Chronology of Violence and Intimidation in Mississippi Since 1961

Home , Aaron Henry, Brenda Travis, George Raymond, Hartman Turnbow

Re.eQ~ch WQ. done o~iginQlly by JQck Minni. Qnd publi.hed in the Cong~e •• ionQl Reco~d, Ap~il 4, 1963. Minni. hQ. b~ought the ~eco~d up to date 6o~ thi. publication.

The Szudent Nonviolent Coordinating Cmnmittee 6 Raymond Street. N W. Atlanta, Geor/{ia 30314 A Chronology of

Violence and Intimidation

in Mississippi Since 1961 Negro citizens attempt to cast ballots in Greenwood, August 1963. Note helmeted policeman photographing each of them as they enter the court house. The photographs can later be used to intimidate them, and per haps to force them from their jobs or homes because they tried to vote. 1881 tenced to a $400 fine each and 8 months January 1. Greenville. Washington in jail. One of these students, a girl of County: Two young wh1te men rode a 15, was turned over to juvenile authori motorbike through a residential area ties. released. subsequently rearrested. and. according to the local police chief. and sentenced to 12 months in a State fired a volley of shots Into a group of school for delinquents. Negroes. George Mayfield. 18. was seri August 29. McComb. Pike County: Two ously wounded In both legs; Percy Lee Negro leaders were arrested in McComb Simmons. 19. was shot in the right leg. as an aftermath of the sit-in protest March 30. Jackson. Hinds County: m~rch on city hall. charged with con Club-swinging police and 2 police dogs tributing to the delinquency of minors. chased more than 100 Negroes from a They were Curtis C. Bryant. of McComb, courthouse where 9 Negro students were an officIal of the NAACP. and Cordelle convicted for staging a sltln demonstra Reagan. of SNCC. Each arrest was made tion. Several were struck by the clubs on an affidavit signed by Police Chief and at least one person was bitten by George Guy. who said he 'had informa the dogs. tion that the two "were behind some of May 7. Jackson. Hinds County: Sev this racial trouble." eral white youths. riding in an open con August 30. McComb. PIke County: vertible. lassoed 9-year-old Negro Glocia SNCC Workers Brenda Travis. 16. Rob Laverne Floyd with a wire and dragged ert Talbert, 19, and Isaac Lewis. 20, her along the street. The girl suffered a staged a sit-In In the McComb terminal deep gash In her head that required of the Greyhound buslines. They were three stitches. cheek bruises. a lacera arrested on charges of breach of the tion of her rlR'ht shoulder. and burn peace and failure to obey a policeman's marks on her neck. Police made arrests. order to move on. They spent 30 days August 15. Amite County: Robert in jail. Moses. Student Nonviolent. Coordinating September 5, Liberty, Amite County: Committee-SNCC-reglstratlon worker. Travis Britt, SNCC registration worker. and three Negroes who had tried unsuc was attacked and beaten. by whites on cessfully to register In Liberty, were driv the courthouse lawn. Britt was accom ing toward McComb when a county offi panied at the time by Robert Moses. cer stopped them. He asked if Moses Britt said one man hit him more than was the man "who's been trying to reg 20 times. The attackers drove away in ister our nlggers." All were taken to a truck. court and Moses was arrested for "im September 7, Tylertown, Walthall peding an officer in the discharge of his County: John Hardy, SNCC registration duties," fined $50 and spent 2 days in worker, took two Negroes to the county j'llll. courthouse to register. The registrar August 22, Amite County: Robert told them he "wasn't registering voters" Most:s went to Libel'ty with three Ne that day. When the three turned to groes, who made an unsuccessful at leave, Registrar John Q. Wood took a tempt to register. A block from the pistol from his· desk and struck Hardy courthouse. Moses was attacked and over the head from behind. Hardy was beaten by Billy Jack Caston, the sher arrested and charged with disturbing iII's first cousin. Eight stitches were re the peace. quired to close a wound in Moses' head. September 13, Jackson, Hinds County: Caston was acquitted of assault charges 15 Episcopal ministers-among them by an all-white jury before a justice of three Negroes-were arrested for asking the peace. to be served at the lunch counter of the August 26, McComb. Pike County: Greyhound bus terminal. They were Hollis Watkins, 20, and Elmer Hayes, 20, charged with inviting a breach of the SNCC workers, were arrested while stag peace. They were found not guilty of the ing a sit-in at the F. W. Woolworth store charge on May 21, 1962, by County Judge and charged with breach of the peace. Russell Moore. They spent 36 days in jail. September 25 , Liberty. Amite County: Herbert Lee. a Negro who had been active August 27 and 29. McComb, Pike in voter registration, was shot and killed County: Five Negro students from a local by white State representative E. H. Hurst high school were convicted of breach of In downtown Liberty. No prosecution the peace follOwing a sit-in at a va.riety was undertaken. the authorities explain store and bus terminal. They were sen- ing that the representative had shot in 5 self -defense. at him." October 4, McComb, Pike County: The five students who were arrested as a re Diamond was refused legal counsel sult of the August 29 sit-in in McComb and fined $168. returned to school, but were refused ad November 9, McComb, Pike County: mittance. At that, 116 students walked Jerome Smith, 22, Congress of Racial out and paraded downtown to the city Equality-CORE-field man, and four hall in protest. Police arrested the en oompanlons, Dorothy Smith, 18; Alice tire crowd, but later released all but 19, Thompson, 22; Thomas Valentine, 23; all of whom were 18 years old or older. and George Raymond, 18, were attacked They were charged with breach of the by a mob of 30 to 40 whites when they peace and contributing to the delin sought service at the lunch counter of quency of minors and allowed to go free the Greyhound bus terminal in McComb. on bail totaling $3,700. At the trial on Smith, who suffered head injuries when October 31, Judge Brumfield, finding the he was slugged with brass knuckles dur students guilty, and sentencing each to ing the attack, said FBI agents were a $500 fine and 6 months in jaid, said: present at the tlme of the attack, but Some of you are local residents, some of did "nothing but take notes" while the you are outsiders. Those of you who are IIlOb kicked and beat his companions. local residen ts are like sheep being led to The victims were rescued from the mob the slaughter. H you continue to follow by a Negro' truck driver and Negro cab the advice of outside agitators, you will be drivers. like sheep and be slaughtered. . November 10, Jackson, Hinds County: October 5, McComb, Pike County: Jessie Divens, 12-year-old, was arrested Charles Sherrod was arrested on the . for refusing to move to the rear of a city street, thrown into a police car, and bus. Judge Carl Guernsey released the charged with resisting arrest. Cordelle girl to the custody of Rev. G. R. Hor Reagan was also arrested and charged ton. chaplain of Campbell College where with contributing to the delinquency of she attended classes. Judge Guernsey a minor. Both were field workers for continued the case until November 17: SNCC. With the understanding that the Reverend October 11, McComb, Pike County: Mr. Horton and th... ch1ld come back with a workable plan which would cause the chlld's Paul Potter of Philadelphia, a vice presi mind to be concerned with education rather dent of the National Student Associa than social reformation. tion, and Tom Hayden of Atlanta, both white, were dragged from their car and November 18. McComb, Pike County: beaten as they drove alongside a group Persons unknown fired a shotgun blast of Negroes making an antisegregation into the bedroom of Dion Diamond and march. When the two slowed their car John Hardy at 702 Wall Street. Investi for a traffic light, a heavy-set white man gating officer Frank Williams found shot opened the door and dragged the driver gun pellets embedded in the window out and hit him several times. He then frame. walked around to the other side of the December I, McComb, Pike County: car, opened the door and knocked the FOur white men attacked three newsmen second man to the street. The incident on the street, sending one crashing into OCCWTed in the business section of the a plate glass window of a store. The city. newsmen were Tom Uhrborck and Don October 13, McComb, Pike County: Underwood, Life magazine, and Simmons Police Officer B. F. Elmore shot and Fentress. Time magazine. killed a Negro motorist. Police Chief December 2. 1.":cComb, Pike County: George Guy said that Elmore said he Police broke up an attempt by white had stopped Eli Brumfield at 4 a.m. for attackers to drag three Freedom Riders speeding. Brumfield allegedly jumped from an automobile at the Greyhound from his car with a pocket knife in his bus terminal. Four men kicked at the hand and attacked Elmore. A coroner's locked car and beat upon the windows jury ruled Elmore fired in self-defense. in an attempt to reach the young Negroes October 22, Jackson, Hinds County: and their driver, Thomas Gaither, field Dion Diamond, a SNCC worker, was ar secretary of CORE. The police, who rested for "running a stop sign" after were standing by when the riders arrived being followed all day. In court the next aboard a bus from Jackson, pulled the day, the arresting officer told the judge: men away from the car, but made no "He Is a Freedom Rider. Throw the book arrests.

