NOW! The Voice Of Freedom
No , .:.. 'lOll Lynch St., Jackson, · Miss. - ,
COLLEGE STUDENTS CONVENE HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE On April 25 approximately 100 On May 2, 200-300 high school students representxng 7 colleges students attended a state-wide in Mississippi~(Tougaloo, Jackson conference at Tougaloo. There were State, Alcorn,- Miss. Industrial, representatives from all over the M~ry Holmes, and Rust) gathered state, from rural as well as urban on t he campus of Tougaloo College areas. for an all day conference. The p~ogram started off with Free Ella Baker spoke on the role ~om songs, followed by a speech by of the student in the movement; Gwen Gillon on "The Role of the Stu St aughton Lynd and Harold Barti- dents in the Movement. 11 Then work m; lli spoke on student civil liber-·shops were held on "What Can You Do?': t ies;· severa 1 COFO workers spoke I u the afternoon a speech, "The on the COFO programs. Role of the Church in the Movement" The students held worksh~ps in w~s given by Rev. Grady Paulson. the a fternoon, discussing 11 \·Jhat Jerry .Austin spoke on the Mississippi Can We Do?" .After reports from the Union,. and led a discussion. Stu- workshtbps a state -wide student dents from different a rea s of the str ucture was set up tq plan for state participated in the discussion further action. about what they as students had done Pa rticular attention was pa id in the ~llovement. the problem of the Alcorn students - the ir dismissa l had ocurred just t hree da ys earli er.
COFO SETS UP FREEDOM DE:MOCRATIC PARTY The most recent state-wide COFO convention held in Jackson April 26 a t t he Masonic Temple was devoted entirely to the COFO political pro gr ams . .A pproximately 150 Mississippians from all over the state gather ed for the four hour session. Candidates Victoria Gray, J.M.Houston, a nd Fa nnie Lou Hamer spoke. A brief explanation of the COFO programs was gi ven . During the afternoon a large political workshop was held. People were sea ted by district, country, and precinct in the hall. Precinct conventi ons were held to elect people to attend the county conventions. County conventions were held to elect people to the district conventions . At the distri ct conventions each district elected three people to serve on the temporary Freedom Democaatic Party Executive Committee. This commi ttee will serve as the guiding body for the COFO political programs until a pernEnent Executive Committee is chosen through precinct, county and district meetings of the Freedom registered vote rs t his summer. Th i s proce ss of the mock conventions wa s used a s a means to shovJ pe ople i n the state j ust how these different leve l political meetings a re run. This was a n introduction to Mississippi politi cs as it really is. f1 LCORN FOLLOWUP On Wednesday, april 22, a pproximately 1,000 students .left the campus of Alcorn A.& M. College. Most of them were sent home by the administra t i on for alleged poor conduct. A l ~ tter dated April 29, 1964, was sent to these students. The l e tter reads a s follows: Dea r Student: Yo u have · been suspended from .l\lcorn College for conduct on the campus unbec om:1. ng a student. You may petition in writing for readmission . Yoqr1 peti tion will be considered, and you will be advised when to appear for a hearing . You and a parent may come and get your property left i n your room . Kind ly come at an hour we can assist you. Yours very truly, J.D.Boyd(signed) President. Information received May 3,1964, states that at least three teachers one.lin the English Department and two in the Physical Education Depart-· mcnt, have been fired for supporting the students' boycott of the UniOlY building . Another teacher is said to havecresigned in protest. 