequences. When the Sheriff of Richmond County and the Chief of Police of the City of Augusta are members of the steering committee of a group which has publicly stated it plans to violate the law, someone needs to sober with reason and restraint those intoxicated with fear and ignorance. Either those persons who occupy the highest positions of law enforcement in this community should resign from their positions of Sheriff and Police Chief respectively, or they should not take part in the proposed unlawful activity of this group. But the “Attica Hour” permits this, just as it permitted the City Council of Augusta and the County Commission to pass resolutions regarding this matter - areas of concern which neither body has heretofore dared act. Does this community actually realize that these chief law enforcement officers are publicly on the wrong side of the law? Does this community actually realize that these governing bodies are lending aid and assistance to the wrong side of the law? Why has the news media been silent about this? Why has no leader - black or white - felt the compulsion to speak out against this local ugl> hour of Attica? This community has traditionally and erroneously in recent years boasted of its good race relations, although it has been told United Fund Kick-Off By Al Irby Howard K. Smith, ABC’s ace anchor commentator, and lead announcer thrilled a huge audience at the annual kick-off luncheon of United Way Campaign Fund. The spaceous Ambassador Ballroom of the Richmond Hotel was packed to capacity with the joint civic club members, staff workers, and friends to greet the illustrious news and television personality. Mr. Smith began his speech with a demonstration of his celebrated wit, then proceeded to tell the interested listeners what a glorious, and remarkable age we are living in. “Prospects are incredibly bright, in this era of plenty, and technical advancements abound.” The pithy newsman pointed out the current progress of America’s black populace; but hurriedly added, that it was not enough, but at least a beginning has been made. He asked a pertinent question; “Why are we, as a nation in such a perilous condition, when we have so much going for us?” Mr. Smith supplied an answer to his own paradoxical inquiry'. “Change is the answer for it. Even with our abundance, we cannot adjust.” Our central cities are decaying, and the people that reside there are disconsolated, and filled with rage.” The nation’s air and water-ways are carelessly polluted.” “Change is still the big issue. It is sweeping our old roots away, but change is good for us all. It has brought us undreamed of progress, inspite of all the head-aches. Our attitudes have not kept apace with the change around us.” Mr. Smith implied that we are beginning to see the glorious light. Movements like the United Way of sharing are living examples, that we are concerned with those less fortunate. He reminded us indelibly, that we are most certainly our brother’s keepers. Atlanta Black Leaders to Attend Caucus Several Atlantans will join black leaders from throughout the nation who will meet at the O’Hare Airport Motel irr- Chicago Friday night for a strategy session on the 1972 presidential election. State Rep. Julian Bond, who was nominated for vice president during the 1968 Democratic Party convention despite the fact he w'as underage, and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. are among those extending invitations to black leaders to come to the session. State Sen. Leroy Johnson, the Rev. Andrew Young, Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson, State Rep. Ben Brown and John Lewis, director of the Voter Education Project, are among other Atlantans expected to attend. Gary, Ind.’s Mayor Richard Hatcher, Jesse Jackson, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket and Percy Sutton, president of the Borough of Manhattan, were others exending the invitation. On tap for discussion is whether black leaders hould support candidates of either major party, a third party or form an independent party, a source said. Also to be discussed is whether a black man should run for president in primaries in states where there is a large black population. Bond has suggested this route in a memorandum to black leaders. An article in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine proposed Young as a possible vice presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket. Young denied any real interest in a national campaign. “I just want to be September 30, 1971 # 28 I repeatedly that such is not the case. This community does a “statistical analysis” and boasts of having one black on the Civil Service Commission out of five; one black on the Housing Authority of five; one black on the Hospital Authority of five; one black on the County Commission of five; one black in the legislature; two blacks on the Board of Education of sixteen; and four blacks on the City Council of sixteen, - and it has the audacity to say “all is well.” The tragedy of this community is not that it is confronted with a series of ugly events - some more notable than others - but there is a void or a vacuum in leadership, both black and white with no recognizable potential for eliminating or at least minimizing community ills. Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick, and the ugly hour of Attica continues unabated. It is indeed frightening that no blacks were included on the Augusta Commission Disaster Planning, out of a total membership of twenty-eight. The absence of blacks creates a disaster. This is especially true when one notices some of the persons who are on the commission. As the ugly hour of Attica ticks by, hour by hour, “we rot and rot.” Who, with any semblance of fairness, would permit a judge of Recorder’s Court to represent police officers in civil and criminal proceedings when, as judge of the Recorder’s Court, he sits in judgment of disputes between citizens and the very police officers he represented? Who, with any semblance of fairness, would exclude blacks and females from jury service? Who, with any semblance of fairness, would permit black school teachers to be intimidated by school officials and police officers? Who, with any semblance of fairness, would permit discriminate killing of blacks by police officers who shot six blacks in the back last year? Who, with any semblance of fairness, would not require the Richmond County Coroner to conduct an inquest Aietermine the cause of death of blacks shot in the back when theraw requires an inquest to be held within sixty days from the killing? Meanwhile, blacks are being misdirected by quasi-politicians who are dousing them with political marginality, and the ugly hour of Attica continues. congressman,” said the man who lost to U.S. Rep. Fletcher Thompson in 1968. States in which a black might enter primaries include Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Florida and perhaps California, Tennessee, and North Carolina. There were reports that the meeting was to have been Wednesday night, but a number of black leaders in J/ ■. • -*" JO ' ' ' ■ SR B / K JU J ■ i .. why wBBHk JZjKjgg'iW wL’a-o . jMt- J W FOR PRESIDENT - Promising to “shake the system up,” Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, D-N.Y., says she will formally announce as a candidate for president on New Year’s Day. Rep. Chisholm, 47, said she will enter three primaries if she can raise SIOO,OOO. She expects to draw heavily from women, young people and minorities. Primary target states are Florida, North Carolina and California. Atlanta confirmed Thursday that the session would be Friday nightof black leaders in Atlanta confirmed Thursday that the session would be Friday night. The Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, president of the SCLS, was invited, but is in Russia. Members of the black congressional delegation are also expected to be on hand.