6 (T)

1 December 26, Jackson, Hinds County: Press, said he and a companion were RafJord Johnson, Negro, was severely beaten by Rankin County oflicers and beaten by two law oflicers after being a highway patrolman. Lawrence Hud involved in a minor collision with a car son, Jr.. of Jackson. said the beating driven by a white woman. Johnson occurred after he was stopped en route underwent surgery for skull Injuries. from Jackson to Forest to check on a 1862 rumor that a Negro man had been killed by a white man. He was jailed. refused FebruarY' 6, 1962, Clarksdale, Coa permission to phone a lawyer. tried the homa County: Miss Bessie Turner, 19, next day on several charges and fined a Negro, was walking with a young man $151. down a Clarksdale street when Clarks June 21, 1962, Clarksdale, Coahoma dale police oflicers stopped them and County: A white lawyer from Jackson accused Miss Turner of having been in and four college students were jailed in volved in a theft. Miss Turner said the Clarksdale for 20 hours without outside oflicers took her to the jail, forced her to communication. One of the students unclothe and to lie on her back. She was a Negro. William Higgs. the lawyer. said one of the policemen then beat her and the students were jailed on a Sunday between the legs with his belt. A few night by county oflicers and were released minutes later, Miss Turner said, the the following day. without charges being other oflicer beat her across ber nAnd filed against them. breasts. Miss Turner filed Federal July 5, 1962, Jackson, Hinds County: charges against the oflicers. Jesse Harris, 20. and Luvaghn Brown, March 15, 1962, Shelby, Bolivar COun 17. SNCC workers, charged that they ty: Aaron Henry, state president of the were beaten and threatened with death NAACP, was convicted in Justice of while serving a 30-day sentence In the Eeace court on charges of making per county jail for contempt of court. The verse advances on a white teenage hitch young Negroes had refused to move from hiker. Hepry stated that the charges a court bench customarily occupied by were a complete fabrication, and pre whites while they were attending the sented an alibi supported by sworn wit trial of Mrs. Diane Nash Bevel. The nesses. The conViction has been ap young men said that, in the courthouse pealed. When he later stated in a press elevator. a deputy sheriff called Harris cOnference that the prosecutor and the "a damned nigger" and beat him about pOllce chief, who figured in the trial, had the head with his fist. At the county conspired to frame him, Henry was sued farm. they were singled out as freedom by the two fClt' defamation. A Missis riders and wore striped uniforms. Both sippi white jury awarded the prosecutor were beaten by guards. Harris was $25 000 and the police chief $15,000. beaten by a guard named Keith while April 12, 1962, Taylorsville, Smith other prisoners held him. Keith beat County: Cpl. Roman Ducksworth, Jr., him across the back with. a length of U.S. Army, a Negro, was shot and hose threatening: killed by Policeman Bill Kelly, when~ according to an NAACP news release, Nigger, I'll 1tI11 you. Duckworth "insisted on his right to sit where he chose on an Interstate bus." August 16. 1962, Greenwood. Lefiore Policeman Kelly claimed that Ducks County: Samuel Block. 23. SNCC field worth was drunk: and started fighting. secretary. said three white men accosted No charges were brought against Kelly. him in a parking lot and "started beat Ducksworth was en route from Camp ing me with their fists." He said they Ritchie, Md., to see his wife who was threatened him and then beat him for ill In a Laurel, Miss., hospital. about 5 minutes. April 1962, Lucedale, George Coun~y: There Is no use reporting It to local author Mrs. Ernestine Denham Talbert, who Itles-- lives in George County but teaches In He said. Green County, was notified by the Green August 17. 1962. Greenwood. Leflore County School Board that her teaching COllIlty: SNCC workers Samuel Block; contract would not be renewed. Mrs. Luvaghn Brown. and Lawrence Guyot Talbert had tried in January to register were forced to fiee from the second story to vote but had been refused. window of their voter registration oflice. May 17, 1962, Rankin County: The They said armed white men invaded the 'Negro editor, of the Mississippi Free premises intent upon doing them h",rm. August 17, 196a, Ruleville, Sunftower waiting to register at the courthouse. County: Mayor Charles Durrough asked An unidentified young man working in Mr. Lenard Davis, a Negro employed by the office down the hall from the regis the city, what he knew about the regis trar's office snatched Greene's camera tration school being conducted at a Ne away, and refused to return it. Greene gro church. Mr. Davis replied that he was told to leave town by three white did not know anything at all about the men . one of whom was flourishing a school, and did not attend any of the length of lead pipe. He left. classes. The mayor then told him that August 29, 1962, Clarksdale. Coahoma he, the mayor, knew what kind of school County: Seven Negroes were arrested they were having. The mayor said he a fter attending a voter registration meet knew it-presumably, civil rights for the ing. David Dennis, CORE field secre Negro--was coming, and he was not t ary, was charged with failure to yield going to allow It to be forced on them. right-of-way after a pollce officer had The mayor said that anyone attending forced him to submit to a long harangue the school would be given a one-way of threats and abuse. Samuel Block, ticket out of town, and If that would John Hodges, J. L. Harris, Richard T . not do It, they would use whatever they Gray, and Albert Garrer, SNCC fi eld had available. See entry below for Sep workers. and Dewey Greene, Jr., re tember 3, 1962. porter for the Mi3sissippl Free Press, August 1962, Greenwood, Leflore Coun were forced by Clarksdale police to alight ty: Welton McSwine, Jr., 14-year-old from thei r car, and were charged with Negro, was arrested by police after a loitering in violation of the city curfew. white woman's house had been broken August 30, 1962, Indianola, Sunflower into. When police got the youth to the County: SNCC workers C. R. McLauren. station an officer said: Albert Garner, J . O. Hodges, Samuel All right, nigger, you know why you are Block, and Robert Moses were arrested by here, and we want to know who broke Into Indianola police on a charge of distrib that white woman's house. uting literature without a permit. The registration workers had been taking McSwine told them he knew nothing leaflets announcing a registration mass of the incident, saying that he spent all meeting door-to-door in the Negro com his time in the cottonfteld, and suggest munity. Lafayette Surney, 17, another ing that his mother could corroborate SNCC worker, was arrested and then re this. McSwine said officers then took leased to Rev. James Bevel, of the South him to a cell and beat him, flrst hitting ern Christian Leadership Conference him in the head with a blackjack: then SCLC. one of the policemen beat him in the August 31, Indianola. Sunflower face with his flst while another hit him County: During the trial of Samuel in the stomach with his clu'): then the Block on charges of distributing litera officers made him lie naked on the floor ture without a permit, the Municipal on his side while they beat him with a Judge informec! Block that he could whip. McSwine was released after in cross-examine the arresting officer. tercession of his father's white employer. Block asked the officer: August 21, 1962, Liberty, Amite Coun Did you actually see me h a nd out a ty: Sam Wells and Tommy Weathersby leaft.et? went to ·the courthouse to register. The judge turned to the officer and While they were waiting to get into tile ~ald: registrar's office, they stood on the front He can ask you anything he wants t o. but porch of the courthouse. Deputy Sheriff you don't have to answer. Daniel Jones told them: The judge told Lafayette Surney if he Get your -- off the front porch. and was caught in Indianola agitating again, don't come back on. he would be sent to the penal farm. Weathersby and Wells got off the September 3, 1962, Ruleville, Sunflower porch. A few moments later, rain began, County: Because of registration activity, and the two wanted to take shelter in the two Negro-owned dry cleaning establish courthouse, but Deputy Sherilr Jones ments were closed-allegedly for violat would not permit It. ing city ordinances. August 21, Liberty, Amite County: September 3, 1962, Rulevile, Sunflower Dewey Greene, Jr., Mississippi Free Press County: Lenard Davis, 49, sanitation de reporter, was taking pictures of Negroes partment worker, was told by Mayor 9 Greenwood , tl ississippi, March, 1963.

