~
The
Albany
Published by
‘The Brothers Coordinating Committee
AMOIER.
free
LIBERATOR
SPECIAL ISSUE
Sniper Attack On Brothers Causes Injury
At approximately 3:40 am Friday,
December 13, a shot was fired through one
of the front windows of The Brothers' head-
quarters at 172 North Pearl St. A twenty
year old State University student, Susan
Levy, who was sitting at the table near the
window was seriously injured. Bill Blando,
a reporter for the Knickerbocker News, was
cut by flying glass.
The incident occurred so suddenly and
without warning that no one was seen out-
side. However, both Leon Van Dyke, who
was also in the building at the time, and
-Blando, believe the shot was aimed at The
Brothers. —
Van Dyke stated that The Brothers are
taking precautions against further attacks
a and that they ie intend to continue
- our programs.'
| Van a De also. oint
7
_ Thomas Charged With Assault
Moses Thomas, 143 Orange Street, is
“a man in waiting. And, about all he can do
for the time being is play the waiting game,
according to his attorney, Mrs. Margrethe
Powers of the Capital District Civil Liber-
ties Union.
Thomas, amember of The Brothers for
more than a year, has been waiting to see
very. man to folend Reel "Tf fired up-
roe \ e intend to fire back, '' said Van Dyke.
what the Albany County Grand Jury does with
the felony charge against him. The felony
offense, one of four charges against Tho-
mas, resulted from his arrest on Nov. 2 by
patrolman John Martin. The felony claimed
is for assaulting a police officer.
The 25-year-old member of The Bro-
thers is also charged with: assisting a pri-
soner to escape, disorderly conduct and
interfering with a policeman making an
arrest.
He is currently out on $11,250 bail,
which was posted by two families---one
white, one black; one residing in well-to-do
Loudonville, the other residing in the South
End. |
Bail on Thomas wasn't set until Nov. 9,
after the recently married apprentice iron-
worker had served seven days in the County
jail, supposedly awaiting a psychiatric ex-
amination ordered by Police Court Justice
Michael V. Tepedino. The same judge set
the bail.
The bail was posted through bondsman
Herbert Goldstein by Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Thorpe, 64 Phillip Street, a charter mem-
ber of The Brothers, andDr. and Mrs. Wil-
liam C. Kite, of Loudon Heights. The two
families put up their homes as collateral.
Mrs. Powers expects that the grand jury
will indict Thomas onthe felony. If that hap-
pens, she says, "I will probably move to
Continued on. Page 4
COMMENT
Over a period of two and a half years
one black group in Albany has virtually
stood on the firing line for the black com-
munity. Friday morning's incident was not
the first time and will not be the last that
The Brothers have been attacked for their
stand against racial hatred and racial vio-
lence in America. ;
Although the victims of Friday's attack
were a State University coed and a news-
paper reporter, there can be no doubt that
the shot was fired at The Srgners seh
zation.
Almost ereey member of The B re
disorderly bonduet re "reckle 3 end
ment''. Each time Dobbs was acting in the |
capacity of a Brother protecting his black
people. : :
The Brothers have been victimized by
attacks on individual members and their
property since the organization was formed.
While operating out ofa basement store-
front office at 170 North Pearl Street, a
shotgun and on numerous occasions, bileke
and other objects, were used to break their.
front window.
Brothers have been victims of exces-
sive bail, even on minor charges. Sam Mc
Dowell was held on $15, 000 bail after being -
arrested for participating in a riot in July,
1967. Later his bail was reduced to $1, 500
and he was eventually acquited. Gibbson was 3
held on $1,000 bail on charges of obstruct-
ing governmental administration and resist—
ing arrest. And Moses Thomas, presently.
free on over $11,000 bail, awaits a grand
jury decision on charges stemming from an
incident with an Albany cop who swore hc
would get Thomas.
Although Brothers are usually acquited
when it comes to trial, the police are quick
to look for an excuse to arrest a Brother.
Dobbs, for example, was fined $100 last
week on a complaint by the proprietor of a
South End market. The police eagerly press-
ed the complaint of using "abusive lan-
guage;"' yet the complaint of Barry Hicks!
father fell on deafears at the district attor-
ney's office. Apparently a broken jaw was
not enough evidence to start an investiga-
tion. to Pye 2
- Eomment
= From Page |
# The Brothers have adopted a policy of
protecting the black community from racial
violence. They interceded between a group
of teenagers and police with drawn guns
in July, 1967. They have taken court action
a in behalf of black students who are in danger
of beatings and harrassment in the public
schools. Presently they are gathering evi-
_--dence in substantiation of the beating of
_ Barry Hicks in order to press suit to end
discrimination in Albany schools.
