Ri:lhts Leaders Distrnst eaiot' Probe WhatisHIJAC~s Target? (By Staff Correspondent) out the work of the Communist into what he described as "so WASHINGTON, D. C.-The Party, we would not hesitate to called civil rights groups." House Un-American Activities investigate their operations .." Rep. Joe Pool of Texas recent Committee (HUAC) announced in The meaning of this statement ly said: "The civil r ights issue October that it intends to investi is clear to anyone who knows the is another weapon taken up by gate recent disturbances in Amer previous record of HUAC--the in the Communist fanatics ..." ica's major cities in a search for ability of its members to under Rep. John Ashbrook of Ohio "subversive" elements. stand the freedom movement and asked in June, 1966, for an in Civil rights leaders both South their tendency to equate all ef vestigation into what he called and North have expressed deep forts for racial jt
Subscription Blank CORE ... The Patriot is sent to all per A Move~~~ent •Shopper~s Guide~ (Continued from Page 8) sons who give $2 or more Economic pressures are still one of the most potent weapons of those who would keep things as they "We were trying to set up co annually to the Southern Con are in the South. In a few places, resourceful people have launched self help projects to win economic in ops to give the Negro economic ference Educational Fund. dependence. You can help the freedom movement and buy useful things for yourself or for Christmas power, before the cry of black I enclos of which $2 gifts by pu1·chasing their products, some of which are listed on this page: is for Patriot subscription. power was ever raised. We or Name______From Americus, Ga. many peo of the Bible, which place the catalogue, write Liberty House, ganized a credit unit in Tallulah ple have bought pecans and pecan P.O. Box 3193, Jackson, Miss. Address. ______characters of the New Testament and are going to do the same products to help Koinonia Farm, in the Deep South. They are writ About 150 women in Alabama thing in Bogalusa. City______a cooperative farming community, ten by the Rev. Clarence Jordan. belong to the Freedom Quilting "We ran a candidate for the Zip Code.______survive. Some sample prices: One pound Bee, a cooperative which is help ing them make and market quilts. state central committee in Tallu SCEF Christmas gifts this year in bag pecan halves, $1.85; three Few of their families make over lah and won. Also the first Ne 3210 W. Broadway clude a variety of candies and pe pound fruit cake, $3.90. For a cans, fruit cakes and "cotton $500 a year in farming. Many groes ever were elected to the Louisville, Ky. 40211 complete price list and order patch" translations of some books have been evicted for voter regis school board in Tallulah, Lake blank, write Koinonia Community, tration. Providence, St. Francisville and Route 2, Americus, Ga. 31709. Through the cooperative they Dorseyville." In Mississippi, poor people have are producing quilts to sell for Employment and education, The Southern Patriot formed a cooper ative to produce $20-$25 dollars. People can order along with public accommoda and market leather products, them specifying the size, design tions, are problems CORE must · The Southern Patriot is published once a month except July by the dresses and quilts. Some of them and color; made to order quilts continue to work on, he said. Southern Conference Educational Fund, Inc., dedicated to ending dis suffered economic reprisals after cost $25. Some of the women make "The two major problems, how crimination based on race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or eco taking part in civil rights activ black and white "op art" quilts ever, are housing and police bru nomic condition. Editorial and business offices, 3210 West Broadway, ities. Others are unemployed. which are being bought to use as tality. The police constantly ha Louisville, Ky., 40211; office of publication, 150 Tenth Ave. North, Some are on strike against intol wall hangings. rass us. Our phone is tapped. Po Nashville, Tenn. 37203; Eastern Office, Suite 412, 799 Broadway, New erable working conditions. All Delivery on the quilts should lice follow people, keeping them York, N.Y. 10003. Twenty-five cents a copy, $3 a year. Second-class have found a new dignity in work not take more than two weeks. under surveillance. They red-bait postage paid at Nashville, Tenn. ing for themselves. The cooperative would like to be us and go around telling minis Please send notice of change of address to: Suede and leather purses are paid in advance. For further in ters and the people in the black available for $10 and up. A vari formation, write The Freedom community that we are trying to THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. ety of dresses and robes are also Quilting Bee, c /o the Rev. Francis start riots." 3210 West Broadway, Louisville, Ky. 40211 being produced; none cost more X. Walter, 810 29th Avenue, Tus Thus, far from being finished in President Secretary than $13.95. For an illustrated caloosa, Ala. 35!01. Louisiana, CORE is here to re FRED L. SHUTTLESWORTH CLARICE CAMPBELL main, with the same challenges Statement of Ownership, Management business offices of the publishers: 3210 and problems, and fighting the Vice-Presidents Treasurer and Circulation West Broadway, ~uisville, Ky. 40211. (Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369, Name and addre$es of publisher, editor same resistance to change. nrsrroP CHARLEs F. GOLDEN DORCAS RUTHENBURG Title 39, United States Code.) and managing edi:or. Publisher: South JACK PEEBLES Date of filing: September 30, 1966. ern Conference Eiucational Fund, Inc., MODJESKA M. SIMKINS Title of Publication: The Southern Pa 3210 West Broadway. Louisville, Ky. Assistant Secretary triot. 