NAACP LAUDS PLAN TO REGULATE PARADES

Members of the local chapter of the NAACP Monday applauded a proposed law to give Cape Girardeau police more latitude to regulate parades.

But Debra Willis, community action chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said she was disappointed that the law doesn't apply to "rallies" and that a proposed "de-hooding" ordinance wasn't included in the measure.

The NAACP earlier this month drafted a number of resolutions the group hoped the city would adopt to prevent possible Ku Klux Klan activity. Leaflets circulated earlier this year announced the Klan was planning a rally at City Hall June 13.

"I have to express my deep, deep, extremely deep disappointment that the very thing we're trying to protect all the citizens of Cape Girardeau is not even addressed in this ordinance," said Willis at the council's meeting Monday.

The council failed to act on the parades law, which they asked City Attorney Warren Wells to amend to reflect suggestions by Willis and Michael Sterling, the local NAACP president.

Sterling said Hannibal, which has been the site of past Klan rallies, now has an ordinance that prohibits participants in rallies and parades from concealing their identity by wearing hoods. He said he is waiting for city officials there to send him a copy of the ordinance, which could be adopted in Cape Girardeau.

Wells said he would research the matter and, if such a measure is constitutional, would prepare a "de-hooding" law for the council's consideration at its June 1 meeting.

At that meeting, the council also will consider the amended parades measure. The only change would be a requirement that the name of the individual or organization requesting a parade permit be published prior to the event.

But Willis complained that although the amended parades ordinance would be acceptable, the city still would be unable to regulate Klan rallies.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the law wasn't drafted specifically to address concerns about potential Klan activity. Police Chief Howard Boyd has downplayed fears of such an event here next month, contending that the threat was from a single man, who has since moved out of the area.

But Willis said the parades measure addressed nearly every issue included in the NAACP resolutions, except with regard to rallies and the inclusion of a de-hooding requirement which she urged.

"If find it almost eerie that the proposed ordinance here is almost identical to what we proposed," she said. "I can't think of any legitimate group that would want to gather for a parade or a rally and not want to show their face."

Sterling said the NAACP wanted the de-hooding measure not only in response to the leaflets circulated earlier this year, but also because of past Klan activity here that could resurface.

Wells said he would prepare a separate, broad de-hooding law for the council's consideration next month. He said the measure would have to be drafted so that it doesn't apply to "children's parties," such as Halloween parades.

"I would assume if the de-hooding ordinance is valid and constitutional you'd want it to apply to all activities and not just parades," he said. "This ordinance you're considering now only applies to parades."

The other issue debated Monday was whether to require publication of the names of individuals or organizations requesting a parade permit. The only notification requirement in the proposed parades law was that the city manager be informed of permit applications. He then would be responsible for notifying interested parties.

"I think every citizen of this town would need to know," said Willis. "I think publication would be the way for every citizen to know."

Fischer said he agreed, and Councilman Al Spradling III asked that publication be required and advertising fees be assessed to the permit applicant.

"If there's a legal public notice requirement, the cost should be included in the fee as part of the permit process," he said.

Willis asked that the council give the laws "emergency reading" or final approval at next month's meeting.

"You all cannot possibly imagine the tension, fear and degradement that people can feel when they do not feel safe to walk out on the street at night, or allow their children in an all-white store because they're afraid they're going to be attacked," she said.

She said black fears of racism would be similar to whites having to be constantly "conscious of your hair color or your shoe size.

"What if you weren't allowed in a store because of your hair color something you have no control over?" she said. "What if you were prevented from riding on the bus because of your shoe size?

"This should be an emergency to every caring and sensitive member of this community."

Current city law requires a parade permit only for those events that would include 200 or more people or 50 or more vehicles.

Boyd said: "Under our present ordinance, virtually no one needs a permit to hold a parade. We're asking for some authority to regulate them."

In other business, Fischer announced that the city Monday received word the Federal Aviation Administration had approved a bid by R.A. Schemel and Associates for the Municipal Airport terminal building renovation project.

The project has been set back several times, most recently when the FAA rejected that the low bid on the project because the contractor failed to meets requirements of the federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

The program imposes a ratio of minorities represented by subcontractors for the work, which the initial contractor failed to meet. Schemel's bid, the second lowest on the project, also was rejected, but after the contractor provided additional (DBE) documentation, the FAA apparently relented.