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STATEMENT BY IVAN ALLEN, JR. MAYOR OF ATLANTA MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS JULY 26, 1963 OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE ..... I AM HONORED TO APPEAR BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE. AT THE BEGINNING. . . I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I FEEL QUALIFIED TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION . . . WHICH IS THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION . . . ON WHAT I HA VE LEARNED FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE .. . AND OBSERVAT I ON IN MY HOME CIT Y OF ATLA NTA ... GEORGIA. A S P E R CE P TIVE M E N O F WIDE E X PERIEN C E . . . I C O NFIDENT THAT YO U WIL L AGREE WITH ME FEEL THAT THIS IS AS SERIO US A BASIC PROB L EM I N THE NOR TH .. .. EAST . . . AND WEST . .. AS I T IS IN THE SOUTH. �2 IT MUST BE DEFINED AS AN ALL-AMERICAN PROBLEM... WHICH REQUIRES AN ALL-AMERICAN SOLUTION BASED ON LOCAL THOUGHT. . . LOCAL ACTION. . . AND LOCAL COOPERATION. THE 500 THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS CONSIST OF 300 THOUSAND WHITE CITIZENS ... AND SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 200 THOUSAND NEGR O CITIZENS. THAT-. MAKES THE POPULATION OF ATLANTA SIXTY PERCENT WHITE ..... FORTY PERCENT NEGRO. THAT SIXTY - FORTY PERCENTAGE EMPHASIZES HOW ESSENTIAL IT IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF ATLANTA ... ON THEIR LOCAL LEVEL .... T O SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN ORDER TO MAKE ATlANTA A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE . �3 ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS NO FAR OFF PHILOSOPHICAL THEORY TO THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE. . . WHO LIVE IN AND AROUND ATLANTA. THE PROBLEM IS PART AND PARCEL OF OUR DAILY LIVES. ITS SOLUTION MUST BE STUDIED AND WORKED OUT ON OUR HOMEFRONT. AS THE MAYOR OF THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST CITY . . . I CAN SAY TO YOU ... OUT OF FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE ... AND FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE THAT NOWHERE DOES THE PROBLEM OF ELIMINATING DISCRIMINAT ION BETWEEN THE RACES ... STRIKE SO CLOSELY HOME ... AS IT DO ES TO T HE L OCAL E L E CTED P U B LIC OFFICIAL. HE IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT PASS THE BUCK. FRO M THIS VIE WP O I N T. . . I SPEAK OF THE PROBLEM AS HAVING BEEN BRO UGHT INTO SHARP FOCUS �4 BY DECISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES ... AND THEN GENERALLY IGNORED BY THE PRESIDENTS ... AND CONGRESSES OF THE UNITED STATES. LIKE A FOUNDLING BABY. . . THIS AWESOME PROBLEM HAS BEEN LEFT ON THE DOORSTEPS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. · . NOW TO TAKE UP SPECIFICS. YOU GENTLEMEN INVITED ME TO TELL YOU HOW ATLANTA HAS ACHIEVED A CONSIDERABLE MEASURE OF COMPARATIVE SUCCESS IN DEALING WITH RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. IT IS TRUE THAT ATLANTA HAS ACHIEVED SUCCESS IN ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION IN AREAS WHERE SOME OTHER CITIES HA VE FAILED .... BUT WE DO NOT BOAST OF OUR SUCCESS. INSTEAD OF BOASTING .... WE SAY �5 WITH THE HUMILITY OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN REALITY THAT WE HA VE ACHIEVED OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS ONLY BECAUSE WE LOOKED FACTS IN THE FACE AND ACCEPTED THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISIONS AS INEVITABLE ... AND AS THE LAW OF OUR LAND. HA YING EMBRACED REALISM IN GENERAL. . . . . WE THEN SET OUT TO SOLVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS BY LOCAL COOPERATION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL AND GOOD SENSE REPRESENTING BOTH RACES . IN ATTAC K ING THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS . .. W E ACCEPTED THE BASIC TRUTH THAT THE SOLUTIONS WHICH W E SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE IN EVERY INSTANCE ... GRANTED TO OUR NE GRO CITI Z ENS RIGH T S WHICH WHIT E AMERICAN CITIZENS ... A ND B U SINESS E S PREVI OUSLY HAD RESERVED T O THEMSE L YES AS SPE CIAL PRIVIL EGES . �6 THESE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES LONG HAD BEEN PROPPED UP BY A MULTITUDE OF LOCAL ORDINANCES AND STATEWIDE LAWS WHICH HAD UPHELD RACIAL SEGREGATION IN ALMOST EVERY CONCEIVABLE FORM. IN ATLANTA WE HAD PLENTY OF THESE PROPS OF PREJUDICE TO CONTEND WITH ... WHEN WE SET OUT TO SOLVE OUR SPECIFIC PROBLEMS OF DISCRIMINATION. IN ATTACKING THESE PROBLEMS .... I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IN NOT ONE SINGLE INSTANCE HA VE WE RETAINED ... OR ENHANCED THE PRIVILEGES OF SEGREGATION. IT HAS BEEN A LONG ... EXHAUSTING . . . AND OFTEN DISCOURAGING PROCESS FROM BEING IN SIGHT . AND THE END IS FAR �7 IN THE 195 0' s AT LANT A MADE A SIGNIFICANT STA RT ... WITH A SERIES OF REASONABLE ELIMINATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION SUCH AS ... ON GOLF COURSES ... AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE BEGAN TO BECOME SOMEWHAT CONDITIONED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE ... AND DEFINITIVE ACTION. . . WHICH HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE IN THE 1960 1 s. DURING THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS ... ATLANTA HAS T A KEN THE FOLLOWING MAJOR STEPS TO ELIMINATE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: 1. IN SEPTEMBER , 196 1, WE BEGAN REMOVING DISCRIM INATION IN PUBLIC SC H OOLS IN RESPONSE T O A COURT ORDER. 2 . IN OC T O BER, 196 1, LUNCH COUNTERS IN DEPARTMENT AND VARIETY STORES ABOLISHED DISCRIMINATION BY VOLUNTARY ACTION . �- - - - - - - -- -- - - - - -- - - --- - - - 8 3. ON JANUARY 1, 1962 ATLANTA CITY FACILITIES WERE FREED FROM DISCRIMINATION BY VOLUNTARY ACTION OF MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS. 4. IN MARCH, 1962, DOWNTOWN AND AR TS TH.IfATERS .... OF THEIR OWN VOLITION ... ABOLISHED DISCRIMINATION IN SEATING. 5 . ON JANUARY 1, 1963 .. THE CITY VOLUNTARILY ABOLISHED SEPARATE EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS F OR WHITES AND NEGROES . 6. I1,r MARC H, 196 3, NEGRO FIREMEN. THE CITY EMPLOYED IT LONG AGO EMPLOYED NEGRO P OLICEMEN. 7. IN MAY OF 1963, THE ATLANTA REAL ESTATE BOARD (WHITE} ... AND THE EMPIRE REAL ESTATE BOARD ( NEGRO) .. . ISSUED A STATEMENT OF �9 PURPOSES . . . CALLING FOR ETHICAL HANDLING OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN CONTROVERSIAL AREAS. 8. IN JUNE 1963 .