40211. Editor: Arme Braden, 4403 Vir· ROSALYN LAVENTHAL Frequency of issue : Monthly except ginia Avenue, Lousville, Ky. 40211. Man· Trends" Ext>cutin• Director July. aging Editor: nont. "SNCC Location of known office of publica Owner: Southern Conference Educa· CARl. RRA!lF.:-."" Editor tion: 150 Tenth Avenue No., Nashville, tiona! Fund, Inc., 3210 West Broadway, Reprints ANNE BRADEN Tenn. 37202. Louisville, Ky. 402:1. Assistant Directors Location of the headquarters or general Stockholders. none. There has been a great de WM. HOWARD MELTSH Assistant Editors average no. copies single issue mand for the May issue of The each issue during nearest to MmTAM NICHOLAS ROBERT ANALAVAGE preceding 12 months filing date Patriot with the article on CAROL STEVENS BONER a. Total no. copies printed ------9,365 9,936 "The SNCC Trends: Challenge Special Consultants b. paid circuation 1. sales through dealers and carriers. to White America." We have ELLA .J. RAKER Director of Photography s treet vendors and counter sales __ none none mail subscriptions ------8.547 8,766 therefore reprinted the article JA MES A. DO~IBROW S KI L ESLIE JORDAN JR. c. total paid circulation ------8,547 8,766 on one sheet. Copies can be ob d. free distribution ------818 1,170 Eastern Representative e. total distribution ------9,365 9,936 tained by writing to SCEF, 1 f. for office use, left-over, unaccounted, S ANDRA ROSENBLUM spoiled after printing ------none none 3210 West Broadway, Loui s- ~ g. total ------9,365 9,936 ville, Ky. 40211. November, 1966 I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Vol. 24, No. 10 Anne Braden, Editor. 2 ·------' * THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT SCEF Board Looks ~The Issue is White Supren~acy~ The following are excerpts tion of the black people of this tively what has always been our At ~Blaek Power~ from the recent policy statement country in order that they might declared function .... by SCEF on "black power" and create something of the strength What political forms the future (By Staff Correspondent) related topics: of a Niagara Falls . . . . The will require of the movement is LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The demand for "black power" s'hould be .... this drive for black strength Niagara Movement gave rise to not yet the subject of agreement, viewed by white America as a challeng·e. It is a challenge to white represents a challenge to the the National Association for the but the working together of black people to examine themselves, the roots of racism, what is wrong white majority of our nation to Advancement of Colored People. and white Americans at the grass with their society, and what to do about these problems. face the ugly racial prejudice that The cry for black power has roots level is one of the basic This is the gist of a major policy statement adopted by the is part of our national upbring arisen today because many black requirements for healthy social board of directors of the Southern Conference Educational Fund ing .... people decided that it was time change .. . . (SCEF) at its semi-annual meeting here in late October. It was What many are calling today to stop relying solely on petition released to the press by SCEF president, the Rev. Fred L. Shuttles the "white backlash" appears to ing the government for redress On Violence worth. us to be something quit{! different of grievances, and instead to The board of SCEF believes SCEF, whic'h is an interracial Southwide organization, noted and perhaps ultimately healthy. organize themselves politically to that a deliberate campaign has in its statement that its major purpose since its beginning in 1938 It is the bringing to the surface elect persons who will represent been launched to equate black has been to reach white Southerners and organize them around of long hidden racist feelings them in government .... power with violence in the the common issues that unite fh~m with black Southerners. latent in the American conscious In terms of American democ public mind. We state our firm It said the present challenge simply means it must "do more ness . ... racy, there is nothing improper conviction that violence today effectively what has always been our declared function." Today white America is faced about Negro people demanding is the product of no civil-rights The SCEF board also called for unity in the civil rights move with uncomfortable demands that they should be able to elect organization; it is endemic in ment. It voiced "outrage" at t'he attacks on the Student Non which indicate clearly that the representatives of their own the American scene, part and violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Congress of root of the problem is not black choice to key political offices, es parcel of United States history; Racial Equality (CORE), and "other militant civil rights organi power but assumptions of white pecially in those areas South and and our contemporary power zations." It said the nation needs, for its own health, groups whose supremacy. The terrible truth North where they are concen structure is even now engaged ideas "sting the conscience of America" and raise the questions is that nearly every white trated and in a clear numerical in one of the most violent and "which white America must face." American and not a few Negro majority. terrible wars in our nation's The text of the statement on SNCC and CORE and major people are infected with the This demand carries with it the history. excerpts from the policy statement appear elsewhere on this page. poisonous premise that what is idea that they would exercise in We marvel at the courage of In other action, the board condemned the announced plans of white is superior ..•. The real the public interest the powers the men, women, and young peo t'he House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate dis challenge today is the basic associated with such public offices. ple who have engaged in the turbances in the nation's cities. The board also commended pass work of changing the mind-set This would mean majority rule civil-rights movement on the age of fair housing legislation in Bardstown and Nelson County, of white America with concern and safeguards for basis of peaceful and nonviolent Ky., and called on the Louisville Communit~ ~o do l~kewise. A the rights of minorities. direct action . . . . We believe special resolution paid tribute to the late Lillian Smith. (Those On Black Power .... It would also represent a that it has not been in vain, that resolutions are covered more fully elsewhere in this issue.) The idea of black power has a meaningful breakthrough toward it has achieved many of its objec In line with its determination to increase its efforts to get achieving a more effective repre tives, and that this is no time to Southern white people into an alliance with black people, the long and honorable history but it is currently being misrepresented sentative democracy for all desert its banners. SCEF board made plans to expand its organizing work in Ken Americans. Yet the white community must tucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana. in the news media of the United States. In 1905, the Niagara The simple truth is that the know that killings, police bru The board met at Louisville's Calvary Baptist Church, which is tality, and personal indignities to Movement issued a call for the rank and file of Americans pastored by one of its members, the Rev. William H. Bell. ___ _, political and economic organiza- have never really controlled black people must not continue. their government. The ability The issue of violence lies on the of the Negro people to take doorstep of the white community, Bardstown Passes Seven Northern Leaders this successful step will pro and both the local and federal Fair Dousing La"7 vide us all with an opportunity governments. Study Movement Crisis to make American democracy -First in South (By Staff Correspondent) work as it has never worked On Unity ••• and Dissent The small town of Bardstown, NEW YORK, N.Y.