'FIELD REPORTS In future issues, this section· wil'f~ -· contain a rundown on the activi ties of each area of the field. HPlRASSMENTS- Liberty - A letter from a focal 'citizen describes several people forced to leave town or to leave their jobs, a house being shot at six times, and several crosses burned. Ruleville -· Mrs. Hamer 1 s house is wa tehed. If more than one car is parked at the house, police l{eep the house under surveillance until the guests leave. l\'Irs. Hamer 1 s husband is no longer given regular work although he has not been formally fired. Greenwood - Three shootings directed at the homes of civil rights pcoPJe were reported as Byron De La Beckwith returned homG'. Some people who tried to register early i.n Ap.ril were thrown off the plantation last week. The COFO office continues to receive threatening phone calls. Camden - A bus transporting 50 people to the COFO convention in Jacksonwas prevented from passing through Camden. The police forced the bus to turn around and to go back; no reason was given. NEW LAWS . JAILINGS Columbus · :.. --·~lunfcipal ordiaance Meridian-Sam Brown has been -in-· making any picketing or demonstra- dieted by the grand jury on a pro tions on the streets ?r sidewalks fanity charge. The trial is 9 AM a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence Thursday. Leroy McCall was arrest $300 and 90 days. ed MOnday for vagrancy. Tria l is Wed Jackson - Similar law with $loo 9AIVI. Mickey Schwerncr was arrested and 30 days.The State Sovereignty JYionday on 2 counts of "blocking a Commi8sion has se_nt a copy of this crG3swalk." Lenore Thurmam was arr ordinance to a 11 mayors in Miss iss~ ested JYionday for 1 interfering vvi th a ippi with a suggestion to pass a man 1 s business. 1 Att 1y. Moo;roc is similar law in each town. corning dm.vn from Atlanta to defoncfl House Bill 64- Authorizes cities all four. The arrests were in conn to restrain movements of groups and ection with a boycott of Bill's individuals. . Dol;Lar S~ore. House Bill 546- Prohibits the Hattiesburg: Pete Stoner, in jail unlawful picketing of all public since Feb. 5 and the victime of 2 . buildings, streets, sidewalks, and ' beatings, will probatly be out this other places belonging to the city week on bond, pending appeal to the · county or state . Fed_cr SUMMER PROJECT Penny Patch reports that over 500 applications have been received in the J~cksonn office from Northern students who want to come down this summer for the MSP. In addition_, over 100 applications from Southern Negro students have been received in Atlanta. At this point_, 2oo applicants have been accopted; the rest arc still being interviewed. Penny says we expect to have 800-900 applications in all, with prob ".: · / ·. .... ·~- ,.. ~." ••to-,..._ ·~ ... _. ~ .,..4 • .., .,..~· • ·• • r • · ~ !I • NFVJ CIVIL RIGHTS NEWS SFRVICF Robert C. McNamara of the Civil Rights Information Service in Chicago b.a s set up a new, potentially very useful, service--an Audio News Servi ce. Ncf\amara will tape-record telephone caLd regarding any ne,,.rs vJ orthy event in the movement. These recordings will then be broadcast by a network that presently ihcludes nine radio stations . The communication depart ment in Jackson will be funneling nev1s to HcNamara on a regular basis~ but if an event .of particular and immediate significance 0ccurs in ycu.r area, it would be best if you ' Jould US L OF LASH APPROVED phone him directly with the story" A House-Senate committee, named Chances are good that· this network by thG Mississippi legislature to will be expanded, and it could be- ir·on out differences on a pending come a very effedti ve means of car·- prison-refor.m bill, has approved the rying our story to the nation, Me use of the lash on convicts at Parch-Namara can be called anytime, collec· man, announced Sen. C. L. Patridge at Area Code 312, 664-8707o The of Schlater. The Senate version of address is: Civil Rights Informat~0n the bill had originally banned the Service, 1810 N. Larrabee St .,Chicdg· use of the lash on convicts, and there is some doubt whether or not ~ STUDFNT ANTI*CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP the Senate will accept the recom Six Delta State College studeuts mendation of the committee. This have formed ATAC, the Association recommendation must come as good of Tenth Amendment Conservativeso r..e·v:s to prison gua:tres at Parchman, The group has announced plans for ~eprive d as they are of the fringe forming chapters all ov er Niss i ss i p benefits of their jobs dU~ to the pi and the South to "meet the impen recent outlawign of the Black Annie. ding invasion" this summe r of nor thern students coming to work in LB J BACKS DO:JN ON CIVIL RIGHTS BILL the Mississippi Summer Project. Senator Humphrey, the floor mana- ger of the Civil Ri gh ts Bill, has DRo BEIT FLL TO RETIRF announced that President J'ohnson Dr .. Beitell, the president of Touga will accept some changes in the bill,loo college has announced t hat he despite earlier statements that he will retire as of Se p t~ 1, for rea wanted the bill completely