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Caroline Goltermann, chair man of the Galesburg Human Relations Commission, today announced she is resigning from the polést charging that the commission has lost its effectiveness. She also charged Larry Hendricks, president of the NAACP, with “generally ir responsible leadership.” She said he has contributed to the “tension and mistrust” that exists between the commis sion and the Economic Oppor tunity Office. “He has interfered badly in the operation of the Equal Opportunity Office, where his wife is the director, and used it for his own project,” she continued. Hendricks, after hearing of the resignation and comments made by Mrs. Goltermann, called her a ‘middle-class rabble-rouser who never should have been put on the commission.” He said she had never un derstood black people and has caused trouble ever since she was appointed to the commis sion. “I DON’T know why Mrs. Goltermann had to bring up all these other organizations to resign. She is resigning from the Human Relations Commission, not the human race,’’ Hendricks said. ‘With her racist attitude I’m happy She is resigning.” Mrs. Iona Hendricks said her husband had not interfer ed with her job. “He is not affiliated with this office at all,” she contended. Mrs. Goltermann listed other reasons for resigning. She said the commission has “all the hindrances of being a public body such as public meetings and public pres sure, limited membership and an ordinance that says we are to ‘eliminate prejudice and discrimination from Galesburg. We have abso lutely no statutory power or staff to even begin to ac complish such things.” SHE SAID she also was re jecting the Human Relations Commission because it is 1973 and not 1955. She said times have changed and it is now clearly against the law for anyone to be discriminated against. “What is needed now is legal expertise and mon ey,” she added. “The City of Galesburg has now committed itself to a De partment of Human Services with a budget of $41,000 and four full-time employes and possibly more. It is time to use the vast amount of legal and governmental machinery at our disposal in the protec tion of civil rights,” Mrs. Goltermann commented. She commended the work of Louise Wilder, director of the commission, saying she had been “extremely successful in serving as a liaison in the community between those in authority and those people who need help in dealing with authorities.”
Newspaper Details
Galesburg Register Mail
Galesburg, Illinois, US
Wed, Jun 06, 1973
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Kim T.
USA 13 Feb 2026
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