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COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION FOR YouR INFORMATION
1203 CITY HALL
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION
HEARING IN THE DIXIE HILLS AREA
June 19, 1967
Hearing on Dixie Hills, Wednesday, June 19, 1967, EOA Center, 2193 Verbena St.
The Executive Committee of the Commission met at the request of the Mayor.
Present:
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Irving K. Kaler
FIRST VICE={CHAIRMAN: Rev, Samuel Williams
SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN: Miss Helen Bullard
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mrs, Eliza K, Paschall
Also present were Senator Leroy Johnson, Alderman Q. V. Williamson, Rep.
J. D. Grier, Rep. J. C. Daugherty, Mr. Cecil Alexander, Mr. Johnny Robinson,
and Mr. B. L. Lowery, City Inspection Department,
Mr. Kaler explained that the session had been called at the request of the Mayor
to hear from residents about the events of the past few days, and invited anyone
to speak,
SPEAKERS: (In Order) Mr. Howard Watson Mr. Willie Fordan Mr, Charles’ Webex
49 Shirley Place 346 Wadley St. Am. Frds. Ser.
Miss Dorothy Shaw Mrs. Albert Ford Mr, C.W. Smith
2232 Verbena St. 2235 Verbena St, 2261 Verbena St.
Mr. Marion Ward Mr. Jerry Carlton Mrse V..A.Jackson
31 Shirley Pl. 31 Shirley Pl. 2150 Verbena St.
Mz, William H. Furlow Mr, Johnny Billingsley Willie Glaze
2166 Vesta Ave., #8 2225 Verbena St. #5 155 Wadley ¢
Mr. Howard Watson, the Youth Corps Co-chairman, was the first speaker. He expresse
his complaints, and what he thought precipitated the rioting was (1) inadequate
play lots for the immediate area, (2) better treatments in the stores, (3) apart-
ments, (4) police brutality, and (5) unpaved streets, with holes in them.
The apartments are owned by private owners, and the owners should be made
to repair the apartments, and rents are too high for the way they are unkept by
the owners, Streets need paving, some large holes are in the middle of them.
The sewage is very bad, when it rain, water floodsup in the streets. He felt
that the stores in the Center, should treat the children, as well as others
with respect, The brutality is another facter for unrest = when the official
was arresting the girl they used brutality with her, and the people didn't
want their women treated that way. The policemen seem to feel that the people
im the low-income bracket, can be treated anyway, and talked to anyway. The
rioting did not just stem from the trying to get recreation facilities, but
mostly "police brutality".
Page 2 Minutes, Gommigsion Hearing in Dixie Hills, .i .. wt.
. Wed., June 21st
DOROTHY SHAW: She stated that hez grievances, or complaints were (1) play~
lots for the children, (2) E.0.A, showld have field trips for the smaller
children (3) the selling of beer and wine to our children in the store
should be stopped (this complaint had not been formally reported to the
authorities,
BULLARD: (Question) De you think that Mr. Cermichael's presence precipitated -
this rioting? De yeu think this would come about anyway?
SHAWf: The disturbance would come about sooner or later, mainly because our
kids are on the streets,
MARION WARD: the man whe was shot, treated, and released, stated that he waited
in the streets in erder to help the fellow who was shot (later he died). After
waiting on the police, he went to get his superior offccer ( the police), he
never came back to heip the other man. We told the Commission that he heard
four Shots, that the officer pump the gun four times. That the man who threw
the fixe bomb (Molotov Cocktail) was not near them. The Molotov Cocktail
went just a few feet in front of the officer who shot these people. He saw
the police start to shoot, the police was under a street light. He stated
that he could identify him if he saw him again. The other man (who died)
was just lying in the streets “face down", and the boy wae not bleeding,
unless he was bleeding on the inside, both unattended. He stated that he
was trested ahd released at Grady’*s Mospital. The ambulance took about
two hours to come He said he had started to bleed again, that it was
about 30 minutes after he got to the hospital before he received any service.
He was asked to make a statement ta detectives befere he began to get
service.
There are no playlots for our children, the rent is too high, and nothing
is offered for them, ("I pay $65.00 per month; no utilities are included")
He has three children himself, and that the apartments are infested with
roaches, rats, and other insects: that the owners should get rid of.
WILLIAM H. FURLOW: Feels that previous probleme cause this thing to ceme
to a point. After the rioting he came back to this area to see whet was
happening, he feels that this situation came about because of the brutality
of the pelice atresting of the girl (Georgia). This community this large
do net need a Jew Store, with prices skyhigh, and little quality. A
community this sige needs a store like A & P er ene similar. The city
should make the owners repair the apartments. There are holes in the
wall, where children get inte them to pley. This is dangerous. Also
play lots are needed for our children.
