Atlanta Daily World

Pledge Prosecution In Outrages At New Iberia, Louisiana

Terrorists Are Identified In FBI Affidavits Charge Sheriff Helped Brutally Beat Physician

WASHINGTON, D.C. (SNS) Accompanied by representatives of the Washington Bureau, N.A.A.C.P., J. Leo Hardy Friday had two lengthy conferences recently with Victor W. Rotnem, Chief, Civil Rights Section, Department of Justice, at which it was urged that the Justice Department begin immediate prosecution of white terrorists who beat and drove Mr. Hardy and other prominent colored citizens from their homes in New Iberia, Louisiana, more than four months ago.

SCHOOL IRKS WHITES

Over the objection of Lloyd G. Porter, Superintendent of Schools in that Parish, NAACP Branch officials had succeeded in getting a federal welding school for Negroes. When, with the assistance of the regional representative of FEPC, the school was finally established, irate local officials set out to "put the Negroes in their place."

Beginning on the night of May 15, several days after the school opened, Hardy was taken to the office of the Sheriff where he was accused of being "uppity" and told to leave town. When he did not do so, he was brutally beaten by the sheriff and his deputies on the following night, placed in a car, and driven to the outskirts of the city and told "never come to New Iberia."

Out-of-town deputies visited other prominent Negro citizens of New Iberia - enticed them from their homes on various pretexts, beat and run them out of town. Three Negro physicians, a dentist, a school teacher, and an insurance salesman were forced to flee their families and homes. For several months the 6,000 Negro residents of New Iberia were left without a single doctor, and only recently has a new one ventured to take up practice there.

AFFIDAVITS TAKEN

Complete affidavits identifying the leading white terrorists were turned over to the Department of Justice last May. Mr. Hardy, in an effort to facilitate an early prosecution, placed himself completely at the disposal of FBI agents for

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Such purposes as might be necessary.

Pointing out that Sheriff Gilbert Ozenne and other State officials who participated in the outrage have been positively identified and that the complainants were rapidly leaving for the West Coast and other sections of the country, N.A.A.C.P. officials urged the Department to take immediate steps to begin prosecution while there are still witnesses available to give testimony before the Grand Jury.