Letter from Walter F. White to J. A. A. Burnquist, July 23, 1920.

Type of event: Lynchings

Location: Minnesota; United States

Addressee: J. A. A. Burnquist

Addressor: Walter F. White

Document date:

Document type: Correspondence

Documents: Letter from Walter F. White to J. A. A. Burnquist, July 23, 1920.

Citation:

Minnesota. Governor (1915-1921: Burnquist).
Records.
Subject Files (File 648c): Duluth Lynchings, 1920.
Letter from Walter F. White to J. A. A. Burnquist, July 23, 1920.

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NATIONAL OFFICERS
----
PRESIDENT
Moorfield Storey

VICE-PRESIDENTS
Archibald H. Grimke
Rev. John Haynes Holmes
Bishop John Hurst
Arthur B. Spingarn
Oswald Garrison Villard

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

70 Fifth Avenue, New York


Telephone: Chelsea 9386
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
----
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Mary White Ovington
John R. Shillady, Secretary
J.E. Spingarn, Treasurer
Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Director of Publications and Research
James Weldon Johnson,
Field Secretary
Walter F. White,
Assistant Secretary

July 23, 1920


Honorable J.A.A. Burnquist,
Governor of Minn.
State Capitol
St. Paul, Minn.

My dear Governor Burnquist:

Since your letter of July 2nd to Miss Ovington, we have noticed in a number of papers that evidence secured since the Duluth lynching have clearly established the fact that the three Negroes lynched in that city in June were not guilty of criminal assault upon the young white girl envolved [sic]; but that the girl’s companion and she made up the story to cover misdeeds of their own.

The Associated press despatches [sic] have established the belief throughout the country that the men lynched were guilty of the atrocious crime with which they were charged. If the dispatches which we read are true that the men were innocent would it be possible for you to give a statement to the Associated Press representative in you city to that effect? I need hardly mention the fact that such a statement coming from you would get much wider publicity than one coming from this office.

Please let me know if this is possible.

Very cordially yours,
Walter White
Assistant Secretary


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