-Leaders of several northern-based civil before .... . There is today a calculated at Ky., and Nelson County, where rights groups, along with Negro organization leaders, recently tempt to divide the civil-rights it is located, have apparently be issued a stare1nent on the current crisis facing the civil rights On Interracial Action movement, to call one set of come the ftrst community in the mov-ement. organizations responsible and an South to adopt fair housing leg The statement expressed alarm at what seems to be a retreat From its earliest beginnings, other set irresponsible. We be islation. on the part of white America from its commitment to racial SCEF has been an interracial lieve that everyone genuinely justice. organization, and we are in no concerned with an effective move Ordinances outlawing racial dis It was also interpreted by The New York Times and other way departing from our faith in ment is a responsible person, and crimination in the sale and rental news media as a repudiation of such organizations as SNCC and interracial objectives. must work for the inclusion in one of housing have been passed by CORE and the idea of "black power." .. .. Today we find many black parallel stream of the many or city and county governing bodies. However, the statement did not mention any organization by people rejecting the word "in ganizations embracing different The board of directors of SCEF, name and did not use the term "black power." tegration." They feel that inte emphases .... meeting in Louisville soon after Original signers of the statement, which appeared as an ad in gration has too often meant Included must be those whose the ordinances were made public, The New York Times were: assimilation of black people into ideas are gadflies, serving to adopted a resolution praising citi Dorothy Height, president, National Council of Negro Women; white society as it is, on the sting the conscience of America zens of the Bardstown area. A. Philip Randolph, president, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; assumption that what is white is with its racist heritage, and who It urged the city of Louisville Bayard Rustin, director, A. Philip Randolph Institute; Roy Wilkins, better. advocate that profound social and its county, Jefferson, to fol executive director, NAACP; Whitney M. Young, Jr., executive We, too, reject all such inter change which will bring about low this example and become the director, National Urban League; Amos T. Hall, executive secre pretations. The society into which equal economic opportunity and first major metropolitan area in tary, Conference of Grand Masters, Prince Hall Masons; Hobson we wish to see all our varied peo genuine brotherhood . . . the South to have fair housing Reynolds, Grand Exalted Ruler, Improved Benevolent and Protec ples integrated, (that is, made We oppose all who seek to laws. tive Order of Elks of the World. whole) is a new society. We are stifle honest dissent, be they in Human rights groups in Louis An effort was made to obtain the signature of the most not afraid of radical social the White House, in the Con ville are now carrying on a cam prominent Southern spokesman of the freedom movement, Dr. change. Indeed, we believe it is gress, in the state legislatures, paign to pass such laws. SCEF Martin Luther King, Jr. However, Dr. King, apparently fearing t he social imperative of our day in the courts, or on the local pledged its support, including aid that the statement might foster disunity in the movement, did not for black and white .... scene. Those who attack civil appear as a signer. in organizing demonstrations if The board of SCEF f eels that rights organizations that are local groups decide these are He said in a separate statement that he agreed with the main the needs and interest of the raismg the questions which points in the statement but added: needed. poorer and less privileged whites white America must face are "We are not interested in furthering any division in the civil of the South are similar to those denying our society the op rights movement, either with those who advocate less militancy or of poor black people. Since 1938, portunity to examine what is those who feel they are more militant." SCEF's objective has been to de destroying us. Those who raise Election He said SCLC hoped to continue to communicate with SNCC velop among these groups com these basic questions are doing Coverage and CORE which he declared "have been great forces for the civil mon allies in a joint struggle for a service to the commonwealth rights movement." a more democratic America. This that must be defended. To The Patriot's analysis of the Soon thereafter, CORE made its own statement in regard to present challenge increases our gether we venture forth, or November 8 election, which took "black power" and related issues in a letter to its supporters. It obligation to do even more effec- together we perish. place after this issue went to called for unity in the movement and said the nation's bigots are press, will appear in the Decem trying to "split the friends of freedom." ber edition. The letter added: "CORE is a friend of all groups that are fighting for the cause of the black man in America." Attacks Weaken Us All (Resolution adopted by SCEF Board of Directors, October 29, 1966) We are outraged at the current attacks on SNCC, CORE, and Six New Members Join SCEF Board other militant civil-rights organizations. We view these attacks as an effort to undermine and finally de Six members were added to the Alabama Christian Movement for Jack Peebles, New Orleans at stroy the whole civil-rights movement in America. SCEF board of directors at its Human Rights in Birmingham; torney, was elected a vice-presi We especially deplore