SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCES IN RIOTS, LOOTING, AND BURNING Part 5 (Buffalo, N.Y.) THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1968 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC HEARINGS Washington, D.C. A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 10:20 a.m., in Room 311, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Hon. Richard H. Ichord (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. (Subcommittee members: Representatives Richard H. Ichord, of Missouri, chairman; John M. Ashbrook, of Ohio; and Albert W. Watson, of South Carolina.) Subcommittee members present: Representatives Ichord, Ashbrook, and Watson. Staff members presents: Francis J. McNamara, director; Chester D. Smith, general counsel; and Herbert Romerstein, investigator. Mr. ICHORD. The committee will come to order. We have the following communication from the chairman of the full committee, reading as follows: Pursuant to the provisions of the law and the Rules of this Committee, I hereby appoint a subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities, consisting of Honorable Richard H. Ichord, as Chairman, and Honorable John M. Ashbrook and Honorable Albert W. Watson, as associate members, to conduct hearings in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 1968, as contemplated by the resolution adopted by the Committee on the 2nd day of August, 1967, authorizing hearings concerning subversive influences in the riots, the looting and burning which have besieged various cities in the Nation, and other matters under investigation by the Committee. Please make this action a matter of Committee record. If any member indicates his inability to serve, please notify me. Given under my hand this 20th day of June, 1968. And signed by Edwin E. Willis, chairman of the Committee on UnAmerican Activities. Our first witness this morning, I understand, is Mr. Frank N. Felicetta. Is that the correct pronunciation, sir? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, sir. Mr. ICHORD. Police commissioner of the city of Buffalo, New York. It is very nice to have you with us, Mr. Commissioner, and Mr. Counsel, are you ready to proceed? Mr. SMITH. Will you swear the witness, please? Mr. ICHORD. First of all, Mr. Commissioner, will you please rise and be sworn? Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are going to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. FELICETTA. I do. Mr. ICHORD. Proceed, Mr. Counsel. TESTIMONY OF FRANK N. FELICETTA Mr. SMITH. Commissioner, will you please state your full name for the record. Mr. FELICETTA. Frank N. Felicetta, F-e-l-i-c-e-t-t-a. Mr. SMITH. What is your occupation? Mr. FELICETTA. Commissioner of police of the city of Buffalo, New York. Mr. SMITH. How long have you served as commissioner? Mr. FELICETTA. I served as commissioner for 1958 through '61. I retired from the department and returned January 1, 1966. Mr. SMITH. What has been your professional background? Mr. FELICETTA. Well, I joined the Buffalo Police Department December 3, 1929, and worked in every rank up to and including captain, to which I was promoted on January 2, 1958. Mr. SMITH. Were there disturbances of a racial nature Mr. FELICETTA. Excuse me. I would like to correct that. Mr. SMITH. I am sorry. Mr. FELICETTA. 1958 is when I took over as police commissioner. In 1950 I was promoted to captain. Mr. SMITH. Right. Were there disturbances of a racial nature in the city of Buffalo, New York, during 1967? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, there were. Mr. SMITH. What were the dates? Mr. FELICETTA. June 27 through June 30, 1967, when order was restored. Mr. SMITH. What is the population of Buffalo, New York? Mr. FELICETTA. Approximately 500,000 in the city, and a metropolitan population about a million and a quarter. Mr. SMITH. What is the Negro population of the city? Mr. FELICETTA. About 100,000. Mr. SMITH. That represents what percentage of that? Mr. FELICETTA. It would represent about 20 percent. Mr. SMITH. About 20 percent. What percentage of the Negroes of Buffalo were involved in the riot? Mr. FELICETTA. All told, I would say about 1 percent. Maybe 1% percent. Mr. SMITH. That would figure about 1,000 or 1,500? Mr. SMITH. Please advise the committee of the number of arrests and the extent of the property damage done during the riots. Mr. FELICETTA. Well, there were 242 adults and 17 youthful offenders arrested in the course of the disturbances, and property damage was estimated to be about $151,000, or a little more. This was damage caused by fire. There were some other losses, amounting to approximately $37,000, in thefts and so on. Mr. SMITH. Were there any deaths during the disturbance? Mr. FELICETTA. No, sir. Mr. SMITH. Were there any injuries during the disturbance? Mr. SMITH. Was there any sniping during the disturbances? Mr. FELICETTA. There was not, sir. Mr. SMITH. Were any guns stolen in the course of the disturbance? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, there were. I have a report here of a burglary at Angert's. Angert's is a store that sells automobile supplies and also sells sporting goods, where at approximately 7:53 p.m. on June 27, 1967, which was the night that our disturbances started, some windows were broken at this store, and, incidentally, this store is located within the core area, and there were 20 shotguns, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge, stolen from this store. Additionally, there were 12 Crossman pellet guns taken. Mr. SMITH. Were Molotov cocktails used to start fires during the riots? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, they were. Mr. SMITH. Were there any other activities that were of significance during the disturbance? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, there were. There was a fire, either the first or second night, in a building at Madison and Peckham Streets, which is right in the core area, and an automobile was placed across the street to make it difficult for the fire department to reach the scene and to reach the fire. Additionally, I have a report here from the fire department where there were many, many false alarms of fire, where firemen were pelted, where firemen were harassed, and where their equipment was damaged. Mr. SMITH. Right. Who is the fire commissioner of Buffalo, New York? Mr. FELICETTA. Robert Howard. Mr. SMITH. And what is his race? Mr. FELICETTA. He is a Negro, sir. Prior to the outbreak of violence on June 27, 1967, to your knowledge, were there any Communist organizations engaging in racial agitation in Buffalo, or were there any organizations or individuals promoting racist doctrines, disseminating inflammatory racist literature, or engaging in racial agitation? Mr. FELICETTA. Yes. We were aware of a number of instances of this type activity. The Nation of Islam, or Black Muslims as they are generally called, have a mosque, designated [Muhammad's] Mosque No. 23, in Buffalo, located in a-formerly a theater building on Broadway near Jefferson Street, and it has been active for some years. It is gen erally recognized that this organization is highly racist in its doctrines and teachings. On May 3, 1967, the YMCA, located at 347 East Ferry Street, which is in the heart of the core area, held a fundraising carnival. Three Black Muslims, wearing Fruit of Islam uniforms and caps, with the initials "F.I." on the caps, were observed talking to a group of 75 to 100 youngsters at the carnival. The Fruit of Islam, as you know, is a paramilitary guard unit of the Black Muslims. So far as we can tell, these men were strangers in the area, and it is not known whether they might have been associated with the Buffalo Muslim mosque, or whether they came from some other area. Shortly after they addressed the group of young Negroes at the carnival, the youngsters left in a group and proceeded to Jefferson Avenue, about a block away, where they broke windows in a number of stores and also entered and stole a large amount of merchandise from a pawnshop. Police officers took two of them into custody at the scene, but were assaulted by the others who managed to free the other two. On May 18 a two-page newsletter was issued by certain persons in the Buffalo chapter of CORE, C-O-R-E, and I would like to read an excerpt from the cover page of this newsletter or flyer: "RIOTS!!" It is headed "RIOTS!!": It seems that Wattts [sic], Rochester, New York and other cities don't plan their riots nearly as well as Buffalo. Already through careful planning we have been able to maintain riotous conditions for two weekends straight. This past Saturday, there were so many cops between Jefferson, Humboldt and E. Ferry Streets it looked like a P.A.L. convention (That is, with all the 14, 15, 16 year oldsters loitering on the corners). Who knows, if things are well planned, the kids will have a good time (like Ft. Lauderdale). The riots have lasted only for a weekend. Was it the weather? By the way kids, what are you doing this summer??? Then they go further, another heading here on "ORGANIZATION": The "black idea" has hit Buffalo and the organizers are not sure just how to organize its power, corral its anger, or box its action. The young kids are going to hit the streets faster than the organizations can think and find an answer even if it is a false one. Somehow the committee thinkers have to climb out of their trap and get back to the streets and find out what's really happening in the young black man's mind. Everyone in Buffalo is busy organizing. Organizing is "in," and civil rights is "out." A WORD ABOUT CORE CORE seeks to help you to help yourself. We meet every Wednesday, 1536 Jefferson, 8 P.M. Will you be there??? I would like to offer this to you. Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I request this flyer be accepted for the record. Mr. ICHORD. You were reading from the flyer, Mr. Commissioner! Mr. FELICETTA. Yes, sir. Mr. ICHORD. There being no objection, the flyer will be admitted and incorporated into the record. (Document marked "Felicetta Exhibit No. 1" follows:) Is there any good reason why you should read this newsletter? Is there any reason why we should print it? It is Core's The existence of "CORE SPEAKS" is important. MOUTH. The iueas and policies of CORE can only be expressed in print. Therefore, "CORE SPEAKS" must be. Way read this? Simply because "CORE SPEAKS may be the only publication in Buffalo dealing in facts. We, in Buffalo, are "BLESELD" with publications which refuse to print all the facts. "CORE SPRAKS" offers you a voice dealing in issues of vital importance to the COTUNITY. Being the only voice, it is an important and necessary voice. The future of "CORE SPEAKS" is You. By reading it, "CORE SPEAKS" WILL grow and become an influential voice for the whole community. RIOTS !! It seems that Wattts, Rochester, New York and other cities don't plan their riots nearly as well as Buffalo. Already through careful planning we have been able to maintain riotous conditions for two weekends straight. This past Saturday, there were so many cops between Jefferson, Humboldt and E. Ferry Streets it looked like a-P.A.L. convention (That is, with all the 14, 15, 16 year oldsters loitering on the corners). Who knows, if things are well planned, the kids will have a good time (like Ft. Lauderdale). The riots have lasted only for a weekend. Was it the weather? By the way kius, what are you doing this summer??? ORGANIZATTON The "black idea" has hit Buffalo and the organizers are not sure just how to o.ganize its power, corral its anger, or box its action. The young kids are going to hit the streets faster than the organizations can think and find an answer even if it is a false one. Somehow the committee thinkers have to climb out of their trap and get back to the streets and find out what's really happening in the young black man's mind. Everyone in Buffalo is busy organizing. Organizing is "in" and civil rights is "out". A WORD ABOUT CON CORE seeks to help you to help yourself. We meet every Wednesday, 1536 Jefferson, 8 P.M. Will you be there??? |