• THE CITY GOVERNMENT OPENED ALL MUNICIPAL SWIMMING POOLS ON A DESEGREGATED BASIS. THIS WAS VOLUNTARY ACTION TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER. 9 . ALSO, IN JUNE, 1963, EIGHTEEN HOTELS AND MOTELS, . . . REPRESENTING THE LEADING PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE CITY ... VOLUNTARILY REMOVED ALL SEGREGATION FOR CONVENTIONS. 10 . AGAIN IN JUNE , 1963 ... MORE THAN THIRTY OF THE CITY'S LEADING RESTAURANTS . . . OF THEIR OWN VOLITION . . . ABOLISHED SEGR EGATION IN THEIR FACILITIES. YOU CAN READIL Y SEE THAT ATLANTA'S HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN STEPS SOME INSTANCES IN COMPLIANCE �10 WITH COURT DECISIONS .... AND IN OTHER INSTANCES THE STEPS HAVE BEEN VOLUNTARY PRIOR TO ANY COURT ACTION. IN EACH INSTANCE ... THE ACTION HAS RESULTED IN WHITE CITIZENS RELINQUIS H ING SPECIAL PRIVILEGES WHICH THEY HAD EN.JOYED UNDER THE PRACTICES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. EACH ACTION ALSO HAS RESULTED IN THE NEGRO CITIZEN BEING GIVEN RIGHTS WHICH ALL OTHERS PREVIOUSL Y HAD ENJOYED . ... AND WHICH HE HAS BEEN DENIED. AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING . .. ATLANTA HAS A CHIEVED ONL Y A MEASURE OF SUCCESS . I T H INK I T W OU L D ASSIST YOU IN UNDERSTANDIN G THIS IF I EX PLAINED HOW LIMITED SO FAR H AS BEEN THIS TRANSITIO N F R O M T H E OLD SEGREGATE D SOCIETY O F GENERATIONS PAST .... AND A L SO H O W LIMITED SO FAR HAS BEEN THE PARTICIPATIO N OF THE NEGRO CITIZENS. �11 SIGNIFICANT AS IS THE VOLUNTARY ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION IN OUR LEADING RESTAURANTS .... IT AFFECTS SO FAR ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE HUNDREDS OF EATING PLACES IN OUR CITY. AND PARTICIPATION BY NEGROES SO FAR HAS BEEN VERY SLIGHT. FOR EXAMPLE ... ONE OF ATLANTA'S TOPMOST RESTAURANTS SERVED ONLY SIXTEEN ATLANTA'S OUT OF 200 THOUSAND NEGRO CITIZENS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION. THE PLAN FOR ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION IN HOTELS AS YET TAKES CARE ONLY OF CONVENTION DELEGATES. ALTHOUGH PROMINENT NEGROES HAVE BEEN A CCEPTED AS GUESTS IN SEVERAL ATLANTA HOTELS . . . THE NEGRO CITIZENS ... AS A WHOLE . .. . SELDOM APPEA R AT ATLANTA HO T E LS. �12 UNDERLYING ALL THE EMOTIONS OF THE SITUATION . . . . IS THE MATTER OF ECONOMICS. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THE RIGHT TO USE A FACILITY ... DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WILL BE USED OR MISUSED . BY ANY GROUP ... ESPECIALLY THE GROUPS IN THE LOWER ECONOMIC STATUS. THE STATEMENTS I HAVE GIVEN YOU COVER THE ACTUAL PROGRESS MADE BY ATLANTA TOTAL ELIMINATION NOW REASONS WHY TOWARD OF DISCRIMINATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT MY PERSONAL I THINK AT LANT A HAS RESOLVED SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS WHILE IN OTHER CITIES . . . SOLUTIONS HA VE SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AND STRIFE ... AND CONFLICT HA VE RESULTED . A S A N ILLUS TRATION . . . I WOULD LIK E T O DESCRIBE A RECENT VISIT OF AN OF FICIAL D ELEGATION FROM A GREAT EASTERN C I TY WHICH HAS A NE G RO �13 POPULATION OF OVER 600 THOUSAND CONSISTING IN EXCESS OF TWENTY PERCENT OF OF ITS WHOLE POPULATION. THE MEMBERS OF THIS DELEGATION AT FIRST SIMPLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND .... AND WOULD HARDLY BELIEVE THAT THE BUSINESS .... CIVIC .... AND POLITICAL INTERESTS OF ATLANTA HAD INTENTLY CONCERNED THEMSELVES WITH THE NEGRO POPULATION. I STILL DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CONVINCED ... THAT ALL OF OUR CIVIC B ODIES BACKED BY THE PUBLIC INTEREST .... AND SUPPORTED BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT. . . HA VE DAILY CONCEREND THEMSELVES WITH AN EFFOR T TO SOLVE OUR GRAVEST PROBLEM ... ... WHICH IS RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR RACES . AT LANT A HAS NOT SWEPT RUG AT ANY P OINT. GENTLEMEN .... THIS QUESTION UNDER THE STEP BY STEP ... . SOMETIMES UNDER COURT ORDER . .. . . . SOMETIMES VOLUNTARILY �14 MOVING AHEAD OF PRESSURES ..... SOMETIMES ADROITLY .... . . . AND MANY TIMES CLUMSILY ..... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO EACH SPECIFIC PROBLEM . . . THROUGH AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AFFECTED WHITE OWNERSHIP AND THE NEGRO LEADERSHIP. TO DO THIS. . . WE HA VE NOT APPOINTED A HUGE GENERAL MERELY BI-RACIAL COMMITTEE .... WHICH TOO OFTEN BECOMES A BURIAL PLACE FOR UNSOLVED PROBLEMS . . BY CONTRAST .. . EACH TIME A SPECIFIC PROBLEM HAS COME INTO FOCUS ... . WE HAVE APPOINTED THE:EIDPLE INVOLVED TO WORK OUT THE SOLUTION.... THEATER OWNERS TO WORK WITH THE TOP NEGRO LEADERS ... . . OR HOTEL OWNERS TO WORK WITH THE TOP LEADERSHIP ..... OR CERTAIN RESTAURANT OWNERS WHO OF THEIR OWN VOLITION DEALT WITH THE TOP NEGRO LEADERSHIP. BY DEVELOPING �15 THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND RESPECTABILITY ... WE HA VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AMICABLE SOLUTIONS. ATLANTA IS THE WORLD'S HIGHER EDUCATION. CENTER OF NEGRO THERE ARE SIX GREAT NEGRO UNIVERSITIES .... AND COLLEGES ... LOCATED INSIDE OUR CITY LIMITS. BECAUSE OF THIS ... A GREAT NUMBER OF INTELLIGENT ... WELL-EDUCATED NEGRO CITIZENS HA VE CHOSEN TO REMAIN IN OUR CITY. AS A RESULT OF THEIR EDUCATION .. . THE Y HAVE HAD THE ABILIT Y TO DEVELOP IN A TLA NTA A PROSPEROUS NEGRO BUSINESS COMMUNITY. IT CONSIS T S OF FINANCIAL I NSTI TUTIONS LIK E BANKS .... B UIL DING AND LOAN A SSOCIAT IONS .... L IFE INS UR A N C E COMPANIES .... C HAIN DRU G S T O R ES ... R E AL E ST A T E DEA LER S. I N F AC T . .. THE Y HAVE D E VELOP ED BUSINESS ORGANIZATIO NS ... I BELIEVE ... IN ALMOST EVERY LINE OF ACKNOWLEDGED AMERICAN BUSINESS. �16 THERE ARE ALSO MANY NEGRO- PROFESSIONAL MEN. THEN THERE IS ANOTHER POWERFUL FACTOR WORKING IN THE BEHALF OF GOOD RACIAL RELATIONS IN OUR CITY. WE HA VE NEWS MEDIA. . . BOTH WHITE AND NEGRO ... WHOSE LEADERS STRONGL Y BELIEVE AND PUT INTO PRACTICE THE GREAT TRUTH THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESS . . ( AND BY THIS I MEAN RADIO AND TELEVISION AS WELL AS THE WRITTE N PRESS) . . IS INSEPARAB LE FROM FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR WRITTEN ... SPOKEN A ND T ELEVISED NEWS MEDIA JOIN WITH THE B USINESS AND GOVE R NMENT LEADERSHIP ... BOTH WHITE A ND NE G RO ... IN W OR KING TO SO L VE OUR PRO BLE MS . WE AR E F OR TU NATE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORLD FAMOUS EDIT O RIAL SPOKESMEN FOR REASON AND �17 MODERATION ON ONE OF OUR WHITE NEWSPAPERS ... ALQNG WITH OTHER EDITORS AND MANY REPORTERS WHO STRESS SIGNIFICANCE ... RATHER THAN SENSATION IN THE REPORTING AND INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY. AND WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HAVING A STRONG NEGRO DAILY NEWSPAPER .. " THE ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 1 1 AND A VIGOROUS NEGRO WEEKLY .. 