1 a Charles M. Durrough: knee by a squilTel shot while he and his We're going to let you go. Your wIfe'. 9-year-old grandson were sleeping. He been attending tbat school. said he was not seriously hurt. Har mony Negroes had recently petitioned He referred to a registration school authorities for school desegregation. conducted by SNCC workers in Ruleville. September 3, 1962, Ruleville, Sunftower October 10, Columbus, Lowndes County: Fred Hicks, 40, who drove fleld County: A "Molotov cocktail" was tossed workers to the plantations, was told he from a speeding car Into the home of could no longer use a bus without a com Dr. James L. Allen of Columbus, vice mercial license. Hicks said the bus chaiIman of the Mississippi Advisory owner told him that, because Hicks' Committee to the U.S. Commission on mother had registered to vote: Civil Rights. We gonna see bow tIgbt we can make It- October 29, Clarksdale, Coahoma gonna make It Just as tlgbt as we can. County: Charles McLaurin, SNCC reg Gonna be rougher and rougher than you istration worker, was stopped by police think It Is. as he was walking a ~roup home from September 3, 1962, Ruleville, SUnfiower the courthouse. The group had tried to County: Moses and AInzie Moore, a local register to vote. The olficer asked to see Negro leader, were walking down the McLaurin's driver's license. McLaurin street. A white man in a piCkup truck showed it. The olficer asked McLaurin drew up alongside and asked if they what he was doing there. McLaurin were the "folks getting the people to told him he worked in voter registration. register." Moses and Moore answered Then, accompanied by obscene remarks, yes, they were. The man asked 11 they the olficer said: could come out to his plantation to reg ister people. The two answered, yes, NIgger, do you )mow the way out of town? they could come. The man said then: McLaurin replied: I've got a shotgun waiting for you, double Yes. barrel. The olficer said, with more obscenity: September 3, Ruleville, Sunfiower Nigger. Can't you aay ~T.. , air?" County: A letter from Mayor Durrough notified the Williams Chapel Missionary The omcer's partner asked the olficer Baptist Church that tax exemption and what charge should be put on the tickets. free water were being cut 01I because the property was being used for "purposes The olficer said: other than worship service'>." The Charge the t26 on both charge', NIgger, you got .52? church was a meeting pla~e for voter registration workers. . McLaurin replied: September 10, Ruleville, Sunflower No. County: Marylene Burkes, 20, and Viv ian Hillct, 19, were severely wounded The officer said: when an unidentified assailant fired Then you're going to JaU. through the window of Miss Hillet's At the jail, McLaurin learned that the grandparents' home. The grandparents officer was Clarksdale Police Chief Ben had been active in voter registration Collins. McLaurin was in jaU a few work. minutes when his companions posted October 3, Biloxi, Harrison County: bond for him in the amount of $103. A Negro frame residence and a gasoline Thcy decided to forfeit bond rather than station were targets for two "Molotov run the risk of a higher fine or incur the cocktails" which caused more than $4,000 legal expense of an appeal. damage. One of the bombs struck the October 31, Jackson, Hinds County: home of Dr. Gilbert Mason, a Negro phy Thomas E. Johnson, a white minister, sician, who is active in integration ef and a member of the Mississippi Advis forts. The other crashed through the ory Committee to the U.S. Commislson window of a service station operated by on Civil Rights, saw a group of neigh Emmett Clark, a Negro. bors dumping garbage on his lawn. October 5, Harmony, Leake County: Johnson had just returned from taking Night riders fired shotguns into eight his car to a safe place because of threats Negro homes and a Negro store. An by neighbors to damage It. Johnson elderly Negro said he was struck in the sought a peace bond against the man

J J whom he had observed leading the gar she ever came to the omce. When she bage-dumping operations of his neIgh said "yes", the voice said: bors. The man presented 11 witnesses You won't be goIng down there anymore, who swore that he had been in their that·s been taken care ot. presence at all times on the evening In question. The justice of the peace ac The burned businesses were Jackson's cepted their testimony and refused the Garage, George's Cafe, Porter's Pressing bond. Then the Hinds County Grand Shop, and the Esquire ClUb, The press Jury indicted Johnson and his wife on ing shop is next door to the SNCC omce, perjury charges, because of their testi and SNCC workers believed the busi mony at the peace bond hearing. nesses were burned by mistake. Sam November 6, .1962, Greenville, Wash Block, SNCC field secretary, was arrested ington County: Two WAF's and ·two air 2 days later for suggesting there was men-all white-from the Greenville some connection between the burnings Air Force Base were fined $55 and given and the registration elIorts of SNCC. 30-day suspended sentences on charges He was charged with circulating state of creating a disturbance by entering a meRts calculated to create a breach of restaurant and seeking service with two the peace. Negro voter registration workers. February 28, Greenwood. Leflore December 26, 1962, Clarksdale, Coa County: Three registration workers were homa County: Ivanhoe Donaldson and attacked with gunfire on U.S. Highway Benjamin Taylor, students from De 82 just outside Greenwood. The shots troit, brought a truckload of food, cloth were fired from a 1962 white Buick. ing and ml!dicines for distribution to the The car in which the workers were riding Delta's needy families who had been cut was punctured by 11 bullets. One work 01I from Federal surplus commodities. er, James Travis of SNCC, was wounded The medicines had been donated by a in the neck and shoulder. physician in Louisville, and were con March 4, Clarksdale, Coahoma signed to Aaron Henry, a licensed. County: The show windows in the Fourth pharmacist. They were arrested by Street drugstore were smashed, as they Clarksdale police and held for investi1 have been several times in the past. gation. After police searched the truclC The proprietor of the store, Aaron on December 27, and found what they' Henry, found the damage when he re described as a drug used to ease the turned from speaking at a mass meet pain of middle-aged women, Donaldson ing in Leflore County in connection with and Taylor were charged with possession the voter registration drive there. of narcotics and bond was set at $15,pOO. March 6, Greenwood, Leflore County: Bond was later reduced to $1,500. Samuel Block and three others were 1983 fired on from a station wagon which January 17, Canton, Madison County: pulled up beside their car as they were The castrated and mutilated body of parked in front of the SNCC voter regis Sylvester Maxwell, 24-year-old Negro, tration omce. Both front windows were was found by his brother-in-law less shattered. Police later found the than 500 yards from the home of a white wadding from a shotgun shell buried in family. Mississippi NAACP Field Secre the headliner of Block's car, and several tary Medger Evers termed the slaying a pellets in the wall of the building in "probable lynching." front of which the car had been parked. February 2, Greenwood, Leflore March 12, Greenwood, Leflore C:0unty: Wlllie Peacock, SNCC registra County: A 12-year-old Negro girl was tIOn worker, complained to the Justice attacked by an egg-throwing truckload Department that omclais had refused to of white teenaged boys. The girl suf register him on two occasions, and had fered facial bruises. rejected his poll tax payment for this March 20, 1963, Jackson, Hinds year. County: Three shots were flred through the windshield of a car belonging to February 20, Greenwood, Leflore Mrs. Mattie Dennis while it was parked County: Four Negro businesses on the in front of the home of M!;S. Dennis' same street as the SNCC voter registra cousin, whom she was visiting. Mrs. tion omce were burned to the ground. Dennis is the wife of David Dennis, Mrs. Nancy Brand, a worker in the SNCC CORE field secretary for Mississippi. omce, reported an an6nymous telephone Both have been active in voter registra call in which a man's voice asked her If tion. 1 2 March 24, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore Greene's sons and a daughter have been County: Fire destroyed partially the in active in the Leflore County registration terior of the voter registration offlce at project. Greenwood police said they 115 East McLaurin Street, making the were investigating. offlce unusable and necessitating a search March 27, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore for new headquarters. Witnesses said County: James Forman, executive sec they saw two white men fleeing the scene retary of SNCC, Bob Moses, and about shortly before the fIre was discovered. 10 other registration workers were ar March 26, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore rested and taken from a group en route County: A shotgun blast ripped into the to the courthouse to register after the home of Dewey Greene, Sr., father of police dispersed a group of more than the latest Negro applicant to the Uru 100 Negroes with the use of police dogs. versity of MississippI. Another of Mr.

