Document 17: National Scottsboro Action Committee, "On To Washington! Working People of Harlem, Negro and White!" Rally Handbill, 1933, Clarina Michelson Papers, Tamiment Library, New York University.

Introduction

    Spirits were high in early 1933 as the National Scottsboro Action Committee prepared to send thousands of protesters to Washington, D.C. to press for release of the Scottsboro Boys and other wrongly accused workers and to seek "real enforcement of the right of the Negro people" as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Louise Thompson, an African-American resident of Harlem, organized the march. She also organized fund-raising events aimed at middle-class blacks and left-leaning whites that featured prominent African-American artists and performers. She later married William L. Patterson, American Communist Party leader and national secretary of the International Labor Defense.

On To Washington!
Working People of Harlem, Negro and White!

    On Saturday, the 6th of May, the great Scottsboro March to Washington will start from New York. The marchers of New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore will join the New York contingent and unite in the mighty conference with the delegations from the South and West in Washington.

    The marchers assembled in Washington will convene in a conference to send a delegation to present to the President of the United States and to Congress the demands of the Negro people, the demands of the millions of white and Negro workes of the U.S.A.:

    1. IMMEDIATE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

    2. IMMEDIATE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ANGELO HERNDON, TALLAPOOSA SHARE CROPPERS AND TOM MOONEY.

    3. THE REAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF THE NEGRO PEOPLE, AS GUARANTEED BY THE 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH AMENDMENTS TO THE U. S. CONSTITUTION-ABOLITION OF JIM CROWISM, OF DISCRIMINATION, PEONAGE, LYNCHING. THE EXERCISING OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THE RIGHT TO SIT ON JURIES.

The struggle for the freedom of the nine innocent Scottsboro boys has spurred the fight for all the rights of the Negro people, the violation of which Scottsboro is one of the most drastic expressions. Let us march!

Let us build a tremendous movement for the freedom of the Scottsboro boys and at the same time strike a blow for the full rights of the Negro people! All those who are ready to take up the struggle for these demands and save the lives of these nine innocent Scottsboro boys shall register as marchers at one of the following stations:

77 West 131 Street,
15 West 126 Street,
119 West 135 Street,
114 West 135 Street,
1413 Fifth Avenue,
2249 Seventh Avenue.

    All those who do not register through organizations, or at the above mentioned stations and who wish to join the march, paying the $3 fare, shall register at the following offices: International Labor Defense, District Office, Room 338, 799 Broadway (at 11th Street). National Scottsboro Action Committee, 119 West 135th Street, Harlem. All organizations participating in the march shall take care of the transportation and food of their marchers. Have them join with the rest of the Harlem marchers at the address given below--notifying the action Committee in advance. All Harlem marchers shall assemble on Saturday, May 6th, at 7 A. M. at 114 West 135th St., where the buses will be stationed. This column will unite at Union Square with the other New York columns.

On FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 5TH, AT 8 O'CLOCK

MASS SEND-OFF MEETING

to the marchers will take place in St. Nicholas Arena, 66th Street and
Columbus Avenue

    GEO. W. CHAMLEE, Attorney for the Scottsboro boys, RUBY BATES, one of the two girls, and LESTER CARTER, a star witness for the defense, as well as Attorney JOE BRODSKY and WM. PATTERSON, National Secretary of the I.L.D., will be among the speakers.

NATIONAL SCOTTSBORO ACTION COMMITTEE
119 West 135th Street, Harlem


 
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