Relationships with the press

This file contains correspondence; draft and typed press releases; press cuttings; and photocopies of press cuttings relating to the reporting of stories about Indian Workers Association policies and campaigns against racism in local newspapers, particularly the 'The Birmingham Post'.

/1 newspaper reports about a protest meeting and demonstration ending at 'The Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd' offices in Birmingham against the death of Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1961, led by black and Asian organisations, with support from members of the Birmingham Communist Party. There are also details about a protest outside the Ministry of Defence in London, in which students and lecturers from the University of Birmingham, and other Midlands universities, took part to protest against the visit to London of [Hendrik] Verwoerd, Prime Minister of South Africa

/2-/3 annotated press release issued by the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association and signed by Avtar Jouhl about a report in 'The Birmingham Post' that alleged that the Indian Workers Association was attempting to influence the affairs and elections of the Sikh temple in Smethwick, following a statement by Sohan Singh Sandhu of the Immigrant Welfare Association, March 1965

/4-/7 newspaper cutting containing an article about the Indian Workers Association's commitment to confront racist violence following reports of Ku Klux Klan activities in Leamington Spa and racist attacks on the Indian community there, including a quote by Jagmohan Joshi, together with correspondence between Joshi and D. H. Hopkinson, editor of 'The Birmingham Post' concerning the alleged misreporting by the newspaper of comments made by Joshi on the response of the Indian Workers Association to racist attacks on immigrants, June 1965. There is also a handwritten draft statement on this issue by Joshi.

/8 handwritten statement by the Indian Workers Association protesting against inaccurate reporting by 'The Birmingham Post' of decisions taken after a meeting between representatives of several organisations concerned with race relations and Oscar Hahn,, controversial chairman of the West Midlands Conciliation Committee, 1966-1967. See also MS 2141/A/4/4 for correspondence relating to this meeting.

/9-/15 photocopies of letters from Charles Parker to 'The Birmingham Post' protesting about the inaccurate presentation of a readers poll on attitudes towards immigrants, together with a covering letter to Shirley Joshi which mentions the Aston University performance of 'Of One Blood' which was not held, 11 June 1968.