~1cComb , 11issi ssippi-- Oct ober 11, 1 96 1

I 3 March 29, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: off his stool at a lunch counter, and kicked him re John A. Goulet, Roswell F. Donaldson and Donald peatedly as he lay on the floor. One of the two P. Flachart, white University of Iowa students, were Negro women taking part in the sit-in, Pearlie arrested on charges of running a red light and Lewis, also was dumped off her stool and kicked. failing to give a turn signal as they left town after May 30, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: delivering a truckload of food and clothing to Police arrested 96-year-old Negro John Wright for needy Negroes. picketing in prote8t against denial of use of the April 2, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: Police city library to Negroes. arrested SNCC field secretary Landy McNair and May 30, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: escorted comedian Dick Gregory from the court The state highway patrol halted a bus carrying 31 house lawn as the two were encouraging Negroes to Negroes en route to Jackson to a voter registration register to vote. conference sponsored by SNCC at Tougaloo Col April 2, 1963, Washington, D.C.: Senators James lege. The bus driver was charged with driving with O. Eastland and John Stennis (Dems., Miss.) stated an improper tag and with being overloaded. on the floor of the Senate that Negroes have not May 31, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Jackson been denied the right to register and vote in Leflore police clubbed Willie Ludden, NAACP official, to County, or anywhere else in Mississippi. the street as he led a group of demonstrators out April 9, 1963, Oxford, Lafayette County: G. Ray of a Parish Street church. Four hundred-twenty-one Kerciu, assistant art professor at University of demonstrators were arrested and placed in an im M.ississippi, was arrested on charges of exhibiting provised detention center at the Hinds County fair obscene and indecent pictures and desecrating the grounds. Confederate flag. Kerciu's paintings depicted his June 2, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Police impressions of the desegregation riot that swirled arrested three Negro women as they picketed in over the campus in the fall of 1962. The paintings front of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph had been on display at a campus exhibit. Company office. The women were protesting dis April 12, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Two criminatory hiring practices of the Bell company. Clarksdale whites threw a gasoline-filled "Molotov June 8, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Three cocktail" through a window of the home of Aaron bullets were fired from a passing car into the home Henry, NAACP state president. U.S. Representa of Aaron Henry. One bullet was fired into the home tive Charles C. Diggs (Dem., Mich.) was visiting in of Mrs. Vera Pigee. Both are NAACP officials who the home at the time of the attack. have been active in voter registration work. April 25, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: June 9, 1963, Winona, Montgomery County: Mrs. Vera Pigee, secretary of the Coahoma County chap Fannie Hamer, Miss Annelle Ponder, and four ter of the NAACP, was beaten by a white service other registration workers were arrested when they station attending because she tried to use the serv tried to obtain service at the lunch counter in the ice station rest room. Shortly after the beating, bus station. They were traveling by Trailways Bus Police Chief Ben Collins arrested Mrs. Pigee on a from a registration workshop in Charleston, S.C., ,charge of disturbing the peace. to the registration headquarters of COFO in Green April 30, 1963, Oxford, Lafayette County: A wood, Miss. The six workers were held in the bomb exploded near the dormitory occupied by Winona jail four days during which time they were J ames Meredith on the campus of University of beaten with night sticks and fists by policemen and Mississippi. whipped with leather straps by two Negro trustees May 4, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: An who had been ordered to administer the beatings by explosion ripped a hole in the roof of a drugstore white officers. Later a federal jury found the police owned by Aaron Henry, civil rights leader. Police not guilty of any violation of federal law. The suspected lightning may have struck. federal judl'e admonished the jury, as it was re May 8,1963, Mileston, Holmes County: White men tiring to deliberate, not to forget that the accused threw "Molotov cocktail" fire bombs into the rural were local men whose duty it was to keep the peace home of Hartman Turnbow, the first Negro to ap in Winona, while the civil rights workers were out ply for registration as a voter in Holmes County siders with a reputation for sowing discord and during a voter registration drive there. Turnbow, creating racial incidents. field secretary Bob Moses and 3 other registration June 12, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Medgar workers were arrested shortly afterward by Holmes Evers, one of the leaders of a campaign against County authorities on "suspicion of arson." racial discrimination, was shot to death in the drive way of his home. Evers, Mississippi field secretary May 15, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: A church for the NAACP, died at University Medical Center building at 4300 Gano Avenue was extensively about 50 minutes after he was shot. President Ken damaged by fire. It had been sold May 6 to the nedy and Attorney General Kennedy voiced strong Negro congregation of Mt. Moriah Missionary Bap opposition to the slaying. tist Church. June 12, 1963, Jackson. Hinds County: City May 17, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: Milton police thwarted Nel'ro efforts to stage a mourning Hancock, SNCC worker, was being held under march for Medgar Evers and arrested 146 demon technical arrest at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital strators in pinching off another march two hours on a charge of resisting arrest and driving with later. They were arrested on charges of parading out a license after he was struck with a nightstick without a permit. by a city officer. June 18, 1963, Itta Bena, Leflore County: Forty May 28, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Several five Negroes were arrested on charges of disturb white youths knocked Memphis Norman, sit-inner, ance and breach of the peace. They were walking