11 THE ATLANTA INQUIRER 1 1 • T H E ATLANTA DA IL Y WORLD IS A PROMINENT NEGRO FAMIL Y-- OWNED BY THE SCOTT FAMIL Y- - - WH ICH O W NS AND OPERATES A NUMBER OF OTHER NEWSPAPERS . THE S TURD Y VOICES OF THE AT LANTA DA IL Y WORLD A ND THE AT L A N TA INQU IRER .... BACKED BY THE SUPPORT OF THE E D UCATIONAL .... BUSINESS . ... AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY .... REACH OUT TO OUR NEGRO �18 CITIZENS. THEY SPEAK TO THEM WITH FACTUAL INFORMATION UPON WHICH THEY CAN RELY. EXPRESS OPINIONS THEY AND INTERPRETATIONS IN WHICH THEY CAN HA VE FAITH. AS I SEE IT. . . OUR NEGRO LEADERSHIP IN ATLANTA IS RESPONSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE. I AM SURE THAT OUR NEGRO LEADERSHIP IS AS DESIROUS OF OBTAINING ADDITIONAL CIVIC AND ECONOMIC ... . AND PERSONAL RIGHTS . .. AS IS ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN. BlTI' B Y CONSTRUCTIVE .. . I MEAN TO DEFINE ATLANTA'S NEGRO LEA DERSHIP AS BEING REALISTIC - - AS RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO OBTA IN THE RIGHTS THE Y SE E K THAN I T IS TO STIR UP DEMONS T RATIONS . SO IT IS T O T HE C ONS T R U CTIVE MEA N S .. . BY WHICH THESE RIGHTS CAN B E O B TAI N E D THAT O U R NEGRO LEADERS CONSTANTLY ADDRESS THEMSELVES. THEY ARE �19 INTERESTED IN RESULTS INSTEAD OF RHETORIC. REACH FOR LASTING GOALS INSTEAD MOMENTARY PUBLICITY. NOT RABBLE ROUSERS. THEY OF GRABBING FOR THEY ARE REALISTS ... ALONG WITH INTEGRATION ... THEY WANT INTEGRITY. I DO NOT BELIEVE CITIZEN THAT ANY SINCERE AMERICAN DESIRES TO SEE THE RIGHTS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS RESTRICTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNLESS SUCH RESTRICTION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. ON THE OTHER HAND. . . FOLLOWING THE LINE OF THOUGHT OF THE DECISIONS OF THE FEDERAL COURTS IN THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS . .. I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT CURRENT RULINGS OF THE COURTS ... WOULD GRANT T O AMERICAN BUSINESS THE PRIVILEGE OF DISCRIMINATION BY RACE IN THE SELECTION O F ITS CUSTOMERS. �20 HERE AGAIN WE GET INTO THE AREA OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTR Y. IF THE PRIVILEGE OF SELEG TION BASED ON RACE AND COLOR ... SHOULD BE GRANTED ... THEN WOULD WE BE GIVING TO BUSINESS THE RIGHT TO SET UP A SEGREGATED ECONOMY? . ... . . AND IF SO . . . HOW FAST WOULD THIS RIGHT BE UTILIZED BY THE NATION'S PEOPLE? . . . . . AND HOW SOON WOULD WE AGAIN BE GOING T H ROUGH THE OLD TURMOIL OF RIOTS .... STRIFE ... DEMONSTRATIONS ... BO YCOTTS ... PICKETING? ARE WE GOI NG TO SA Y THAT IT IS ALL RIGHT FO R T HE NEGRO CITIZEN TO GO INTO T HE BANK ON ST RE ET .. . A ND TO DEPOSIT HIS MAIN EARNINGS . .. OR BORROW M O NEY . .. T HEN T O G O T O DEPAR T ME N T S TORE S T O BUY WHAT HE NEE DS . .. . T O G O T O THE SUPERMARKET TO PURC HASE FOOD FOR HIS FAMILY .... AND SO ON ALONG �21 MAIN STREET UNTIL HE COMES TO -A RESTAURANT HOTEL. OR A IN ALL THESE OTHER BUSINESS PLACES. . . IS TREATED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CUSTOMER. WHEN HE COMES TO