the singling out of individual leaders for October meeting. Miss Margar et Rigg, professor dent of SCEF. Mrs. Clarice Camp personal persecution. We believe that Stokely Carmichael should They are Dr. George Edwards, of art at Florida Presbyterian bell of Mississippi, formerly as not be made a scapegoat for America's social problems. professor at Presbyterian Theol College, St. Petersburg; Mrs. sistant secr etary, was elected sec As we say in our policy statement of this date: "Those who ogical Seminary in Louisville; Corinne Freeman Smith, commu retary to fill a vacancy in that attack civil-rights leaders and organizations that are raising the Mrs. Elizabeth Foote, teacher and nity leader in New Orlean s; and office. Mrs. Rosalyn Laventhal of questions which white America must face are denying our society artist of New Orleans; Mrs. Dr. Harvey Webster, professor New Orleans was elected assist the opportunity to examine what is destroying us." Georgia Price, a leader of the at the Univer sity of Louisville. ant secretary. * THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT
l'holu .< /1y I .e.< ] orc/n11, Jr . 5 THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT
"Those who profess to favor * freedont and yet deprecate ~' - "If you want the happiness of agitation, are nten who want the people, let thent speak out rain without thunder and and tell w'hat kind of happiness lightning. They want the ocean they want and what kind they without the roar of its ntany THE PEOPLES FORUM don't want!" waters." ALBERT CAMUS FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Bond Answers Critics FST Seeks The Order Is Wrong I wonder if I might use the local, state and federal levels. Funds We keep having important visi changing first, and then add that Patriot's pages to make clear my The seizure of power by the tors to Atlanta who refer to the they oppose violence (which you r easons for leaving my job as powerless, and the effective use The Free Southern Theater, about which Robert A,nalavage "riots" and say it's too bad we . would not really expect to be Communications Director for the of it, whether it forces itself news in most cases), it would wrote with graphic enthusiasm had them, especially so close to Student Nonviolent Coordinating against ballot boxes or banks, is help those of us who work here Committee. key, I believe, to reaching a solu in the September Patriot, has the primary, and that they re ended its 1966 season due to in Atlanta. To set the record straight: tion of our problems. sulted in Maddox' winning the exhaustion of funds. The It would also help not to refer I am no longer employed by' Finally, there must begin seri launching of a fifth season, primary. After going on the rec to what happened here as "riots". SNCC because I had wanted, ous, long-range attempts-such as hopefully in March, 1967, de ord as being opposed to violence, Compared to what has been de and presently want to spend as those made by SCEF-to organize pends on our securing during then they go on to say that per scribed as "riots" in other places, much time as possible in pri those white persons who so badly vate pursuits. these months an estimated haps there are a few conditions they certainly were not. Reliable need organization. $50,000 (to support a staff of newsmen reported that the great I have no disagreement with in Atlanta that warrant some pro Despite the nay-sayers, I still fifteen people for an eight est amount of damage was done Stokely Carmichael or other believe t here can be a fair and tests, and of course those condi SNCC workers, or with SNCC's month season). by the tear gas which the police honest coalition-as opposed to Friends· w'ho have seen the tions should be remedied. used, and reliable officials have policies and programs. the March-On-Washington type I believe now that SNCC has FST or who have heard about For those who might be coming pointed out that there was no real so common in the movement-be it and believe in the idea, and fighting, shooting or looting, such been and will continue to be the tween whites and Negroes. But to Atlanta any time soon, I would cutting edge of the Southern who wish to help, S'hould send as has characterized "riots" in the burden rests on all of us to contributions to: like to ask that they change the other places. and hopefully the Northern work toward really giving these Free Southern Theater order of their statements. When Of course we can't quite decide movement. people a chance to decide on who they start off "deploring vio Box 2374 -if you have riots, there must be My concern for the movement their friends and enemies are, and New Orleans, La. lence", that's what gets the head some things wrong, which we is that those who see "peace" as to decide on the nature of the line, particularly the local head would prefer to ignore, but these one issue and "civil rights" as an program that will begin to grant Contributions to the FST are line, and the " but" part of the days, to be a big city, you have other issue must come to see that them independence. federally tax exentpt. statement seldom gets quoted. they are the same; that the forces THOMAS C. DENT to have riots as well as profes against freedom in Mississippi JULIAN BOND Chairman, Boa1·d of Di1·ectors If they would say the part sional ball teams. We're modest and Alabama often stand united Atlanta, Georgia about some conditions needing about it, but we're in the big against freedom and self-deter league now - football, baseball mination in Vietnam. and riots, all in the same year. In addition, it would seem to be A Question of Economics ELIZA PASCHALL When one reads of a jury in Alabanta acquitting from the womb to to tomb, by the systent we know an absolute necessity that other Atlanta, Georgia groupings be formed through the a Ku Klux Klansman of the slaying of a civil rights as "capitalism." South that follow, as nearly as worker, and when one sees and hears individuals The evidence is everywhere that the so-called local conditions permit, the or saying they intend to vote for staunch segrega "elected officials" of the political body are nothing ganization and activities of the tionist Lester Maddox for governor of Georgia, more than the executive contntittee for the people With this issue, The South Lowndes County Freedom Organi one realizes that with all the money and effort that who own the government and the wealth of the ern Patriot resuntes the print zation. While my own experience has been directed to the cause of human rights, land. ing of