In light of the latest attack, The Broth-
ers are meeting with people in the black
community to setup a program of protection
and self-defense. Their love of community
requires them to awaken the community to
the dangers it faces and to unite black peo-
Pollak interviewed
will be appearing on Capitol News Confer-
ence. Saturday, December 21 at 4:30 pm.
Mr. Pollak will be interviewed as a repre-
sentative of SDS (Students fora Democratic
_ Society). The program is on WRGB, chan-
nel 6.
aie AN
letters to the editor
welfare woman speaks
To the Editor:
Black people on the South End! I'm on
the welfare and I try to buy food so it will
last the two weeks and try to save money.
Well, Istarted buying ata store on Pearl
Street in the South End. The name of the store
is Gibbor's Market. I'd buy canfood in there
because I thought I'd save but, Idid not. That
-sonofa gun padded the bill for me. He'd also
tell one price and charge me another. He
gave you 'freedelivery' so you think you are
getting something, but all you are getting is
a few roaches for free in the boxes that he
packs the food in.
Stores like his are what keep the black
people poor. He knows most people in the
South End, on the welfare, don't have cars
or any transportation to get to the big mar-
kets so he's got your ass where he wants
it.
Wakeup black people and put these ra-
cist sons of bitches out of business.
He doesn't likeus black people; he uses
us. Bastards like him have been taking our
money for years and cheating us out of so
| damn much and we have been letting them.
- _ But, let's wake up and fight to put them out
, of business.
: Thank you.
A black woman on welfare
Dees op es
ple towithstand the attack of racial violence.
Peter Pollak, Liberator staff member,
L
ANEREEEEEREEUUNY
The Brothers have started Operation Christmas Basket for the second
year to obtain turkeys for families in the community who might not be
able to afford the kind of meal every family ought to be able to enjoy.
It is with good will that we enter into the Holiday Season with the hope
that black and white will work together to make it a happy season for all.
Persons who would like to donate a turkey should either bring a frozen
turkey to The Brothers' office before Monday,
a contribution marked "turkey" to The Brothers,
Albany, 12207.
December 23 or should send
172 North Pearl St.,
Persons who would like to receive a Christmas turkey, if you are on
welfare or have a family income of around or less than $4,000,
Call The Brothers at 465-3347 and get your name on the
still eligible.
list.
you are
DISTRIBUTION OF TURKEYS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, DECEMBER
23. COME TO THE BROTHERS' OFFICE TO PICK UP YOUR TURKEY OR
CALL IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO DELIVER IT.
a eee cee eee ee
Rebuilding Staff
The Liberator is building staff now fo
immediate needs and long term needs.
We need people as reporters,
graphers,
photo
Jcirculation help,
artists and volunteer office help
and typing. Prospective volunteers should]
be able to spend at least four hours a week.
sh dbe Politically liberal to vical, wit
Wealsoneed good political cartoonists,
ad solicitors (25% com
mission on all sales) subscription agents,
researchers to assist writers and fun
If you want to become part of th
Liberator and have the time, dedication an
talent for any of these jobs, call Leon Va
Dyke 465-3347 or come to the staff meeting
any Monday afternoon at 4:30 pm, Liberato
raisers.
office, 172 N. Pearl St.
it's up to you
| subscribe NOW!
CLIP THIS COUPON.
| want to subscribe to
The Albany Liberator
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY STATE
ZIP
$5 Subscription
Send checks to "The Albany
Liberator," 172 North Pearl
St., Albany, N.Y. 12207.
Sustaining Subscription ($25)
‘Supporting Subscription ($15)
The Albany Liberator
The Albany Liberator is published
on alternate Thursdays by the Bro-
thers' Coordinating Committee,
at 172 North Pearl St., Albany, New
York, 12207, phone 463-7788. Sub-
scriptions $5 a year. Supporting Sub-
scription -- $15; Sustaining ———
tion -- $25.
Editorial Staff --
Robert Geuc Dobbs, Peter Jones,
Sam McDowell, Clarence Newton,
Peter Pollak, Leon Van Dvke and
Gordon Van Ness.
member of. Liberation News Service
A i gaan Snr 8 iy i ac mee AS i
pres Es
The Affirming Community
The letter to the editor from St. Joseph's Academy raises some very frightening
questions. It informs us that St. Joseph's enrollment is 177 white children and 118 ;
black children. But of the 118 black children only 32 are Catholic while 86 are Pro-
testant. :
The obvious question is, why are there 86 Protestant black children in a Roman
Catholic Parochial School? And, do the 32 black Catholic children have Catfolic
parents, or have these 32 children been converted to Catholicism since attending the
Catholic school?
It might also be interesting to know how many of the 117 white children are Pro-
testant. And how many WERE Protestant when they entered the Catholic school.