14 to the home of the town marshall to ask for pro Cobb, were later given $100 fines and 90-day jail tection after a gas bomb was thrown into the church sentences. where they were attending a voter registration July 7, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: A tear meeting. On June 20 the 45 Negroes were sentenced gas grenade was hurled at a Negro restaurant from to 6 months on the Leflore County penal farm by a car containing four white youths. Police said the Itta Bena Justice of the Peace Joe Rustici. The restaurant would have to be ventilated and a health women were fined $200 and the men $500 in addi department inspection made before it could reopen. tion to the jail sentences. The four whites were charged with disorderly con June 23, 1963, Biloxi, Harrison County: Dr. Gil duct, fined $100 each, and sentenced to 30 days in bert Mason, militant Negro civil rights leader, and jail. The jail sentence was suspended for all but 71 other Negroes were arrested as they participated one of the whites. in a wade-in at the public beach. They were charged July 20, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Four with trespassing. A white crowd set fire to Dr. members of the Clarksdale NAACP youth Council Mason's car which was left behind when city police along with two field secretaries for CORE and hauled him and the others away in police vans. SNCC respectively were arrested for violating a June 24, 1963, Canton, Madison County: A shot recently enacted anti-littering ordinance. They were gun blast wounded five Negroes as they walked passing out leaflets protesting segregation. home from a voter registration meeting. City At July 30, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: torney Robert L. Goza said there was no clue to the Aaron Henry, NAACP state president, and 51 identity of the gunman. others were arrested as they picketed in protest of June 25, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: Three city officials' refusal to form a bi-racial committee. Negro registration workers, Ida Holland, Ruby July 31, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Wright and Milton Hancock, were arrested by Chief fifteen Negroes were arrested on charges of parad of Police Curtis Lary 2 blocks from the county ing without a permit. They were protesting segre courthouse. They were charged by City Prosecuting gated lunch counters at a Woolworth Store. Attorny Gray Evans with parading without a per August 1, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: mit. On June 27 they were tried by city court Judge Fourteen Negroes were arrested carrying anti-dis O. L. Kimbrough, found guilty, and sentenced to crimination signs on a downtown street near a four months in jail and fines of $200 each. variety store and a bank. June 25, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County; Nine August 2, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County ~ Negro registration workers, Mary Lane, George Police arrested 5 Negroes during a lunch counter Green, Willie Lee Wilson, Donald White, Fred Har sit-in. Officers picked up the three women and two ris, Eliza Vassar, Minnie Thurman, Jessie Glover men when they took seats and tried to desegregate and John Handy, were arrested in the county court a lunch counter for whites in a Walgreen drug store. house and charged with creating a disturbance in a August 29, 1963, Meridian, Lauderdale County: public place. Green and Miss Lane had brought two White youths attacked Negroes returning from the elderly Negro women in to register to vote. The Washington March when the Negroes attempted to nine were tried by Judge C. C. Williamson, found use white facilities in the Meridian bus station, guilty, and sentenced to fines of $200 each and four Meridian police intervened and sent the Negroes months in jail. on their way. June 26, 1963, Gulport, Harrison County: An ex August 29, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: plosion damaged the waiting room of the medical Percy Lee Atkins was arrested by city police and office of Dr. Peliz H. Dunn, President of the Gulf charged with parading without a permit. He had port chapter, NAACP. The shell casing of an aerial been walking down a street in the Negro section of flash was found nearby. A similar explosion oc town wearing a shirt with "Freedom Now" printed across the back. Atkins was beaten by police at the cured the night of June 24 at Dr. Dennis' office jail and was charged with resisting arrest when he residence. refused to say "Sir" to a policeman. Bond was set June 30, 1963, Tchula, Holmes County: Willie at $400. Joel Lovett, 20, was shot and killed near his home August 29, 1963, Columbus, Lowndes County: The about 6 :30 p.m. A complaint filed with the U.S. fatal shooting of a Negro woman near the Columbus Justice Department said that Lovett was killed by Air Force Base was ruled accidental by a corner's a local law enforcement officer. Town Marshall W. jury. Tech. Sgt. Rotha R. Ayers told authorities he O. Moore declined to say who fired the fatal shot. was shooting at a stray dog that had been bothering July 1, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: An ex the neighborhood and the bullet apparently richo plosion collapsed 'a two-family Negro home. Four cheted, hitting the woman in the chest. men escaped serious injury. Charles Evers, NAACP, September 11, 1963, Goodman, Holmes County: attributed the blast to a bomb. He said "the blast The body of an unidentified Negro man was dis was just another device they're using to frighten covered in the Bib Black River by four fishermen. us." Jackson police suspected no foul play. The body was in a sack weighted down by about one July 1, 1963, Greenville, Washington County: hundred pounds of rocks. It had apparently been Two field secretaries of SNCC were arrested as they thrown off a highway bridge. The body was found spoke to a group of Negroes on the steps of the city just a few miles from where Emmett Till's body jail. They were charged with "resisting arrest" and was found in 1956. "creating a disturbance" as they spoke to some 200 September 23, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Negroes who were protesting the arrest of six per A coroner's jury ruled the shooting of 21-year-old sons who had tried to obtain service at a Walgreen's , Ernest Jells, Negro, by police, was justifiable homi drug store. The two, Charles McLaurin and Charles cide. Jells had been involved with a white man in

I 5 Oscar Chase, ~atticsburg Jimmy Travis, Greenwood Jan. 22, 1964 Feb. 28, 1963

Hattiesburg police on their way to form a cordon around the Forrest County Courthouse, January 22, 1964.

