Heavy Traffic on a Two-Way Street

Gravely concerned about spreading racial violence, President Kennedy last week used his press conference to issue counsel to both sides in the struggle.

To Negroes: "I'm concerned about these demonstrations. I think they go beyond information, beyond protest, and they get into a very bad situation where you get violence, and I think the cause of advancing equal opportunities only loses. So I have warned against demonstrations which could lead to bloodshed, and I warn now against them."

To Whites: "I would hope that, along with a cessation of the kinds of demonstrations that would lead to rioting, the people would also do something about the grievances. You just can't tell people, 'Don't protest'--but on the other hand, 'We're not going to let you come into a store or restaurant.' It seems to me it's a two-way street ... the way you make the problem go away, in my opinion, is to provide for redress of grievances."

To thousands of school-board presidents throughout the country, the President sent letters asking "your help in solving the grave civil rights problems faced by this nation." Kennedy's letters urged the use of biracial committees to work out local problems, with an emphasis on stemming the school drop-out rate, which affects the employment prospects of both white and Negro youngsters. "It is of particular significance," wrote the President, "because of a lack of job opportunities for inadequately trained youth and the explosive situation in many of our great cities."

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