Grave Crisis in Wake of Riots; `Jew Stores' Victims of Extremists' Attacks
self how a whole 'generation of
corporate executives could drive
with "in- their Cadillact through the slums
Lion are adopting policies on the colored neighborhoods. This trend charged the businessmen
of America and not know that, one
By MILTON FREEDMAN
(Copyright 1968, JTA Inc.)
ghetto that will be reflected na-
WASHINGTON — Black Power
extremists have revealed that there tionally. The tendency now ap-
is a method in the madness of pears to attempt to cool down the
burning and looting. Their stated riots by accepting the premise that
intention is to make so-called ghet- Negroes can decide the fate of
to areas of the District of Colum- white businessmen who operate in
bia and other communities "Juden-
rein" (free of Jews)—an aim of
Hitler.
Fanatics have disrupted meet-
ings in which responsible leaders,
white and black, sought to plan a
cooperative reconstruction of the
inner city. One such meeting, con-
vened by D.C. authorities, heard
an extremist denounce white mer-
chants with the public charge that
"no one puts the touch on the
black man like the Jews with their
300 per cent interest." A concept
of Negro nationalism was ad-
vanced with implications for every
city where a Negro ghetto exists.
"This land will belong to its peo-
ple . . . We can't live with the
white man who gyps us . . Let
them go to their suburbs . . • We
drove the moneylenders out of the
temple before and we can do it
again."
At another meeting here, the
militants took over and actually
ordered all white participants
out of the room. Advocates of
"Black ownership" proclaimed
that white-owned enterprises will
be burned again and again and
again."
Since approximately one-half of
the mercantile and property dam-
age sustained here was suffered
by Jews, concern is felt by Jewish
businessmen. But an even deeper
fear pervades the whole spectrum
of Jews devoted to integration and
human equality. It is apprehension
lest the government appease Black
Power segregationists to the ex-
tent of creating two nations, one
white, another black.
Jason Silverman, regional direc-
tor of the Anti-Defamation League,
has stated that a grave crisis has
developed in the wake of the riots.
It is his view that Jews are dedi-
cated to an open society based
upon integration and brotherhood.
But black fanatics are denouncing
the "Jew stores" while white ex-
tremists urge police state mea-
sures against Negroes.
- The concept of Negroes con-
trolling the business life, educa-
tion, housing, and other aspects
of ghetto neighborhoods has
been accepted by the govern-
ment. The U.S. Small Business
Administration has announced
that it will defer "disaster area"
loans in D.C. until long-range
plans are made for an inner city
acceptable to Negroes. A master
redevelopment plan is being
drafted by one government-sub-
sidized Negro group, Pride, Inc.,
that would give Negroes contro
of all business, social and poli-
tical activities in the area. Pride
has demanded that disaster loans
to burned-out merchants be sus-
pended until the black control
plan is completed.
Moderate Negro spokesmen,
like the Washington representative
of Dr. Martin Luther King's South-
ern Christian Leadership Confer-
ence, have avoided all reference to
Jews. But he tended to explain the
burning as a blow against "exploi-
tation" and a form of '"Instant
debt reduction." He said there was
great "anger and venom" among
Negroes against proprietors of
stores that sell appliances, cloth-
ing, jewelry, etc., on credit.
The `Blackman's Volunteer Ar-
my of Liberation" does not mince
words. The enemies of the black
people are 'Zionist Jews," accord-
ing to handbills distributed here.
Not all Negroes go along with
such nonsense. One Negro busi-
Jerry Stein
nessman told an extremist that
President
"You don't own anything on this
street but your big mouth."
Federal authorities in Washing-
is troubling to advocates of civil
rights. They see a aanger in the
increased separation of the two
races.
Charles Y. Lazarus, one of
America's leading merchants, has
excusable callousness" toward ex-
plosive urban problems. Lazarus,
president of the American , Retail
Federation, said: "Just ask your-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
day, these ghetto poor would rise
to threaten both the corporate
balance sheet and the whole fabric
of American life."
Friday, April 26, 1968-19
He makes so many people happy!
,
Lincoln and a Grant Order
Abraham Lincoln once gave an
order during the Civil War that
resulted in revocation of a com-
mand by General Grant in 1862 ex-
pelling Jews from the military de-
partment of Tennessee.
Such a big family of happy customers my son, Jerry, has
made since he became an Oldsmobile Dealer! No wonder.
If the beauty of his models don't make you smile, the
price will. And the service he gives will keep you happy
every mile until you're ready for your next Oldsmobile!
Better you should join Jerry's family than hear me talk
about it.
Allen Charnes
Vice president
JERRY STEIN OLDSMOBILE
15205 East Jefferson, at Lakepointe, Just East of City Limits
VA 1-5000 Open 9-9 . Monday Sc Thursday 9-6 Daily