THE RESTAURANT HE BUT OR THE HOTEL .... ARE WE GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS RIGHT AND LEGAL ... FOR THE OPERATORS OF THESE BUSINESSES .... MERELY AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE ... TO INSIST THAT THE NEGRO'S CITIZENSHIP BE CHANGED ... AND THAT .. . AS A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN ... HE IS TO BE REFUSED SERVICE? I SUBMIT THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT TO ALLOW AN AMERICAN'S CITIZENSHIP TO BE CHANGED MERELY AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE . IF THE CONGRESS SHOULD FAIL TO CLARIF Y T H E I SS UE AT THE PRESENT TIME . . . THEN B Y INFERENCE IT W OULD B E SAYIN G THAT YOU COULD B EGIN DIS CRI M I NATION UNDER THE GUIS E OF P RIVA T E BUSINE SS . I DO NOT BELIE VE �22 THAT THIS IS WHAT THE SUP RE ME GOUR T WITH ITS DECISIONS. THE INTENT OF I ·. DO NOT ' CONGRESS HAS INTENDED BELIEVE THAT THIS IS OR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. I AM NOT A LA WYER .. SENATORS. I AM NOT SURE I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE TESTIMONY INVOLVING VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND THE COMMERCE CLAUSE WHICH HAS B EEN GIVEN TO THIS COMMITTEE . I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. UNDER T H IS CONSTITUTION ... WE HAVE ALWA YS BEEN ABLE TO DO WHA T IS BEST FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS C OU N T RY. I BE G O F YOU ... NOT T O LET T HIS ISSUE O F DISCRIMINAT ION DROW N IN LE GALIS TIC WA T ERS. I AM FIRMLY C O NVINCED THAT THE SUPR E M E GOUR T INSISTS THAT TH~ SAME FUNDAME NTAL RIGHTS MUST BE BY EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN. HELD �23 ATLANTA IS A CASE THAT PROVES THAT THE PROBLEM OF DISCRIMINATION CAN BE SOLVED TO SOME EXTENT ..... AND I USE THIS 11 SOME EXTENT 11 • • • • CAUTIOUSLY ... AS WE CERTAINLY HAVE NOT SOLVED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS .... BUT WE HAVE MET THEM IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. THIS CAN BE DONE LOCALLY ... VOLUNTARILY .... AND BY PRIVATE BUSINESS ITSELF! ON THE OTHER HAND. . . THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITIES AND CITIES ... CERTAINLY THROUGHOUT THE NATION THAT HA VE NOT EVER ADDRESSED THEMSELVE S TO THE ISSUE . WHEREAS . .. OTHERS HAVE FLAGRANTLY IGNORED THE D E MAND .. . . AND TODAY . . . S TAND IN ALL DEFIANCE TO ANY CHANGE . THE C ONGRESS O F THE UNI TED STATES IS NOW C ONFRONTE D WITH A GRAVE DECISION. SHALL YOU PASS A PUBLIC ACC OMMO DATION B I LL THAT FORCES THIS �24 ISSUE? OR ... SHALL YOU CREATE ANOTHER RO U ND OF DISPUTES OVER SEGREGATION BY REFUSING TO PASS SUCH LEGISLATION? SURELY. . . THE CONGRESS REALIZES THAT AFTER HAVING FAILED TO TAKE ANY DEFINITE ACTION ON THIS SUBJECT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ... TO FAIL TO PASS THIS BILL WOULD AMOUNT TO AN ENDORSEMENT OF PRIVATE BUSINESS SETTING UP AN ENTIRELY NEW STATUS OF DISCRIMINATION THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AT LANT A MIGHT SLIP BACKWARDS . REST AU R A NTS CITIES LIKE HOTELS AND THAT HA VE A LREAD Y TAKEN THIS ISSUE UPON THEM SELVES ... . A ND OPENED THEIR DOOR S MIGHT F IND IT CO NVE NIENT TO GO BAC K TO THE OLD STATUS . FAIL URE BY C ONGR E SS T O T AKE DE F INIT E A C T ION AT THIS TIME IS BY