Buffalo Police arrested 34 in a brutal raid in the William-Pine, East Ferry-Michigan area on the evening on September 11, 1954 in the largest anti-Black attack in years. The roundup was ordered by Commissioner Noeppel, allegedly because of complaints that loungers refused to break up and let pedestrians pass.

Eight of those arrested were youths from 16 to 19 years old. In court they were told by the tough-talking judge that now they would have a police record, which would go on their army service record or disqualify them for civil service jobs.

Among the police victims was a Black minister, Rev. Leroy Anderson, pastor of the Church of God in Christ, Lackawanna, and member of the Lackawanna City Planning Commission. Mr. Anderson, describing the high-handed Buffalo police methods, vile language, and brutality, said he planned to sue the city for false arrest. Mr. Anderson was about to enter a store when he was ordered into a patrol wagon with, "Come on, you go too, you bastard!" When he protested at the language, he was told, "When I get you to Number Six (the police station) I'll do more than that to you." He heard one of the other men arrested on the corner cry out when a policeman struck him.

Most of the other people reported similar treatment. The police hauled in about four loads, grabbing them at random off the street. One man was picked up as he got out of his car to ask a policeman what was wrong. Another was arrested on his way to work.

At the station, a cop told the people, "Just shut your mouth. If you're quiet, you won't get in trouble."

Outcome

The judge was just as vicious as were the commissioner and the police. He denied the Rev. Anderson the right to provide his own bail, committing him to a cell for the night along with the others who were arrested. The judge calling the people before him "bums," he told them that because of their conduct it was not safe for "respectable citizens” and "daughters" to walk down the street.

At the time of the arrests, aroused people formed until the crowd reached some 300. News of the police outrage spread quickly through the city and protests were heard in the Black churches the next day.

In the morning of Oct. 10. 1953 two young workers, Norman and James Daniels, were unmerciful beat of by six club-happy Buffalo Police Officers . . . a beating which continued in two police vehicles en route to the jail. Both men were hospitalized with severe injuries.

42 members of the Communist Party of Buffalo had been arrested by Buffalo Police, Mrs. Dr. Anna Reinstein, wife of Boris Reinstein, being the last victim. Mrs. Reinstein and 10 others were released on bail.

Frank M. Cassidy was ordered released by Justice Charles B. Sears on the ground that the information against him was not properly drawn up. But as Cassidy left the court he was rearrested on new information drawn by Walter P. Hofheins, of the District Attorney’s office.

The new information alleged that Cassidy “is feloniously and a member of a certain unlawful society commonly known as the Communist Party, organized and existing for the purpose of teaching and advocating the doctrine of criminal anarchy and among other things, the overthrown of organized government by force and violence.”