intact. sons of health. This may mean that Johnson will accept the amendment providing for WALLACF FEELING HIS OATS j ury trials in criminal contempt Alabama's Gov ernor Wallace~ after trials involved with civi l rights his very strong showing in W isconsin ~ cases. At present f ederal judges says he may decide to become a. s er5_ t ry such cases, but a southern ous candidate for the President of white jury would presumably never the United States. He is carr:ri ng a gre2 on a guilty verdict, so this out an active campaign for ~he amendmen t Hould represent a large Indiana primary on r1ay 5 and the s et-back from the present situation. Maryland primary on May 19 If the present l~ttdero and the * * * * * * * * * * * ·'l resident acquiesce on this ana may conclude that the civil rights ,)ther amennments nm,r pending, we bill represents little pro g ~ es c·. JIO'CJVER_. .LOUJCSIANA :Sil't CR l'COVEI..mmr IS stfiwERSM Two reports have recently come out emp hasizing the great danger to thi s country from': the civil rights movement because of extensive "Communist i nfluence." One is a report by a joint comrrti ttee of the Louisiana le g is .~ lat ure, the other a report of t e stimony given by J. Edgar Hoo ver to a house a ppropriations sub-committee . These reports have been the hasis of a l a r ge number of articles, columns, a nd editoria ls in the Jackson Press. Th e Louisiana report states that "known Communists (are )right in the agitation center" of the rJiovement, that SC LC ,SNCC, and SCEF are all "li nked by .. . common membership '' to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee , "a Ca stro front." The report cone ludes : "Evidence before us is quit e conclusive that the civil rights movement has been grossly and solidly infiltrated by the Communist Party ... Th e Student Non-violent Coordi nating Committee, from all the evidence before us is substantially under the Communist Party . Hoover's testimony i ndicates that he believes that the t hing that is " -'t':ttail;i/' important" a bout the CR Movement is its "Communist influence ." OOli'Q J?U'l3LIS N1IONS Following is a list of some of the selected publications availabl e at the main COFO office in Jackson . There a~ee two types of publications available - one is a formal report in the series enti t led "COFO Publi-· cations", the other is a report issued by a certain section of the office but of possible general int erest . Cofo Publications # l General Condition of the Mississippi Negro. 17 pa ges . Extensive charts and compilation of data on health, employment, housing, educFtt :L o:q and voting . #2 The Mississippi Delta, Part I # 3 The Mississippi Delta, Part II. Extensive statistics on the Delta a nd some attempt to suggest remedies for the difficulties. #4 Confe rence on Jobs and J ob Training he ld at Touga loo, January 25, 1964. 7¥5 Ad opt a Freedom School . 5 pages #6 ~~at is COFO ? 8 pages. History and explanation of COFO a~ong with brief discussion of projected program for surmner of 1964 . # 7 Th e Canton stb~y. 12 Pages . Compilation of reports . Some ba ckground mater i al, but heavy emphasis on the time period Ja nuary to March , 1964. #8 COFO's proposed Community Centers . 20 pages . #9 Free Southern Theatre . 5 pages . .. #10 Re port to Mississippi Advisory Committee of the US Commission on Civi l Rights. 18 pa ges . Describes i ntimidation and harrassment in the fol~ 1963, particularly during the Freedom vote for A.:1ron Henry. Miscellaneous Reports : -General Summer Prospectus . 7 pages . Describes all the proposed programs for the summer , 1964 , in some detail. Most up to da t e det aile d dis cussion of the specific plans for the sumner . Case Studies of Intimidation. 13 pages. 8 examples of intimidation i n Mississippi . Taken from cases all over the state, both black and white, worker and sympa thizer. Re port Concerning the Louis Allen Case. 12 pages . Extensive compilation of accounts of the ba ckground and murder of Louis Allen in Amite County. COFO Political Program. 3 pages. Most up to date explanation of t he COFO political program as it is seen from now through the summer, 1964. May 6-8 or 9 : Staff rJieeting, Greenville May 9 : Picnic Grenada Lake, 11 AM . Mrs . Gray & Mrs . Hamer will speak. May 14 , 8 PM : NM'ICP Benyftt, Closed Circ11.1t TV, l\1£\sonic Temple , Ja c kson May 17: OOPO Convention, MDAorrt c 'l'cmple, Jackson, Poli tica 1 and Campaign Program.