16 an argument over some bananas. Police said Jells he assaulted Andrews as well. Klotz and Andrews pointed a rifle at them. were arrested on charges of assault and battery. October 22, 1963, Indianaola, Sunflower County: October 31, 1963, Natchez, Adams County: Fourteen registration workers, working on the mock Nicholas Bosanquet (English student studying at election freedom vote campaign of Aaron Henry for Yale) was arrested by Natchez police after having governor, were arrested for distributing leaflets gone to a radio station to propose a debate on without a license. segregation between civil rights workers and local October 22, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: people. Police, said Bosanquet, subjected him to Bob Moses, SNCC, and Steve Bingham, Yale stu verbal abuse and then released him without charge dent, were arrested on charges of running a stop after about half an hour in jail. Bosanquet was sign. They were working in the freedom vote cam participating in the freedom vote campaign. paign. October 31, 1963, Natchez, Adams County: October 23, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: Bruce Payne, Yale freedom vote worker, was at Yale student freedom vote workers Steve Bingham tacked and beaten by four white youths as he was and John Spes were arrested on a charge of loiter transporting two Negro vote workers through the ing. Richard Van Wagenen, also from Yale, was ar Negro section of town. The white youths trailed rested for distributing freedom vote leaflets with Payne's car until he stopped at a service station, at out a license. which time the assault took place. October 24,1963, Yazoo City, Yazoo County: Yale October 31, 1963, Biloxi, Harrison County: Police student freedom vote worker Nelson Soltman, and stood and watched, according to Negro leaders, two other workers, were told by police to leave the while a white crowd stoned a church building where town, and were escorted out. an integrated banquet sponsored by the NAACP October 25, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: was being held. The sheriff's department placed 10 Negroes under November I, 1963, Natchez, Adams County: arrest at noon today on the steps of the courthouse. Bruce Payne stopped to buy gas. A car with four The Negroes were waiting for the voter registrar's white men pulled in behind him. They told him to office to reopen, the registrar having gone out to come with them. He jumped back into his car and lunch. They had been waiting in line to register began to drive away. In the course of his flight, since early morning. three shots were tired at him by the four whites. October 28, 1963, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: Two of the four men had also been among those Four Yale students helping in the freedom vote who beat Payne up the previous day. campaign, Hugh M. Levick, Kenneth K. Klotz, November 2, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: Richard N. Andrews and Jonathan Middlebrook, Five freedom vote workers were arrested on a were ordered out of their beds early in the morning charge of obstructing the sidewalk after they set up and taken to the jail by police. They were finger a freedom vote polling place and were singing free printed and interrogated. Later in the day they dom songs to attract prospective voters. were released. November 2, 1963, Rankin County: Four freedom October 28, 1963, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: vote workers were interrogated for more than an Divinity student John F. Else, freedom voter work hour by Rankin County police in a Billups service er, was arrested on a charge of illegal parking. At station. One officer rapped one of them, Ivanhoe the time of the arrest the police searched the car. Donaldson, on the knuckles with a gun twice and Upon his inquiry if the police had a search warrant, placed a pistol at Donaldson's head, threatening to Else was also charged with "interfering with an kill him. officer." Later the charge "possibility of car theft" November 2, 1963, Tate County: Hugh Smith, was lodged against him. Stanford student helping in the freedom vote cam October 28, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahoma County: paign, had two shots tired over his head and one Vote worker Frank Heintz was threatened by the toward him as he drove away from a freedom vote chief of police with legal action if he slept in the poll site. Negro section of town. Heintz was accosted by the November 2, 1963, Belzoni, Humphreys County: police chief as he was canvassing the Negro section Three Negro youths, soliciting votes in the freedom in connection with the freedom vote campaign. vote campaign, were intimidated by police and other October 29, 1963, Greenwood, Leflore County: white with dogs and guns. One of the workers was Janie Stembridge, SNCC worker, was fined $50 on arrested for having parked, allegedly, too near a fire a charge of running a stop sign and $50 on a hydrant. The freedom ballot box and the car were charge of operating a vehicle with a defective brake taken into custody by the police. light. November 2, 1963, Natchez, Adams County: Two October 30, 1963, Clarksdale, Coahona County: Negro freedom vote workers told of being run off Freedom vote worker Frank Heintz was arrested the road five times and shot at three times on the by police chief Ben Collins on a charge of reckless highway between Natchez and Lafayette. driving. Heintz said Collins slugged him, breaking November 5, 1963, Yazoo City, Yazoo County: his glasses, as he was being taken to jail. Lenora Thurman, Negro freedom vote worker, was October 30, 1963, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: arrested while soliciting freedom votes. She was Yale freedom vote workers Kenneth E. Klotz and later released on bond. Richard N. Andrews were assaulted by a white taxi November 9, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Four driver upon their arrival to participate in the mock cross burnings were reported to city police. The election campaign. The driver forced them out of burnings took place at four different intersections, the cab, made them stand agai nst the wall of a in or adjacent to Negro residential areas. nearby building, and began punching Klotz. Later