WILKIE JORDAN: Get property owners to fix up the property, keep places
clean. Felt that if the policemen were te parole the area, it shouic
be in such a large quanity, and not harass the people. As long as the
renople are treated like people, there will be peace. If the officials
oie mean te them, they will continue te gather in crowds as such. Torre
«heuld be an effort if the policemen are needed they should b2 a-le tc
seach the area in 5 to 8 minutes. The people feel. that the «cine w-ssaschused
sho xsioting was: (1%) when ti.e police used brut ° Gh @Frestacty tre
Worcs... A meeting was called on Sunday to find cut the pecr.s ,.1evinces,
and ta stop the past troubles of the cemmunity with the securicy guerds,
play iots fer our small children. He thought that this thing wouls come
Page 3 Minutes, Commission Hearing in Dixie Hills,
Wed., June 21st
about eventually, even if Mr. Carmichael did not come into the area.
MRS. ALBERT FORD stated that these problems were here before this
thing happen. She felt that the City transit gave good bus service
in the area. A bus comes in here every five minutes, and during the
Xmas holidays, one came about every minute. The police brutality is
not wanted in the area. The community decided that they will not shop
at the store (Dixie Hill Store). She stated that, "We are not violent
people", if some of the police is taken from the area, the people could
go back to their normal way of living. She s ys that she realize that
a lot of people do not have respect for the law, but this comes from the
brutality from the policemen.
IKIE JORDAN said that the people held a meeting that night, (Monday)
We called this meeting to hear from tre people their complaints. A
community preacher made arrangements as to where this meeting was to
be held. Their complaints were as follows: (1) work, (2) the stores
in the Center, (3) EOA, they are not helping the people with their
problems, (4) Poor Sewage, (5) Play lots, and recreation are not doing
what could be done with the apartment. We would like someone from the
Cit. to guard this area as a regular beat, someone who knows everyone.
And they should take a human-relations course, similar to the one given
in colleges. Then thes would know how to handle these people. Also
E0A do not show to much interest to the people in the area, and are not
really giving assistance to them. The counselors do not take interest.
MRS. ALBERT FORD: Police brutality is drawing attention from the people.
JERRY CARLTON: The police are not protecting the people, and they should
be gotten out. He stated further that he saw the little boy who was shot,
in the hospital, and that the kid wants to kill every cop that comes into
his sight -- that this is the reaction a small child has from such
brutality --- and that he is too young to think like that --- but the
police are teaching hi this way because of the way they treat people.
The security guards are given a gun and a badge and that is their license
to kill, or harass anyone they want.
Qe V. WILLIAMSON: "The only thing the police are there for is to protect
life and property. If they are taken out now what will happen"?
JOHNNY BILLINGSLAY: “This community once had a fellow who was real nice,
but the city took him away, and gave us another person here who tried to
bully everyone. He was removed after he shot a man here. Then the store
and the grill hired a Security Guard . The man who everyone liked was
Mr. Collier".
CHAIRMAN: "Could this man be brought back to help us with the peori«,
and their problems"?
JILLINGSLAY: “The only thing we want here is 'peace'".
“HARLES WEBSTER, AFSC: "Chairman, I ayree with Mr. Billinesicy, 34
“>, Carlton. This community needs someone who the peopls ia. | cn trust.
Minutes, Commission Hearing in Dixie Hills
Wed., June 21st
C. \!. SMITH: "We have a number of complaints". He works with
EDA as Area Block Chairman of their lighting committee. He states
that they had a number of complaints, in addition to the other
complaints, is proper lighting in the area. This complaint has been
brought up before the proper authorities, but nothing has yet been
done about it.
VIRGINIA JACKSON: Works with Anderson School's PTA, and talk to the
boys in the area. The people here feel that the peaple with the EQOA
are better than them, the way they are treated. Since most of these
people are not high-school graduates, they (E0A) in counselling them-
should tell these kids, not to expect to make a lot of money on the
jobs that they are sent out on. Some of them have gotten into the
training program, but this makes them frustrated, because if they
have families, the salary they are given are not enough. The counselors
should let them know what is to be expected.
HELEN BULLARD: "Some people will not respect the policemen if the
children are told that the policemen go about and beat up the people.
What could be done about this"?
VIRGINIA JACKSON: "My suggestion is, as I tell my children, (and I
have five) that whenever a policeman urders you to do something, do it.
If you are arrested go with them peacefully, wheter you are wrong or
right. Then this is when you exercise y-ur righis by hiring a lawyer".
CHAIRMAN: “If the City removes the policemen from the area, will it
make this area less disturbed"?
VIRGINIA JACKSON: “ve don't need anyone here, who cannot get order.
The policemen are causing disorder."
WILLIE GLAZE: "Some of the people in the area feel that the people
who the cops shot are either th tr friend or relative".
CHARLES B. HART: Asked what would their reactiins be if Mr, Carmichael
came back into the area, once the policemen are removed. Wold they
be able to guarantee anyone that they would not be motivated by his
speeches and riot again? He also stated that he is a volunteer worker
with EOA, as an area ruopresentative, and that about three months ago
they expressed a desire for a “good Guy" to patrol this area. We have
not had full cooperation with the community working with EOA. we had
also tried to get the City to cuild two playlots for our children.
Mr, Hart is to submit a written report to the committee on these efforts.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 P. M., in order to meet with the
Mayor at City Hall.