Dublin Core
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
JAMES S. BRIGGS
3459 Stratford Rd., N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia
September 11, 1966
Mayor Ivan Allen
City of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Sir:
The Atlanta Constitution of Saturdey, September 10, 1966 carried an
article about the recent riot end included portions of a letter addressed
to you by 14 organizations steting thet, in essence, the community concensus
ought not to become arrayed against certain individuals and organizations
as a substitute for relieving the slum conditions which brought about
the riots.
It is a complete perversion and distortion of facts for these 14 pressure
groups to take the position that slum conditions caused the riots and
none can know better than you who were there what caused the riots.
Although net represented by any group or orgenization but one who continues
to believe in a government of laws let me commend you for your st.tement
that these instigaters ef violence be judged by our courts as law-breakers
not urban reformists.
The peace and tranquillity of our citizens take precedence over reform
and each should take its place before the bar. If violence, riet and
insurrection are excuseable and are supported by the specious reasoning
of self-appointed, not elected, organizetions then to whom and to what
agency can the isolated citizen look for protection? If a government
of laws cannot be depended upon to preserve the pexce and tranquillity
of the community then one must question its responsibility anda '
government without responsibility does not deserve the support o1 its
citizens, This, then, is anarchy.
My family of 5 joins me in thanking you for your courageous actions
udring the riet.
Sin¢erely, (i } )
f
“James S. Briggs if 1d
j J
/