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San Francisco Jews Back Full Rights for Negroes; Aid Food Campaign

August 9, 1963
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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All Jewish organizations in the San Francisco and Bay area were urged today to give full support to the principles of non discrimination and to “a peaceful and orderly solution of the Negro struggle for full equality in the area.”

The appeal was issued by the San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council and was printed in full in the San Francisco Jewish Community Bulletin. The JCRC, in distributing its appeal, indicated it did so on the basis of “recognizing the obligations of all Americans in the current civil rights movement.” The statement warned that, in the immediate future, “the San Francisco area will be facing the most critical inter-racial challenge of its recent history.”

The JCRC urged every Jewish organization to “do its utmost” to inform its membership about the nature of the Negro civil rights struggle. It urged every organization “to hold a special or early meeting at which this situation can be discussed,” and offered speakers for such meetings. The Council also proposed that Jewish organizations give attention to holding their affairs “at facilities which are open to all racial and religious groups.”

At the same time, Jews here helped lead a new movement, to collect food in the area to be sent to some 200,000 Negroes in Mississippi “who have been suffering from economic reprisals because of their effort to vote.” Mrs. Joseph Eichler was named chairman of the organization, Food for Freedom Committee. The committee has set up 15 depots in boys clubs and churches to receive non-perishable food. Rabbi Saul F. White is one of the committee sponsors.

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