DOC RELATES TO PROJECT MERRIMAC (MERRIMACK) - SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT - (DOC UNDATED-PUB DATE EST)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: MHCHAOS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00018206
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2024
• Document Release Date: December 24, 2024
• Publication Date: June 1, 1972

Approved for Release: 2024/12/19 C00018206
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SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT
Can black Americans be mobilized into as powerful a
� pres.sure group for the liberation of Southern Africa as American
Jews have been for Israel?
�
This is the dream, admittedly along way off, of a growing
number of black leaders who see the d'e'itiny of American blacks
linked with the continent from which their ancestors came. As a
result of this dream, the African Liberation Day Coordinating
Committee was established in January of this year.
The ALDCC, organized as an ad hoc committee, has attracted
the most broadly based political group of black leaders to. join together
for any project in recent memory. Owusa Sadaulsi, president of
Malcolm X Liberation.University in Greensboro, North Carolina,
is the chairman of ALDCC and Cleveland Sellers., a farmer. Student
National Coordinating Committee organizer, is the field coordinator.
Members of its steering committee run the gamilt from churchmen
to Black Panthers and from Congressmen to avowed Communists.
The list includes the Rev. Ralph Abernathy of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference; Angela Davis, an acknowledged
Communist now on trial in California for conspiracy to murder and
kidnap; Representatives John Conyers, Jr., (D-Michigan)and Charles C.
Diggs (D-Michigan); the Rev. L. Maynard Catchings, communications
executive of the National Council of Churches; H. Rap Brown, now in
a New York jail awaiting trial for robbery; the Rev. Dr. Charles
Spivey of the World Council-of Churches; and Black Panther leader
Huey P. Newton.
The ALDCC has been active since its formation. A conference
on the theme, "The United States and South Africa," sponsored by'
ALDCC was held.in Washington, D.C. on 16 and 17 March. The
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conference, drew more than 300 persons- repre"sentatives of churches,
human rights organizations, labor unions and individuals "hung up"
on Africa. The stated purpose of the conference was to explore
ways in which concerned persons and groups in this country could
provide support of various kinds for African liberation movements.
The committee supported the April 21st rally at the Portuguese
Embassy in Washington, D. C. .protesting the bombing of Tanzanian
territory. Just recently ALDCC supported the Pan-African Liberation
Council and the Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-Student Association (pro-
African liberation groups) in their effort to-pressure Harvard University
into divesting itself of its $21 million in Gulf Oil stock (large investments
in Portttguese Angola).
Much of the financial and logistkal support for the African
� Liberation Day Coordinating Committee is corning from church
sources by way of the Interreligious Foundation for Community
Organization. IFCO was set up five years ago in the wake of the
Detroit and Newark riots to help churches put their money where
their resolutions were.
With the recent decline of church income and a noticeable
white backlash within some denominations, IFCO seeks to continue
as a bridge (though increasingly fragile) between minority groups
and its supporting white denominations.
On 15 March, a non-tax exempt spinoff organization, IFCO
Action, was formed with the avowed purpose of attempting to influence
legislation and effect social change. Support of the African liberation
struggle is one of its top priorities. It should be noted that IFCO Action
was involved in the unsuccessful attempt to prevent the unloading of
the Rhodesian chrome in Burnside, La., on 20 March 1972.
The African liberation movement is an issue that lends itself
well to the unification of the black community in America. If the
movement can entice antiwar advocates, the new left, and "progressive"
movements to play a more active role in supporting their cause, the
liberationists will be far down the road to creating an utopian Africa"
solely for black people.
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CALENDAR OF TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES
Asterisked items are either reported for the first time, or
contain additions or changes to previously reported activities
May, Washington, D. C.
The National Peace Action Coalition which is controlled by -
the Trotskyite Socialist Workers. Party and the Peoples Coalition
for Pe.ace and Justice which is influenced by the CPUSA have
announced that they will co-sponsor the following calendar of events
in Wastington, D. C. during the month:
18 May--Planned civil disobedience demonstrations
in the halls of Congress.
