Jan. 10, 1965 - The American Football League said today its all-star game, cancelled in New Orleans because of alleged discrimination against Negro players, will be played Saturday as scheduled, but in another city.
Twenty Negroes on the East and West squads refused to play the game in New Orleans because, they said, they had been discriminated against by Bourbon Street night spots and taxi drivers. They said doors were slammed in their faces and insults shouted at them.
Ernie Warlick (pictured), and end for the AFL champion Buffalo Bills, said Negro players had not run into such difficulties in other cities and had not expected such treatment in New Orleans.
Warlick said all of the East squad Negro players but Sherm Plunkett, New York Jets tackle, and Houston Antwine of Boston had left the city. Those two players said they planned to leave town as soon as they could get airline connections.
Antwine, who said he visited mostly Negro places last night, had only one comment: “The decision was made. I will go along with the majority.”
Plunkett said he stayed in his room last night, but he understood his companions went to the French Quarter and could not get service in Bourbon Street nightclubs or taxies.
Dick Westmoreland of the San Diego Chargers, an alternate on the West team, said: “People shouted insults and actually slammed the doors in our faces.” He said white members of the squad were admitted, but Negroes were barred.
Westmoreland was in the company of two teammates, Ernie Ladd and Earl Faison, who also are Negroes. Westmoreland said:
“Here I was with big men — Ladd weighs 310 pounds — and little guys were hurling insults. I was worried because Ladd and Faison have tempers. I suggested we return to the hotel, and they agreed. But we couldn’t get a cab to stop. We walked back.”
Warlick released an official statement approved by the other Negro players, saying: “The AFL is progressing in great strides, and the Negro players feel they are playing a vital role in the league’s progression and have been treated fairly in all cities throughout the league.
“However, because of adverse conditions and discriminatory practices experienced by the Negro players while here in New Orleans, the players feel they cannot perform 100% as expected in the All-Star Game and be treated differently.
“Outside of the hotel, recreational facilities and transportation were not available to the Negro players, and service was refused.”
AFL and NFL integrated teams have played exhibition games in New Orleans during the past several years without incident. The Negroes scheduled to appear in the all-star game have been staying at a large integrated hotel.
League Commissioner Joe Foss said this morning in Chicago that he is “considering several cities” for the game. He said he expects things to be “squared away later today.”
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