TH53 LONG PD=TALLAHASSEE FLO 28 1028AME=

=HON LEROY COLLINS, GOVERNOR=

DEAR GOVERNOR COLLINS: AS YOU MAY KNOW A NUMBER OF NEGRO CITIZENS IN TALLAHASSEE, THE CAPITOL CITY OF FLORIDA, ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO VARIOUS TYPES OF PROSECUTIONS BY THE CITY. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCOVER ANY WHITE CITIZENS, WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SUCH PROSECTIONS [SIC]. WE ARE THUS LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THESE PROSECUTIONS STEM MAINLY FROM THE REFUSAL OF NEGRO CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO RIDE THE PRIVATELY OWNED BUS SYSTEM UNDER THE PRESENT INTOLERABLE CONDITIONS. NO MATTER WHAT GUISE THESE PROSECUTIONS GO UNDER THEY STILL AMOUNT TO A VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIHTS [SIC] OF TALLAHASSEE'S NEGRO CITIZENS. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT YOU USE THE FULL POWER OF YOUR OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION IN TALLAHASSEE, TO PREVENT FURTHER INJUSTICE BEING DONE TO A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION, WHICH ALSO HAS A VITAL INTEREST IN THE GROWTH AND WELL BEING OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, AND THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA. VERY TRULY YOURS=

=REV C K STEELE, PRESIDENT THE INTER CIVIC COUNCIL OF TALLAHASSEE=

SEPTEMBER 28, 1956

REVEREND C.K. STEELE, PRESIDENT 
THE INTER CIVIC COUNCIL OF TALLAHASSEE 
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 

RETEL: THE ONLY PROSECUTIONS I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ARE PENDING IN THE COURTS BASED UPON THE ALLEGED FAILURE OF CAR POOL OPERATORS TO OBTAIN THE PROPER LICENSE TO CARRY ON A BUSINESS OF THIS KIND.

THE ISSUES INVOLVED ARE QUESTIONS OF LAW AND FACT AND THE COURT IS THE PROPER FORUM IN WHICH SUCH SHOULD BE SETTLED.

SO FAR AS I KNOW, NO ONE QUESTIONS THE RIGHT OF OUR NEGRO CITIZENS TO RIDE THE BUSES OR NOT AS THEY MAY WISH. CERTAINLY I DO NOT.

LEROY COLLINS, GOVERNOR

LC:gfh 11:35 a.m. 
STRAIGHT PREPAID 
CHG: GOVERNOR'S OFFICE