Congress. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Subversive Influences in Riots,
Looting, and Burning. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1967, 1968.
Pt. 4: Newark, New Jersey (April 23, 24, 1968).
SuDoc No.: Y4.Un1/2:R47/pt.4
Date(s) of Hearings: April 23, 24, 1968
Congress and Session: 90th - 2nd
View excerpts
Detective Captain Charles Kinney, of the Newark Police Department testified about the connection
between the "communist influence" on organizations against the war and racism and the
Newark riot of July 1967 that left 23 dead. In his testimony several individuals and
organizations are discussed and items of interest pertaining to them are entered into the record.
One such individual is Clinton Raymond Hopson. Hopson was an actively engaged in both the civil
rights and anti-Vietnam War movements from early on. In the summer of 1965 the Mississippi
Freedom Democratic Party of McComb, Mississippi issued what is called the first anti-Vietnam
War statement by a civil rights organization. The statement was sparked by the death of a former
civil rights worker who was killed in Vietnam. It is revealed in this testimony that Hopson
authored that statement. According to testimony Hopson spoke at many anti-war rallies during
1965 urging young African-Americans to dodge the draft. At one such rally he "attacked
the 'Uncle Toms' who failed to oppose the war in Vietnam. He said, quote, 'I don't see how
Negroes can fight in Vietnam until they have freedom in Mississippi.'"
Another individual discussed in the testimony is Willie Wright. Wright illustrated a political
cartoon depicting Uncle Sam dreaming about Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, Muhammad Ali, and
Willie Wright dead in Vietnam. Wright also accompanied about 38 other radicals to Czechoslovakia
in 1967 to meet with North Vietnamese representatives. Three American prisoner's of war were
released as a result of this trip.
Also included in the record is a flyer handed out during the Newark riot which is very similar
to the poster distributed in Harlem after the riots there (located at the top of this page.)
Months after the riot a rally against police brutality was held in Newark. Police who infiltrated
the rally noted in their report that, "The speakers brought to the attention of the people
present that there would be general genocide of the black people after the Viet Nam War, and
that all black people had better be ready." Many African-Americans felt that when the war
was over the military, no longer distracted in Vietnam, would crush the civil rights movement
making an inconspicuous war against African-Americans decidedly conspicuous.
Speakers at the rally included:
- Conrad J. Lynn, attorney for Robert F. Williams
- Mrs. Mae Mallory, one of five, including Robert F. Williams, who were charged with
kidnapping a white couple in Monroe, North Carolina. Mrs. Mallory fled North Carolina, was
arrested in Ohio, and then tried and convicted of the charges only to have her indictment
overturned because of the lack of African-Americans on the grand jury.
- Willie Wright, mentioned above.
- Charles Kenyatta, of the Mau Mau Society
- Herman Ferguson, who was indicted in a Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM) plan to
assassinate moderate civil rights leaders Roy Wilkins of the NAACP and Whitney Young of
the National Urban League.
Also introduced to the reader through the testimony is Newark, New Jersey presidential
candidate, Jesse Grey. A flyer for Jesse Grey entered into the record describes Grey as
a "nationally known Negro leader of the Harlem Tenants movement." Mr. Grey's first
priority according to the flyer was to, "Get out of Vietnam now."
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