letters front readers. We certainly indicates that elective the entire movement has failed to inform the people Until such time that some effort is made to take invite you to write us--about IJOlitics is not always a successful at the grass rMt.s as to who the monster is that is the grass roots people out of the jungle of political events in your area, about route to giving a voice to the responsible for their plight. and economic ignorance by factual enlightenment, what you are thinking, about voice-less, thoroughly organized, Contrary to what people have been told, the there will be little hope of uniting them to the articles in previous issues, democratically-run grass roots issue is not "race"; it is not due to the color of position of "people's pow·er" and the freedom from whatever is on your mind. Our political organizations of blacks one's skin-it is purely and simply a case of eco want. only request: keep the letters and/ or whites can make an effec nomics-slavery, cheap labor and a people divided JACK BRADY short, 300 words or under. tive stand for some change on by class, that they may be thoroughly ·exploited Lake Charles, Louisiana Draft Protesters FilP Suit on Atlanta Prisons (Continued from Page 1) is fighting a war to protect free activity. Eating facilities were dom in Vietnam. segregated, and black prisoners closed and the demonstration con All were found guilty on the got worse diets. Living quarters tinued. charges involving the city. Three were segregated, and black in By the next day the atmosphere were bound over to t he Fulton mates had fewer facilities and was more tense and the crowds County jail on the assault and privileges. Work details were seg both Negro and white--consider battery charges and one was regated, and black prisoners were ably larger. About 30 Negroes ar bound over to the state on a forced to do work whites refused. rived to picket. charge of insurrection. Medical attention was inade And t his was the setting as Their sentences ranged from 30 quate. Two men with hay fever Michael Simmons, one of t'he to 120 days in prison. They filed were forced to work in dusty dentonstrators, attempted to appeals, and bonds ranged be areas. For punishment, they were obey a draft notioe by reporting tween $1,000 and $3,500. Bail for deprived of food and crowded into to the center that morning. the twelve totalled $37,000. One "the hole"- a small room seven Failure to report by the speci charge against Johnny Wilson, feet long, four feet wide, and fied time could result in a five 19, was changed to insur rection. seven feet high, with no ventila year jail sentence and/or a $10,- Atty. Moore told the judge his tion, shared by four prisoners. 000 fine, his notice said. clients were being treated in this On October 10 workers from He was turned away from the extreme fashion only to intimi SNCC's Atlanta Project filed door· four times by a rmy person date other black people from air suit against Mayor Ivan Allen nel who said, in effect, t hat he ing their views, if they happen and Prison Administrator Ralph had no business inside the build to disagree with the majority Hulsey, "to end cruel and un ing. On his fifth att empt, he and opinion in t his country. usual punishntent in the At other demonstrators were drag And Judge T. C. Little re lanta prisons and jails". Alter ged away from the door by police portedly replied: "I'm not giv natively, they asked for the im men and loaded into a paddy ing them stiff sentences based mediate release of the eleven wagon. In all, ten men and two on their color but because I draft protesters (one had al young women were arrested. have a son in Vietnant who is: ready completed his sentence fighting to defend the principles and been r eleased). As they were being booked at A VETERAN OF THE KOREAN WAR was among the dentonstrators of freedont and democracy. I Meanwhile, protests from civil the jail their attorney, Howard who picketed the Atlanta Induction Center in August. (SNCC photo have to give t hese people ntaxi liberties and peace groups across Moore, saw policemen beating by Rufus Hinton) mum sentences." the nation poured in to Atlanta. demonstrator Dwight Williams. For the next two months the October 14, the judge signed the Early the next morning they was to have been inducted into case of assault and battery but protesters remained in prison, release papers and accepted the were tried on a variety of charges the armed services August 18 but the whole question of whether or while the judge refused to sign bond which ha d been posted al including resisting arrest, refus had been prevented from doing so not black people have the right for their release. SNCC had man most two months earlier. By then, ing to obey an officer, disturbance by the U.S. army, it was the first to demonstrate against the things aged to raise the bond shortly two more protesters had com and assault and battery. time this fact had been brought they feel are wrong in America. after they were sentenced. pleted their sentences. No one There were numerous contradic out in the case. And he asked the court to bear Prison conditions were as bad knows how long he would have tions in the police testimony. And Atty. Moore pointed out t hat in mind when deciding the verdict, as any they had encountered in delayed signing the papers if when Simmons t estified that h e what was on trial her e was not a that the United States claims it the Deep South for civil rights SNCC had not decided to sue. 6 THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT A Soutlwrn Profile * Mississippi: A Man and a MoveDlent By ROBERT ANALAVAGE again and again in his face until his eyes were so (Assistant Editor) swollen he couldn't open them." If one were to write a history of the freedom strug In January of 1964 Guyot went with SNCC into gle in Mississippi and t he individuals who have fought Hattiesburg, Forest County. Ten Negroes were regis in that struggle, it would be difficult to ignore the tered to vote there out of a potential 8,000. They decided name of Lawrence Guyot, the 26-year-old chairman of to march to the courthouse, "the symbol of white rule the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). since the South began." Guyot, who was born in Pass Christian, a small town Just as Greenwood had led up to the Hattiesburg on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, first became part of the project, so Hattiesburg showed what could be done in Movement in 1962. A bus boycott was being organized the famous '64 summer