American Jewish Congress Lauds New Rights Law, Calls for More Legislation

The American Jewish Committee congratulated Congress today for passage of the 1968 Civil Rights Bill but warned that unless “desperately needed legislation” is forthcoming, the nation will move toward “a divided society of blacks and whites” such as the President’s Commission on Civil Disorders warned about.

The statement, issued by Bertram H. Gold, executive director of the AJC, said: “Congress merits congratulations for passing the long overdue civil rights guarantees including the Civil Rights Bill of 1968. Now we hope that the momentum so generated will continue, and that the desperately needed legislation pointed out by the Kerner Commission will be forthcoming. To do otherwise will result in an intensification of the disastrous trend toward a divided society of Blacks and Whites about which the Kerner Commission has warned us.”