Nobody really has to ask why all these Protestant children are in a Catholic
parochial school. The reason is obvious - because the Albany public schools, available
to these ghetto children, are so decrepit, the teachers are such rejects and the ©
teaching materials so scant and old, that the Roman Catholic Schools are BETTER
than the Albany Public Schools.
In short, these Protestant parents are coerced into accepting the religious con-
version of their children in order that they may received any kind of an education
for their children at all.
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy does this everywhere in the world. It uses its own
religious freedom to destroy the religious freedom of others.
Here in Albany, the Public School System is nothing but an extension of the cor-
rupt Roman Catholic controlled political machine. Practically every Public School ad-
ministration position, and nearly every teaching position is held by Rorman Catholics.
These people usually have their own children in the Parochial schools, and couldn't
care less about the quality of education in the public school system for which they
work.
The Catholic parents, whose children are in Catholic schools, form a Catholic
block vote against money for the public schools. As the Catholic block vote get =a
and bigger, the. public schools get sears and poorer.
in public schools. The bye ‘schoo "hy in the ghetto, are ‘now ‘so decrepit, have so-
many slow children and troublemakers, and so many left over and reject teachers
and such poor equipment, that they are not a fit place for any child with a hope for
the future.
So now Protestant parents are coerced into sending their children to the Roman
Catholic schools where there is still some teaching going on.
The Roman Catholic Church has destroyed the public schools in every large Cath-
olic-population city in the North - including Albany.
In smaller Schenectady, the Catholic Church has only eats completed a huge
parochial school building program. Until now the public schools have been tops. But
now the Catholic parochial parents are forming their block vote against money for the
public schools, and under the front banner of ''economy" the budgets will get smaller
and smaller, more and more Catholic "economy" board of education members will be
elected, and more and more Catholics will be promoted to administrative positions
and hired as teachers - whose children will usually be in parochial schools - until the
public schools in Schenectady will be just as Catholicized and just as destroyed as
those in Albany. Then Schenectady Protestants too, will be coerced into accepting the
Catholic conversion of their children in order that they may attend a school where
there is any teaching going on at all.
The letter from St. Joseph's says, "St. Joseph's contribution to the Arbor Hill
Community is $80,660."
The REAL St. Joseph's contribution to the Arbor Hill Community is the gift of a
destroyed public school system and the gift of coerced religious conversion to Catholi-
cism of Protestant children. | |
Who can put a dollar value on that?
Patricia Horton
Coordinator
The Affirming Community
170 N. Pearl St.
Albany, N.Y. 12207
paid advertisement
Where is Jennings? |
ACO! Wants To Know
The best laid plans can sometimes go
by the boards if the planners fail to appear
when they say they will to discuss these
plans with the powers that be.
The planner in this case is John Jen-
nings, attorney for the Inter-racial Council.
The powers that be, or at least will have
an influence in determining the result of
those best laid plans, reside in the Albany
County Opportunities Inc. (ACOI). ACOI is
a umbrella-type government agency which
passes recommendations on to the federal
government when a community action pro-
ject requests federal funds.
Before making a recommendation on
the proposed $1.2 million Arbor Hill Com-
munity Center, ACOI called a meeting for
last Thursday night, December 12, "in
order to learn the facts about the project."
The Inter-racial Council was asked to attend
since it istheir request for funds the Hous-
ingand Urban Development sree will pass
final judgement on.
The Inter-racial Council ran the old
Arbor Hill Community Center before it was
sacrificed to an Arbor Hill Urban Renewal
project. The council is supposed to operate
the new center when it is built. Thus it ap-
plied for a federal grant of $826,000 to
build it.
Before giving its blessings on the pro-
ject, ACOI wanted to know what facilities
the center would include, Mr. Jennings
ition. But, :
and ACOI is Sa Sake
George Morris, director of ACOI, was
quoted as saying that he didn't know why
Mr. Jennings didn't keep his promise.
Neither does The Liberator. Does anybody?
z ques tans i to Dr. 5
_ promised to Sica ACOI with that infor- |
a Jennings never ee d [Bassey Oko1
Dobbs Fined On Disorderly Char
Robert Gene Dobbs, 25, of 120 First
Street, paid a$100 fine after pleading guilty
to a charge of disorderly conduct in police
court on December 4.
The trial lasted only a few minutes.
But it didn't get started until after a delay
of many hours. It had been announced as the
first trial to be conducted under a new plan
of speeding things up at police court.
Mr. Dobbs, accused of "reckless en-
dangerment,"' pleaded guilty to the lesser
charge of disorderly conduct offense after
consulting with other members of The
Brothers.
In deciding on the less serious charge,
Leon Van Dyke, coordinator, explained that
this was not the time to get involved ina
court case that''could drag on and on...and-
probably not get us anywhere."