INFE R ENCE AN E N DOR S E M E NT O F THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE BUSINESS TO PRACTICE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION �25 AND ... IN MY OPINION .. WOULD START THE SAME ROUND OF SQUABBLES AND DEMONSTRATIONS OLD THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. GENTLEMEN .... IF I HAD YOUR PROBLEM , . . . ARMED WITH THE LOCAL EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD ... I WOULD PASS A PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION BILL. SUCH A BILL ... HOWEVER .. SHOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT FIRST TO MEET THIS PROBLEM AND ATTEMPT TO SOLVE IT ON A LOCAL .. VOLUNTARY BASIS .. WITH EACH BUSINESS MAKING ITS OWN DECISION. I REALIZE THAT IT IS QUITE EASY TO ASK YOU TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EACH BUSINESS MAN IN EACH CITY TO MAKE HIS DECISION AND ACCOMPLISH SUCH AN OBJECTIVE . . . BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LEGISLATE SUCH A PROBLEM. �26 WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE PUPIL PLACEMENT PLAN. . . WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY USED IN THE SOUTH .. PROVIDED A TIME TABLE APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL COURTS WHICH HELPED IN GETTING OVER THE TROUBLED WATER OF ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CITIES WORKING WITH PRIVATE BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS COULD NOW MOVE INTO THE SAME AREA AND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE IDEA THAT THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE A REASONABLE TIME TO ACCOM PLISH SUCH AN ACT . I T HINK A PUBLIC A CCOMMODATION L A W N OW SHOULD STAN D ONL Y AS THE LAST RESORT TO A SSURE THAT DISCRIMINATIO N IS ELIMINAT ED . .. B U T THAT SU C H A LAW WO ULD GRANT A REAS O NABLE T I ME F O R CITIES AND BU SINES SES TO CARRY OUT THIS FUNCTION BEFORE FEDERAL �27 INTERVENTION. IT MIGHT EVEN BE NECESSARY THAT THE TIME FACTOR BE MADE MORE LENIENT IN FAVOR OF SMALLER CITIES AND COMMUNITIES. . . FOR WE ALL KNOW THAT LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF ADJUSTING TO CHANGES MORE RAPIDLY THAN SMALLER COMMUNITIES. PERHAPS .. THIS TOO ... SHOULD BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION IN YOUR LEGISLATION. BUT THE POINT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN IS THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION. ISSUE . OR TURN WE CANNOT DODGE THE WE CANNOT LOOK BACK OVER OUR SHOULDERS THE CLOCK BACK TAKE ACTION NOW TO ASSURE TO THE l860 1 S. WE MUST A GREATER FUTURE OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COUNTRY. FOR �28 A HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY WON THE UNITED STATES THE ACCLAIM THE WHOLE WORLD WHEN IT MADE EVERY OF AMERICAN FREE IN THEORY. NOW THE ELIMINATION OF SEGREGATION WHICH IS SLAVERY'S STEPCHILD .... IS A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US TO MAKE EVERY AMERICAN FREE IN FACT AS WELL AS IN THEORY ... AND AGAIN TO ESTABLISH OUR NATION AS THE TRUE CHAMPION OF THE FREE WORLD. MR . CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ~ .. . I WA NT T O THANK YO U FOR THE OP PORTUNITY O F TE L LING YOU ABOUT AT L ANT A 'S E FFORTS TO P R O VID E EQUALIT Y OF CITI Z E NSHIP T O ALL WITHIN ITS B ORDERS. �