University of Virginia Library

Coalition Speaker
Urges Race Harmony

waving his arm.

The first speaker, Paul Hurdle,
re-stated the aims of the Coalition,
citing the nine-point program that
appeared in yesterday's Cavalier
Daily. Bud Ogle, asked the students
to take three envelopes and write to
three state delegates, urging them
to assist the Coalition's aims. Mr.
Ogle then introduced the guest
speaker, Maurice Dawkins.

Mr. Dawkins has been associated
with many civil rights groups. He
was an assistant director of OEO,
and has been involved with SNCC,
CORE, NAACP, VISTA, and the
Western CLC.

He began his address by saying
that the purpose of the anti-establishment
groups with which he has
been associated, like that of the
Coalition here, was to move the
establishment closer to their position.

Mr. Dawkins' speech was interspersed
with quotations from many
great Americans. He noted that
Thomas Jefferson was the leading
anti-slavery advocate during the
constitutional Convention, "the
real anti-slave hero."

Mr. Dawkins said that, since it is
now 106 years since the Emancipation
Proclamation and a large
segment of thy population still was
not free, "something is wrong."

"The Negro says 'now,' others
say 'never;' the voice of the
responsible American, the voice of
those who died here, the voice of
that great man who spoke here say
'together,' not now or never but
together," Mr. Dawkins continued.

The speaker urged the audience
to commit itself to the oralication
of racism. "The time is far spent. It
is the black out as far as race
relations are concerned. The day is
at hand. Cast aside the ways of
darkness and put on the armour of
light."

He recalled the instances of
"man's inhumanity to man," citing
the police dogs, hoses and ammunition
stores acquainted with the civil
rights movement.

Mr. Dawkins concluded by terming
today's students as the final
great hope. Students can relate to
others the concern that all men
must "work and walk together."
They can set an example that other
segments of the population can
emulate, he reasoned.

Photo By Bob Gill

Coalition Speaker Addresses Crowd On North Side Of Rotunda Yesterday