27 May or 29 May--A mass rally--details unknown as yet..
22-30 May--Disruption of Federal functions wherever � I
applicable. � //1/ 61(j
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It is not believed at this time that these demonstrations will
produce great numbers of people or cause significant disruption of
the city. Demonstrations in recent weeks (following the Hanoi bombing)
have been numerous but poorly attended and higbly ineffective. The
enthusiasm is missing.
The Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice has also announced
the following schedule of activities for the month:
� ��
18 May--A massive demonstration will take place at
the Capitol, which will include civil disobedience and
calls on congressmen.
20 May (Armed Forces Day)--Antiwar demonstrations
are planned for military installations throughout the
country.
21 May--A massive march and rally are planned at
the Capitol to protest the war in Southeast Asia. A
few thousand will probably attend. �
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22 May--A 'Ppeoples blockade of the Pentagon"
demonstration is planned and will include blockading
all entrances to the Pentagon in an act of civil dis-
obedience to protest the War in Vietnam. Some minor
violence could result. One of the leading spokesmen of
�the Pentagon blockade is Rennie Davis who has been an
advocate of militancy and civil disobedience in the past.
This demonstration wilt not be near the magnitude of last
May. in Washington 1:p4t a few fanaticsjrrip..y be troublesome, �
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71
*18-19-20 May, Washington, D.C.
Right-wing fundamentalist preacher Carl McIntire, who is
national chairman of the March for Victory Committee, has announced
plans for a demonstration on 20 May.�jThe purpose of the demonstration
is to show support of the U.S. position in Vietnam and to protest
President Nixon's visit to Russia.
Demonstrators will assemble at 4th Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue at 12 noon to begin a march down Pennsylvania Avenue to the
�
Washington Monument where a rally will be held at 2 p.m. Reportedly
Governor Maddox of Alabama will be one of the guest speakers. Leaflets
are being circulated which call for five hundred thousand Americans
to join in the stand for a free America and a free world. Realistically,
attendance will probably not top several thousand. Demonstrations
sponsored by the March for Victory Committee in the past have been
non-violent.
Recently, McIntire announced plans to hold a press conference
at the Pentagon at 12 noon on 18 May. The following day (19 May)
will be called Embassy Day at which time they will visit some of the
embassies which include Saigon, Philippines, Formosa, Japan and
others. -1 OX rzt/041:, t� ; r); v.(1.�;,� i;
:May through August, Nationwide
The following calendar of events was decided upon by the
steering committee of the National Peace Action Coalition (Trotskyite
group) at their 7 May meeting in Washington, D. C. :
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2,0 May--Nationwide antiwar actions are planned for
Arr'ned Forces Day. The Washington, D. C. action
will consist of demonstrators assembling at West
Potomac Park between Independence Avenue and West
Ohio Drive from 10 a. m. until noon, a march from .
West Potomac Park down Ohio Drive to Memorial
Bridge, across the bridge to the Pentagon, concluding
with a mass antiwar rally at the Pentagon. �Several
thousand participants are expected. The probability
is for a legal, non-violent demonstration.
27 May--A mass antiwar march is scheduled for
(Washington, D. C. from the West side of the Capitol
to the Ellipse by way of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th
Street from 10 a. m. to noon. �I-
n June--A trade union antiwar conference will be held
on 23 June at the Teamsters headquarters in St. Louis,
Mo.
21 July--An antiwar national conference will be held at
Los Angeles, California.
6-9 August--Nationwide antIV;ar demonstrations are
scheduled to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. As in the past, indications are for a light,hturn
out for these demonstrations. 7.1;7 /A. .7? ;(11HT/1-''!I'i� )�
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*19-22 May, Washington, D.C.