project, which utilized the Coun and students at Tougaloo College decided to send a cil of Federated Organizations (COFO). "Moses brought spokesman. They chose Guyot. in CORE, the NAACP and SCLC. This was done to Since that time he has been engaged, every day of avoid regional and geographical splits and to create an his life, in the dangerous and frustrating attempt by umbrella for dissent," Guyot says. the black people of Mississippi to bring change to the Volunteers were pulled in from across fhe nation state. to work on voter registration, freedom schools and During the bus boycott he met Bob Moses of SNCC political organization. "The young Americans who and became a SNCC field secretary. He went with were concerned about themselves and about the coun Moses to McComb. try came to Mississippi," Guyot says. SNCC was attempting "underground guerrilla or The leadership of COFO was broken down so that ganization" at that time, he relates, "in that we fought each of the five congressional districts in the state had to pull together young people and use them as a vehicle a head. Guyot was in charge of the fifth district. of entry into the community-to get to the parents, the At one meeting, Moses proposed the idea of creating schools, the churches." the Freedom Democratic Party. The black people of After McComb, SNCC spent six months assembling Mississippi were interested. students from across the state for leadership training The party was organized from the precinct level up. classes. It was an important experience for a lot of dis Officers were elected. A delegation was appointed to contented young people, Guyot says. Out of it grew the go to the democratic convention at Atlantic City and idea of moving into Greenwood. They had to fight for challenge the seating of delegates from the state's seg MFDP CHAIRMAN LAWRENCE GUYOT the simple right to stay there. regationist Democratic Party. "Once people knew who we were, they wouldn't talk Guyot was the delegation's chairman, but he did If Atlantic City and the challenge can be considered to us. Their experience with civil rights workers had not go to Atlantic City because he was in jail at the 'failures' of the MFDP, Guyot feels it has won several been that when the pressure was put on, the organizers time. The convention offered the MFDP a compromise. distinct victories. Among them, he lists the right for pulled out. We had to show them we were different." They would allow them to have two non-voting dele people to demonstrate in Mississippi, the winning of a gates, picked by Hubert Humphrey, who would be He recalls that, when they moved into a house, the reapportionment suit and the voiding of a municipal guests of the convention and representatives at large. KKK and the citizens' councils would drive up and shine election in Sunflower County, Sen. Eastland's home. The people rejected this compromise. "They found out the car lights on the house, "just to show us they knew there t hat nobody in America was willing to help them,'' However, he feels that the running of the first black we were there." Guyot explains. candidates since Reconstruction in this year's primary, "Every day we were followed by police and it was which captured eighteen per cent of the vote and won a When the delegates returned to Mississippi they hard as hell to get people to listen to you when they majority in two counties, to be the most important ac were tried in Chancery Court for using the name knew the police were just outside the door." complishment of MFDP. 'democratic' in their party. "Some of the members They struggled through '62 and '63. Greenwood resigned because they were not prepared to break the As for the role of MFDP in the struggle today, retaliated against people w'ho participated in the law in Mississippi as it related to their right to or Guyot says "the MFDP right now is fighting for every movement by cutting off surplus food. Since the peo ganize." (In September, 1966 the case of Mississippi thing in the state, from the right of women to serve on ple they worked with earned only three dollars a dzy vs. the MFDP was dropped). jut1E:, to the capturing of power by poor people on the in the fields, this was critical. People outside the state local level, the level which affects their lives most. Inertia set in. For three months the MFDP did were asked to send food. That comes in 1967." nothing. "That was the crucial time. We had jolted "As long as there remain the political inconsistencies In January of 1963 Dewey Green, Jr. tried to enroll the country. The state of Mississippi was on the de that arc so blatant in t he state of Mississippi-which at Ole Miss. His family's home was shot into. "The fensive. Then the thing t hat gave impetus to us was next day we marched 400 people down to see the chief the congressional challenge." is by no means unique,'' he says, "and as long as the of police, to demand· protection and to try and register control of the state machinery rests in a few hands, the Under Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, people to vote. Our only means of pressure was na concept of indigenous, local and aggressive political and using the fact that Negroes had been systematically tional attention and total involvement of the commu organization will continue." excluded from voting, MFDP argued that the segre nity," Guyot says. gationist Democrats were illegally elected and should Further, he believes that black and white people in Eight SNCC people were arrested. The demonstra not be seated in the House of Representatives. the country must completely "revamp the political tions continued. "It is very important," Guyot points structure and have a new definition of economy or we On the opening day of Congress William Fritz Ryan out, "that at t hat moment SNCC was the only organi will cvntinue to have the complete lack of humanism of New York and fifty other congressmen introduced a zation which demanded and fought for the right of the that is so characteristic of our society." resolution to unseat the Mississippi Congressmen. illiterate to be registered and vote. We won that fight, Majority leader McCormack countered by offering a After five years in the movement, he has concluded against both Gr eenwood and the Justice Department." resolution that the segregationists be seated pending that the American people have no knowledge of the Around that time five people returning from a work the challenge. basic problems. "Ther e are several terms which should shop were arrested in Winona. A group of SNCC people be explained- and they are white supremacy, neocol from Greenwood went to see them. "We were char ged with t he responsibility of proving onialism, black power and self determination." While Guyot was being questioned by a state our claims,'' Guyot said. "We brought hundreds of He is angered by the connotation the country has trooper, he r efused to address him as "sir". Howard attorneys from all over the country and the state to given to black power. "The papers and fhe liberals Zinn described what happened: take depositions. We had the state on the defensive." did a complete distortion of it, and they continue to "The trooper slapped Guyot repeatedly, then turned However , most of t he nation was still not aroused ; define the guidelines for rebellion and dissent. The him over to a group of Citizens' Council members. 