Councilmen Hassle Over Rights Letter

Councilmen Hassle
Over Rights Letter
(date stamp:) JUL 21966
By Ron Cordray
Comments by Dr. Albert H.
Wheeler regarding civil rights
in Ann Arbor sparked a lengthy
controversy on the City Coun-
cil floor last night.
Opinions on the comments,
contained in a letter to the
Atomic Energy Commission,
were sharply divided. First
Ward Councilman H. C. Curry
claimed “they are all true,”
while Third Ward Councilman
Paul H. Johnson termed them a
“vicious intimidation and a
poor picture of Ann Arbor.”
Wheeler, a leader in the lo-
cal National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
and the president of its state con-
ference, had sent a letter to the
AEC giving the NAACP’s “pro-
file" of civil rights in Ann Ar-
bor. He was not present at the
meeting.
The AEC is considering lo-
cating a $375 million atomic
particle accelerator laboratory
in Northfield Township. Ann Ar-
bor is one of six sites being
considered.
Following the lengthy debate
last night, the council backed
Mayor Wendell E. Hulcher’s
proposal to have City Adminis-
trator Guy C. Larcom Jr. draft
a “very clean, factual listing
of civil rights progress in Ann
Arbor.”
Larcom’s document, which
will be sent to the AEC, will
be reviewed by councilmen pri-
or to its mailing.
Hulcher today mailed a per-
sonal letter to the AEC to coun-
teract Wheeler’s letter.
He said, “The citizens of Ann
Arbor are to be complimented
for their esponse (sic) and support
of these civil rights actions,”
referring to the establishment
of a Housing Commission and
adoption of the state’s first
fair housing ordinance.
“They have voted to sustain
civil rights progress,” Hulcher
continued. “The city and the
people of Ann Arbor do not de-
serve a ‘halo’ for perfect ac-
tions and attitudes on civil
rights. But they do deserve a
‘blue ribbon’ for being first in
fair housing legislation and for
supporting a Housing Commis-
sion."
Hulcher said in his letter that
he is “confident that the AEC
decision concerning the location
of the accelerator will be made
on facts, and facts alone, con-
cerning all pertinent criteria."
The mayor also commented
that civil rights progress in the
city had been obtained by bi-
partisan action.
Last night's debate was
sparked when Fifth Ward Coun-
cilman LeRoy A. Cappaert
asked that the NAACP letter be
referred to the Human Rela-
tions Commission for investiga-
tion and comment. It had been
listed on the agenda for no ac-
tion except to receive and place
it on file.
Johnson said he strongly ob-
jected to the referral, stating
the letter was "an insult to Ann
Arbor" and "one of the most
antagonistic attacks on the city"
I've ever seen . . . it should
be filed in file 13."
Johnson said he objected to
such statements as “poor Ne-
gro citizens are harassed, in-
timidated, embarrassed and
treated unjustly, almost daily,”
and that the local Economic Op-
portunity Committee was being
abused by the County Board of
Supervisors. He also said he
objected to statements which
said the Negro was given an
inferior education and unfair
police treatment here.
Cappaert contended that there
were “crucial questions” raised
by the letter which are “ap-
propriate for response.” He
said there were matters of legi-
timate concern in the letter,
pointing specifically to police
practices. “To say there is no
problem is ridiculous and is an
absolute whitewash,” be said.
"I don’t see what grounds he
(Johnson) has to protest this
letter,” Curry said. “All the
statements are true, I know it’s
true. It’s been proven here in
the city the past seven years.
Now he’s trying to deny this.”
Curry also disputed John-
son’s statement that the let-
ter was “one man’s opinion,”
stating the NAACP was “not
alone in putting out this docu-
ment.”
Second Ward Councilman
James C. Riecker asked Curry
if he agreed with all statements
in the letter, pointing specifical-
ly to police relations. “I most
certainly agree. I’ve had the ex-
perience myself,” Curry said.
Fourth Ward Councilman
John R. Hathaway said the let-
ter contained “many mistate-
ments (sic) and errors that should be
corrected.” He said the city had
an obligation to respond.”
"It is shocking anyone would
endorse it 100 per cent,” Reick-
er commented. Curry stated
that all the statements are
‘documented.”
During the debate, there were
heated exchanges between
Johnson and Curry that had to
be gavelled down by Hulcher.
The intitial debate occurred
at the opening of the meeting,
and at the end the council de-
bated the mayor’s right to au-
thorize Larcom to draft such a
civil rights statement for the
AEC. His “right” to do this
was not decided, but the coun-
cil did endorse the action in
a 7-to-l vote with Cappaert cast-
ing the lone “no” vote.
A motion which would have
permitted the question to be re-
ferred to the Human Relations
Commission failed when it re-
ceived only five of the eight
votes cast, six being needed for
approval.
Article
Subjects
Ron Cordray
Black Americans
Black History
Civil Rights
Ann Arbor City Council
Atomic Energy Commission AEC
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Ann Arbor Housing Commission
Housing Discrimination
Washtenaw County - Economic Opportunity Committee
Washtenaw County Board of Supervisors
LOH Housing
Old News
Ann Arbor News
Albert H. Wheeler
H. C. Curry
Paul H. Johnson
Wendell E. Hulcher
Guy C. Larcom Jr.
LeRoy A. Cappaert
James C. Riecker
John R. Hathaway