Memorandum from National Administrative Committee of the American Communist Party Regarding the Emmett Till Lynching

COPY September 29, 1955 TO ALL DISTRICTS Dear Comrades: Sub ject: Emmett Louis Till Lynching The freeing of the murderers of 14 year old Emmett Louis Till in a so-called Mississippi "trial", and the marked increase of anti-Negro terror in the Deep South as well as in other parts of the country during the past months must become the immediate concern of the entire membership of the Communist Party: every district, every club, every member. The Emmett Till murder highlights the ends to which the Dixiecrats will go to defeat the growing desegregation and right to vote movement in the South. Popular indignation is widespread. Negro organizations, Negro leaders and the Negro press have sounded the alarm. If this important struggle is to be won, however, the Communist Party, and the American Left, in the first place, must be fully mobilized. Notwithstanding important work already being done by the Party and the Left around the Emmett Till case, the de-segregation, and right to vote movement, we must frankly state that the initiative of the Party on these vital struggles is far from satisfactory Thus far, insufficient leadership, consciousness, planning, follow through, and check- up are being displayed on the part of Party and Left leadership at all levels. If victory is to be achieved in this crucial fight, these weaknesses must be speedily overcome We submit below a number of proposals and suggestions for consideration and action by the Party: --Fundamental issues of great importance to the American labor movement, the Negro people, the fight for democracy and peace are involved in this fight. No attempt will be made here to examine these issues. Such an examination is being made in a basic statement of the National Committee on the Till lynching. This statement will be issued this week, and is one that should be given thorough consideration by the Party Leadership and member- ship in every District. The National Committee Statement, in addition to being published in the Press, is being reproduced in leaflet form. These leaflets may be secured from the National Office at a cost of $ per thousand. We urge the widest possible distribution of the leaflets, and that all D. ort COPY