143 congressmen voted for the challenge, with 242 only difference between America and ·south Africa is They beat him until he couldn't lift his arms, hit him against it. MFDP had lost. the distance,'' he declares. HIGHLANDER All of Highlander's automobile insurance has been cancelled; (Continued from Page 1) so have airline credit cards, and nounced that he would introduce not one of Knoxville's four ma a resolution in the City Council jor banks would accept a de r equesting the state attorney gen posit of funds granted High eral to r evoke their charter. lander by a foundation. When the Council met, the may Meantime, support for High or said the Center had been in lander's right to exist is mount vestigated and was doing nothing ing. At t he City Council meeting, illegal. Walker said he wanted to about 70 Knoxville residents ap present in private session "evi peared to express concern. Baxton dence" that had been "in High Bryant, of the Tennessee Council lander's possession." Observers on Human Relations, spoke for wondered if this was related to the break-in at Highlander last Highlander's rights. year, when all its records, tape The Knoxville chapter of the recordings of workshops, and val American Civil Liberties Union uable equipment were stolen. issued a statement of support. At Patriot presstime, no fur In December, the ACLU, the ther action had been taken. It Knoxville Human Relations Coun is worth noting, however, that cil, and Citizens for Progress, a KLANSMEN MARCH at Highlander Center protesting its existence. Highlander Folk School at Mont the forces behind the attack ap civil rights group, plan a forum eagle, Tenn., one of the few centers of democracy ever produced in the South, was closed, then burned to parently go beyond the Ku Klux to inform t he public about the the ground by combined state a nd vigilante action. Now they attack Highland Center, its successor. (Photo Klan and ene city councilman. Highlander attack. by Carol Browne) · 7 THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT *
ACMDR marks Tenth Year •A Long Boad Still Ahead~ (By Staff Correspondent) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - During the last ten him to remain to help them project a program for years the freedom movement in Birmingham has the future. Mr. Shuttlesworth agreed. Both pictures on this page show aspects of Birmingham life to transformed this city and shaken America. Indications of what this program mig'ht in- day-an integrated restaurant and the slums that still remain. Both Without Birmingham, there might have been elude came in a speech by the Rev. C. T. Vivian are from the 32-page brochure on the history of the Birmingham no Civil Rights Act of 1964 and perhaps no the first night of the anniversary program, and movement published by ACMHR and SCEF. Copies may be pur Voting Rights Act of 1965. And without the ex- in a history of the Birmingham Movement pub- chased for $1 from SCEF, 3210 West Broadway, Louisville, Ky. 40211. ample of Birmingham's people t!here would have lished jointly by the ACMHR and SCEF. Proceeds go to carry on the Birminghatm program. been far fewer people in motion throughout the Mr. Vivian said: "When we sing 'We Shall south and the nation, challenging racism in their Overcome' it must be a reality. We must over- own communities. come Wallace in this state. You've got to or· Tempers Flare in Tallulah Last month black people here looked back over ganize so well, block by block, that every man the victories and defeats of the last ten years and votes and every man moves--so that you can On Jailing of Loeal Leader rededicated themselves to the task of making break through a power structure none of you By ROBERT ANALAVAGE Birmingham a free city. The occasion was the want." TALLULAH, La. - Zelma Wyche, the leader of the Tallulah Civic tenth anniversary of the Alabama Christian The booklet pointed out that, "for the great and Voters' League, must sit in his cell at the East Carroll Prison Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR), the or- masses of black people, jobs are still non-existent sometimes and ponder the events that put him there. ganization that has spear-headed the drive for or at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. He is serving eight months for simple battery and is in serious human equality here. And the old and dilapidated houses along the danger of having to serve 10 years for a felony. And they invited the man who sparked their streets of Birmingham's inner city stand as a Meanwhile, his case has caused a major crisis in Louisiana. Tallu revolution to remain with them to complete the reminder that this city has slum ghettoes as de- lah black people, who make up approximately 60 per cent of the task. pressed as any in the South or in the nation." population, have threatened to march on the prison unless he is Early in the summer, the Rev. Fred L. S'hut- And in a speech made during the anniversary released. tlesworth, who has led the ACMHR since it began, program, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of SCLC The Louisiana Bi-racial Commission is planning to ask the Gover had announced he would retire as president in charged that "White America never did intend nor to intervene personally and the Department of Justice is asking the fall. to integrate 'housing and schools, or to give fair everybody- from the CORE staff who worked in the area to the Law But during a four-day appreciation program jobs to Negroes. It isn't any backlash. It's just yers' Constitutional Defence Committee (LCDC), which is fighting for him last month, the people said they wanted coming out now. They've been hiding it." the case in federal ccurt--to use their influence to prevent a riot. I To understand all this it is necessary to go back to July 28, when Mr. Wyche entered a Tallulah restaurant which clearly falls under More •People Power~ Sarah Collins the Title II provision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. After a brief argument with the owner he was served, ate his Strengthens La. CORE Needs Our Help meal, and left for the headquarters of the local movement. