NEWS CONFERENCE 429

In addition to that, I would like to announce that there is ap-
parently a meeting scheduled in Cambridge for this weekend in-
volving a black power conference of one type or another. I believe
that the information given out in advance is that Mr. McKissick or
some other prominent speaker will be present.

The State's Attorney of Dorchester County and the Mayor of Cam-
bridge have requested me to make the State Police available to them
for the weekend and for the State Police to assume jurisdiction in
the City of Cambridge until the action is passed.

Now, I don't think we can close our eyes to the fact that Cambridge
has been a violent city and has just recently been a violent city. I've
directed Colonel Lally to take all steps to assure the maintenance of
the public peace and safety. And while we're not looking for trouble
and we hope that Mr. McKissick will be totally responsible in his
actions and in what he has to say, and while we appreciate that the
very cherished right of free speech gives him certainly the opportunity
to say it, even though it may not be something that's pleasant for the
authorities to hear, nonetheless we will follow the guidelines that we
put out after the last Cambridge problem in deciding what to do
about people who violate the right of free speech and incite to riot.

In short, if there is an incitement to riot in the opinion of the At-
torney General, whom we expect to be on the scene or close to the
scene, we will act promptly to stop the speech.

Q. Governor, I take it, then, the State Police will assume jurisdiction?

A. The State Police will assume jurisdiction in Cambridge at the
request of the local officials.

Q. Governor, do you see any significance in them having the black
power meeting in Cambridge so soon after the problems?

A. No, we at the State level have been in touch with the Black Action
Federation of Cambridge on an almost continuous basis since the
Cambridge riot, and they have made a series of allegations and charges
which we have investigated. I made the results of that investigation
public at a previous conference. The main thing that is disturbing
the State government is that, although Dr. Ware, my advisor, has
made it clear that all is not milk and honey in Cambridge and much
remains to be done, the problem is that we can't seem to get any
specifics out of the local Negro group that will enable us to take action.
We've asked for specific information in many areas. We've asked for
it in the area of job discrimination allegations and unemployment.
We haven't received it. We asked for it in the housing area. We