Washington, D.C., July 16—A united protest from many Negroes throughout the country against the recent conviction in New York of Marcus Garvey, Head of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, was voiced today in scores of telegrams addressed to the Washington office of the Associated Press.

Each of the messages represented sentiments said to have been expressed at a Negro mass meeting yesterday. They came from near’y every state and were identic except for the number of persons reported as in attendance at each local meeting.

“We, local Negro citizens of the United States,” said each message, “at mass meeting assembled, beg to register with our white citizens thru you, our protest against the injustice that has been done to Marcus Garvey, President General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, his frame up conviction in New York, and denial of bail pending appeal.”

“We sincerely hope that the white press of our great country will turn on the searchlight of justice and thereby maintain the honor and glory of our fair institutions of justice.”

Various protests have been made by the White House and Department of Justice, but the department has announced that no action will be taken which will interfere with the handling of the case by the district court.

Document 5.6.7:  “Plead for Marcus Garvey,” Union, July 28, 1923