Demons in Alabama

Unable to erase the U.S. Constitution, Alabama racists would love to erase the Alabamian who tirelessly enforces it--U.S. District Judge Frank M. Johnson. Last month Johnson signed an order for complete desegregation of all Alabama public schools next fall, the first such statewide decree in history. Last week unknown persons counterattacked not Johnson but his 69-year-old mother. As Mrs. Johnson watched TV alone in her Montgomery house, a bomb blasted her garden, shattering windows, ripping off a door, scattering books and furniture everywhere.

"I'm all right, I'm all right," cried Mrs. Johnson as she emerged unscathed into the arms of a neighbor. Angrily, Judge Johnson rushed to the scene along with police, firemen, FBI agents and an Army demolition team from Fort Rucker. As usual, there were few clues, no suspects. But the bombing appalled even Governor Lurleen Wallace, an archfoe of Johnson's school decision. Denouncing "the fiendish demons who committed this act," Lurleen announced a $5,400 reward for information. If the bombing was "in any way related" to the school order, declared Lurleen, "this is not the American way or the Alabama way to protest such decisions."

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