Brief, Explaining Possibility of Federal Action Against Mobs, Is Circulated

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Publisher: The Pittsburgh Courier
Place of publication: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date of publication: 12/16/1933 0:00
Source URL: View Source
Transcript:

Pamphlet tells how U.S. can Press Prosecution Against Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Officials Who Permitted Lynching. New York, Dec. 14.- The brief showing the federal government has the power under existing laws to intervene and press the prosecution of the Tuscaloosa, Ala., officers who permitted a double lynching was printed and distributed this week by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The brief was dawn by Messrs. Charles H. Houston, Edward P. Lovett and Leon A. Ransom of Washington, D.C. The general contention is under section 52, chapter 3, title 18 of the United States code (R.S. 5510) The sheriff of Tuscaloosa county can be prosecuted in the federal courts because he willfully subjected two inhabitants (Dan Pippen Jr and A.T. Harden) of the state of Alabama to the deprivation of rights secured and protected of rights secured and protected by the constitution and laws of the United States or to different punishments, pains or penalties, by reason of their race and color, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens. The brief was drawn at the request of Attorney General Homer S. Cummings. It has been submitted to his office and is being studied by him and his assistants. Because of the importance of the subject the N.A.A.C.P. has sent the brief to all senators, governors, attorneys general and state bar associations. Also to a selected list of daily newspapers covering all states in the country, to weekly papers, leading magazines of opinion, to leading newspapers in Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, including Russia and Japan. Also the Philippines and Hawaiian Island, Cuba and Jamaica. Interested persons an secure copies by sending or mailing 15 cents in stamps to the N.A.A.C.P.- 69 Fifth Avenue, New York