November 11, 1963, Copiah County: Five tall, 17 burlap-draped, kerosene-soaked crosses were set local FBI agents, but they said they could take no afir~ in Gallman, Wesson, Georgetown, Crystal action. Sprmgs and Hazlehurst. January 22, 1964, Canton, Madison County: ~ovember 18,1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Two George Washington, 50, a prominent citizen and whIte teenagers set fire to a South Jackson restau Treasurer of the Madison County (civil rights) rant because the operator hired Negroes as car hops Movement was arrested. He was charged with and waitresses. "burning trash without a permit." He posted $250 December 10, 1963, Jackson, Hinds County: Lois bond and was released. Chafee, 24-year-old white student at Tougaloo Col January 22, 1964, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: lege, pleaded innocent in Hinds County Circuit Court Oscar Chase, SNCC lawyer, was arrested on a to a charge of perjury and bond was set at $5,000. charge of leaving the scene of an accident. While Miss Chafee allegedly perj ured hirself when she in jail he was severely beaten by a fellow-inmate accused police of brutally beating Negro children while a jailer looked on. when she testified in a court case. She said police January 23, 1964, Canton, Madison County: Po used night sticks on children who participated in lice entered the community center-voter registration racial demonstrations. office and seized a list of names taken from a re December 28, 1963, Greenville, Washington Coun cently circulated petition. Two persons were ar ty: Three white youths attacked two Negroes in rested for violation of the city building code. They front of a business house. One of the Negroes was were making repairs on the registration office with treated at General Hospital for a shoulder injury. out having obtained a building permit. Bond was December 30, 1963, Tupelo, Lee County: Calvin set at $350 each on the charge for Clarence Chinn Deaton, white, shot and killed Romie Harris, Negro. and James Collier. Theotus Hewitt was arrested and Deaton said he fired in self-defense. charged with disturbing the peace and intimidating January 3, 1964, Jackson, Hinds County: A Negro an officer. Bond was set at $500. Between 4 :45 arid vocational agricultural teacher testified Sheriff An 6 :00 p.m. ten voter registration workers were ar drew Smith of Holmes County told him to "get the rested. Nine were charged with "distributing leaf hell out of his office" when he tried to pay his poll lets without a permit." They were all arrested while tax. in the vicinity of the voter registration office. The January 5,1964, Canton, Madison County: David leaflets encouraged Negroes to pay poll tax. Bond Dennis, CORE field secretary, reported the arrest was set at $800 each. and beating of a Negro registration worker, George January 24, 1964, Canton, Madison County: Ca Raymond. Dennis protested the incident in a tele role Merritt, SNCC worker from Cincinnati, Ohio gram to the Justice Department. and Vassar graduate, was arrested for contributing January 10, 1964, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: to the delinquency of a minor by causing a minor to Peter Stoner, SNCC registration worker, was ar distribute material of a "libelous nature." Bond was rested and convicted of unlawful parking and ob set at $500. structing traffic. He elected to serve time rather January 25, 1964, Canton, Madison County: Can than pay a fine, as a protest against what he con ton police began to stop all incoming and outgoing sidered a prostitution of justice. cars at the Canton city limits. January 14, 1964, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: January 28,1964, Canton, Madison County: 30 to Oscar Chase, SNCC lawyer and registration worker, 40 Negroes went to the courthouse to try to register was jailed for entering a bus terminal waiting room to vote. Only five were admitted. Sylvester Lee designated for Negroes. He was charged with breach Palmer, registration worker, was arrested on a dis of the peace and vagrancy. turbing the peace charge. January 30, 1964, Canton, Madison County: Po January 15 and 16, 1964, McComb, Pike County: lice halted operation of all Negro taxicabs, claiming Four white men, firing from a car, shot into a Negro their permits were faulty. The gas pumps of a fill cafe, two grocery stores, a shoe repair shop and two ing station owned by George Washington (see Negro homes. A Negro youth in one of the homes above) were removed by the AMOCO representative. was wounded in the leg. One of the same homes SNCC workers interpret this act as "further re had been fired into on January 8. prisal against Mr. Washington's civil rights activ January 18, 1964, Picayune, Pearl River County: ities." Steven Pittman, 14, was wounded by a shotgun blast Henry Cooper, 45, owner of the Tolliver Cafe fired by a white teen-ager from a passing car. Pitt where voter registration workers sometimes con man is Negro. This incident was described by Mis gregate-was arrested. The nature of the charges sissippi newspapers as a Hprank." could not be obtained from Canton police. Two January 21, 1964, Canton, Madison County: The SNCC workers were in the restaurant at the time Canton City Council passed a law making it a crime of the arrest. to distribute literature without a permit from the January 31, 1964, Liberty, Amite County: Louis Mayor and the Chief of Police. Two constables and Allen, Route 5, Liberty, was found dead in his front a new police cruiser were added to law enforce yard. He had been shot three times with a shotgun. ment agencies in Canton. Allen was a witness to the killing of Herbert Lee by January 22, 1964, Hattiesburg, Forrest County: Mississippi Legislator E. H. Hurst in 1961 (see Bob Moses, SNCC program director for Mississippi, above). A week ago Allen's son's car and a Liberty was arrested by police while trying to escort would grocery store that employed Negroes had been fired be registrants through a police cordon around the upon. In February, 1963, Allen told a worker of the courthouse. He was charged with breach of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee he saw peace. John Lewis, SNCC chairman, protested to Hurst shoot Lee without provocation. He said he

