Peace Worker Slain

George Vissard, peace activist in Austin, Texas, was killed last week in an Austin grocery store. Vissard was found at about 11:00 a.m. with a shot through the back and shot through the arm; his body had been placed in the meat freezer of the drive-in market.

Early reports from Texas indicated that his death was probably due to political reasons and that no money was missing from the cash register of the store. Later reports claimed that a “sizable amount” of money had been taken—but not from the cash register. Austin police authorities say that they are moving under the assumption that the motive is robbery and that Vissard tried to resist, which brought about his death.

Vissard was 23 years old. Formerly a student at the University of Texas, at one point was enjoined by the University authorities from appearing on campus on the grounds that he “vocally and openly opposed the actions of the U.S. government and its foreign policy.

He also helped to organize the demonstrations last spring against Hubert Humphrey at the Texas State House.

As a result of these activities and others, he had received a good deal of personal notoriety in the press. As a result, he had received a number of threats on his life. On the evening prior to his death, Vissard had helped to organize a meeting of the W. E. B. DuBois Clubs.