Mr. Dobbs was arrested on September
5, on complaint from Mrs. Annamae Sivas-
lian, of 51 Phillips Road, East Greenbush.
Mrs. Sivaslian is proprietor of Pete's
Grocery Store, 30 Bassett Street, in the
South End.
have you renewed?
don’t miss
In the next issue of The Liberator,
there will be an interview on the Nigerian-
Biafran conflict. Leon. Van Dyke poses
John Amazigo,
eatterial on SsoteOn
by Harry Hamilton
Troy OEO - who do they
work for?
Thomas Free On $11,250 Bond
have the misdemeanors removed from police
court to the county court."
She described the motion as something
of a gamble, but added, 'We might as well
have all the charges tried at once...since
they all resulted from the same incident."
She said it would be silly to have one charge
tried in county court and the others in police
court.
While waiting, Thomas continues to
work at the Couth Mall project as an appren-
ticeironworker. While waiting for the trial
of their fellow Brother to come up, The
Brothers have issued statements of protest
against "'the excessively high bail,'' "the in-
discriminate" ordering of psychiatric exa-
minations and the detention of Thomas with-
out performing the psychiatric examination
and without benefit of apreliminary hearing.
A number of other groups joined in the
protest, including: The Inter-faith Clergy
Association, which helped arrange the rai-
sing of the bail; the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP), whichis trying to raise ''adefense
fund;'' and the Albany County Legal Aid So-
ciety.
| The incident triggering the arrest
_- oecurred outside of Kittle's Restaurant, on
* ‘North. Swan Street, _at 2: 30 a.m. , Nov.. 2.
Thomas sometimes. works a8 “a” “partie
waiter at the "soul" music bar.
From Page |
Thomas allegedly tried to prevent Pa-
trolman Martin from ticketing an illegally
parked car. The Albany police officer said
that a crowd gathered outside of Kittle's and
started to heckle him.
Thomas said he was singled out with-
out cause by the uniformed cop and placed
under arrest. Thomas said he asked the cop
"What for?" and the answer he got was a
clout with the nightstick on his left hand.
The officer charged that Thomas inter-
fered with him while he (Martin) attempted
to arrest another man. The patrolman said
Thomas then tried to choke him.
The bail was set that night at $300. The
Brothers raised $260 within several hours,
but were unable to raise the full amount.
When they returned with the full amount-the
Dain Bs
She charged that Mr. Dobbs threns
her with a stick, used obscene language
kept her trapped behind the counter while
group of young boys ransacked the store.
Mrs. Sivaslian did not testify during t
brief trial, but looked none- too-happy ov
the compromise charge.
However, a second charge ane
Dobbs still exists. Police court justice
Michael V. Tepedino would not comment
the charge of contempt of court against M
Dobbs. It was issued on October 9, w
Mr. Dobbs did not appear in court. M
Dobbs said he did not know the tria
since no one from the court or the ‘po
department notified him about it. .
Under the original charge of rec
endangerment, Mr. Dobbs would have
to be tried by jury. He could have re
up to a year in prison, if found guilt
The incident occurred on: Labor
The Brothers were called to the st
complaint of several youngsters and |
who said that the store proprietor
least one store clerk mistreated their
tomers, especially black kids.
Mr. Dobbs investigated this c om)
with three other Brothers.
lies eyictad are: Robert and Co
332 Hamilton; Jennie Farmer,
All were withholding rent until repairs
mised by Leone's Rubicon Associa
made. eM
Mrs. Dorcas Bond, who alsoowe
rentas of last week but had not re« ei
eviction notice, announced that rent rv
tions had been granted on several R
properties by the State rent admin
Mrs. Bond stated that the Le
done nothing. but harrass their
"All Joe Leone is interested in is
money," Mrs. Bond told the Liber:
"Cora Trotter still does not have
ficient heating."' Mrs. Bond said
the evicted women. "Honey Cartwrigh
to hassle with rain and snow coming
house and a ceiling that is about re
fall in."
nextday, they learned that Thomas could not
be bailed out. Several days later, bail was
set at $10,000 for the felony and an addi-
tional $1250 for the three misdemeanors.
a
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES — SENIORS
Begin a career
in engineering with
New York State as an
Engineering Aide.
VACANCIES IN YOUR AREA
Write: N.Y.S. Dept. of Civil Service
R-705X, Albany, N.Y. 12226
e
Maintenance Man 5 brs per wee
call Mrs Choi
DOWNTOWN
DAY CARE CENTER, Inc
First Church, Clinton igen
| Help Wanted | —
Teacher’s Aides
Full or Pori-faae
Secretary 12 hrs per wears
ea tow 44