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -As Shortly thereafter another Negro tried to get service at the same (By Sta.lf Correspondent) Birmingham Negroes cele restaurant. A white doctor who was having lunch there became in "I think CORE is stronger now. We got caught up in the idea of brated the tenth anniversary furiated at the sight of the Negro and the owner refused to serve him. having large numbers of people around and we depended on the of their movement, many re The man immediately went to tell Wyche what had happened, and whites for our financial base. Now we have fewer people but they called a tragedy tltat brought the two men returned to the restaurant. are more disciplined, more experienced, and most of our money their struggle to America's at When the doctor saw the two Negroes, his fury turned to hysteria. comes from the Black community." tention three years ago--the He chased them out of the restaurant. A crowd of black and white death of four little girls in a -ISAAC REYNOLDS, Chairman, Louisiana CORE people gathered. While Wyche and the doctor argued, directly facing church bombing. After CORE's stand on Vietnam and its identification with 'black But few remembered another one another, the doctor was shoved from behind and knocked to the power', many people feared the organization was finished in Louisiana. pavement. No on e, including the doctor, knew who did it. And it was child, who did not die in the As the statement by Mr. Reynolds indicates, CORE is stronger at this point that Louisiana law turned into a nightmare for Zelma bombing but was terribly in· now in the state than it has ever been. jured by it. Wyche. He was charged with simple battery, in spite of the fact that he They have increased t heir projects in Louisiana to twelve towns. Sarah Collins is the younger was not the person who shoved the doctor and that no witness could In addition, an independent chapter has been formed in New Orleans sister of Addie Collins, one of be produced who knew who did. itself and CORE staffers, including Mr. Reynolds, had a lot to do the four girls. She lost an eye Wyche, the prosecutor argued, in his capacity as leader of the with school desegregation in Plaquemines County, the parish con in the explosion. movement, had created a situation which incited the act. He was trolled by racist Leander Perez. Today she lives the life of The reason for the increased activity, Reyonlds says, is that the a normal 16-year-old. found guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison. CORE staffers "have been able to turn over a lot of the work to the But "normal" life, for many Even more serious, and more incredible, was a charge against him local people." Birmingham f a m i I i es like of aggravated burglary. The law states that anyone making an He discussed the r eason why a large city like New Orleans had Sara'h's, means eight people "unauthorized entry into a structure" with the intent to commit a been without a project so long: "I believe they expected our office, living in three tiny rooms. For crime is guilty of a felony. which is the state office, to be the local project. We couldn't do both her sisters, and other Birming The "unauthorized entry" was into the restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day. The "crime" was insisting on a Negro's right work on· a state-wide basis and work locally also." ham girls, it means attending Approximately 35 people met recently to form the New Orleans business school after a full to be s-erved in a business which exists solely to provide service to chapter. "It was a good cross-section of people,'' Reynolds said. "They day's work, if they are to at the public. It was this insistence, the state argues, which led to had college students, laborer s, school teachers, housewives. About one tend at an. the assault on the doctor.... fifth of the people were white." Sarah's family has the addi Wyche was sentenced to ten year s in prison. In the past Louisiana CORE, much like CORE nationally, had tional burden of finding about Richard Sobol of LCDC, who fought the case for him, filed an many white staff workers. Yet today they retain only one white 200 dollars to send her to a appeal and asked that Wyche be set free on bail. "Louisiana law," he organizer in the state. special summer camp for blind explained, "allows for this when an appeal is pending." "We have no ban against using white workers in CORE,'' Reynolds and partially blind children, in The trial judge denied t his. Sobol filed a writ of habeas corpus said, "but we've had problems in the past. Rural Negroes know whites Vermont. and the Louisiana Superior Court ordered Wyche to be released. The only as the boss. They will do whatever a white organizer tells them The Collins cannot afford to trial judge again refused on the grounds that he didn't think "the to do, even though they have a different opinion. pay her transportation ther e. appeal was worth anything". "As for the office, t he first thing a black person should see when Readers who wish to help The Louisiana Superior Court took the case under advisement but he walks into a civil rights office is another black per son working. Sarah and other c'hildren like has never ruled on it, refusing both to review the case and to hear "We will hire white staffers after they are screened and can her go to camp should make the appeal. qualify for a certain area where we feel they won't hurt the pro checks out to the American Sobol has since been fi ghting in federal courts, first in the federal gram." Ethical Union and mail them district court before Judge Ben Dawkins in Shreveport and presently But, discussing black power, Reynolds said he didn't feel Louisia na to Mrs. Robert Stein, 221 Hard in the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. New Orleans. CORE was doing anything differ ent from what it has always done. scrabble Road, Briarcliff Man "This is a very serious matter,'' Sobol said. "Unless the federal or, New York 10510. court intervenes, Mr. Wyche is going te be in jail a good number of (Continued on Page 2 ) years." · 8