As previously reported, the National Peace Action Coalition
to Free Soviet Jews, organized by the militant Jewish Defense League
has scheduled 24 hour-a-day prayer vigils at Lafayette Park on the
above dates. The purpose of the demqnstration is to influence President
Nixon to intervene on behalf of the suppressed Soviet Jews during his
visit to Moscow slated to begin on ZZ May 1972.
Recently William M. Pen, chairman of the Greater Washington,
D. C. chapter of the JDL met with representatives of the JDL in New
York City concerning plans for the demonstrations. JDL leaders
from New York City projected that 600 individuals from New York
City and the surrounding area would participate; however, Penl
stated he is making plans for only 300 participants from all areas.
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The original plans to erect a tent city at Lafayette Park to house
the demonstrators has been cancelled. Pen l now intends to obtain
other housing facilities, including private residences as well as an
undisclosed church in the Washington area.
Leaders of the JDL advised they have no specific activities
scheduled for 19 May, but smajl organized and/or spontaneous actions
might take place in the vicinity of Soviet diplornatiC establishments
and/or the residences of Soviet diplomats. Demonstrators will be
located at the White House and at Andrews Air Force Base on 20 May,
prior to President Nixon's departure for Russia. There are no specific
plans fer actions on the night of 20 May, after President Nixon's
departure for Russia, but the possibility exists that there will be JDL
actions in the vicinity of the residence-i of Soviet diplomats. .
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18, 23, 24, 25 May, Washington, D.C.
The Freedom Leadership Foundation which had demonstrated
in the past against communism has scheduled demonstrations on the
above dates. The purpose of these demonstrations is to call for an
ideological victory over communism. FLF leaders expect 10 persons
to participate each day.
*20 May, San Jose, Calif.
The May 20th Coalition has announced plans to hold a rally
beginning at noon at the William Street Park. The purpose of this
demonstration is to protest against racism, war and repression.
Reportedly among the scheduled speakers for the rally are: Mayor
Richard Hatcher of Gary, Ind., singer Roberta Flack, Al Hubbard
of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and Angela Davis if bail
restrictions on her right to speak are lifted by then. The sponsors
of the rally include the following: The Peoples Coalition for Peace
and Justice, Vietnam.Veterans Against the War, Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, National United Committee to Free Angela
Davis and All Political Prisoners, Los Angeles Peace Conference,
Young Workers Liberation League, Communist Party, Women's
International League for Peace and Freedon, United Farm Workers
"Organizing Committee, Laymen and Clergy Concerned, Welfare
Rights Organization and many others. I
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*22 May, San Rafael', Calif.
The trial is scheduled to begin on the above date for Ruche11
Magee, a San Quentin convict who is allegedly charged with the killing
of Judge Harold Haley. The charges stem from the shoot out at the
Mann County Courthouse in which four persons were killed in August
1970. Magee was once a codefendant with Angela Davis before a superior
court granted them separate trials. wr..,..Tiv:A!_i/ ///./1:y 72
:::27 May, Washington, D.C. , San Francisco, Calif. , and Toronto, Canada
As previously reported, the African Liberation Day Coordinating
Committee, 2207 14th Street, N. W., is planning mass "African
Liberation Day" demonstrations in Washington, San Francisco, and
Toronto on the above date.
The .demonstrations are designed to signify the United States'
observance of "African Solidarity Day" (May 25th) established in
Africa by the Maoist influenced Organization of African Unity (41
independent African nation members).
�
The Washington, D. C. action is scheduled to begin at 9 a. m.
on the premises of Malcolm X Park. At 11 a. m.., participants will
march to the Portuguese Embassy, the RhOdesian Information Center,
the South African Embassy, and the U.S. State Department. At each
stop along the way an indictment of the government concerned will be
read by various individuals representing organizations supporting the
indictments. The demonstration will culminate .a.t 4 p.m. with a mass
rally at Sylvan Theatre near the base of the Washington Monument.
The purpose of the stateside demonstrations is to mobilize
black Americans in support of the liberation movements in Africa
and to protest American business involvement in Southern Africa.
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SOURCE: Government and News Media
RELLABILITY: Probably True
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