1 8 had lied at the coroner's inquest that cleared Hurst February 7,1964, Jackson, Hinds County: Byron under threat of death to himself and family. In De La Beckwith, accused murderer of Medgar Evers August, 1962, Allen had been arrested by a Liberty (see above), will get a new trial, presumably, as a police officer who beat him with a flashlight, break result of the jury's failure to agree on a verdict in ing his jaw. the trial which ended today. The prosecutor for the February 3, 1964, Jackson, Hinds County: Two State of Mississippi had told the jury "I don't know SNCC workers, Jesse Morris and George Greene, whether I would vote the death penalty or not. I were shot by police during a demonstration. Two haven't had a chance to think about it." This was the other Negro men were shot. Herman Frazile and tenth day of the trial. Beckwith has been in custody William Ware. Students of Jackson State College of Jackson officials, charged with the murder, since were protesting the injury of a coed by a white June 22. Mr. Waller had been preparing the prosecu driver at a busy intersection near the college. The tion, and, presumably, thinking about the case, since city has repeatedly refused to install a traffic light that time. Former Mississippi Governor Ross at the intersection. Morris was wounded in the arm. Barnett visited Beckwith in the courtroom today Greene's eyeglasses case deflected a bullet, prevent and shook hands and chatted with him. One of Beck ing serious injury. Frazile was wounded in the head. with's attorneys is a member of Barnett's law firm.

Herna n Frazile. Jack son, feb . 3 , 1 9 64