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Remembering the Struggle for Civil Rights – the Greenwood Sites

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Remembering the Struggle for Civil Rights – the Greenwood Sites rallied a crowd of workers set up shop in a building that stood Union Grove M.B. Church protestors in this park on this site. By 1963, local participation in 615 Saint Charles Street with shouts of “We Civil Rights activities was growing, accel- Union Grove was the first Baptist church in want black power!” erated by the supervisors’ decision to halt Greenwood to open its doors to Civil Rights Change Began Here Greenwood was the commodity distribution. The Congress of activities when it participated in the 1963 midpoint of James Racial Equality (CORE), Council of Federated Primary Election Freedom Vote. Comedian GREENWOOD AND LEFLORE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI Meredith’s “March Organizations (COFO), Southern Christian and activist Dick Gregory spoke at the church Against Fear” from Memphis to Jackson. in the spring of that year as part of his cam- Carmichael and two other marchers had paign to provide food and clothing to those been arrested for pitching tents on a school left in need after Leflore County Supervisors Birth of a Movement campus. By the time they were bailed out, discontinued federal commodities distribution. “In the meetings everything--- more than 600 marchers and local people uncertainty, fear, even desperation--- had gathered in the park, and Carmichael St. Francis Center finds expression, and there is comfort seized the moment to voice the “black 709 Avenue I power” slogan, which fellow SNCC worker This Catholic Church structure served as a and sustenance in talkin‘ ‘bout it.” Willie Ricks had originated. hospital for blacks and a food distribution – Michael Thelwell, SNCC Organizer center in the years before the Civil Rights First SNCC Office Movement. The Center Light newspaper “Bryant’s Grocery” 616 Avenue I Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the was published here over a fifteen-year period. In the middle of the 20th century, This two-story brick building housed National Association for the Advancement Father Nathaniel Machesky, along with CMC Freedom Trail Marker Greenwood and Leflore County witnessed Money Road, 33.652535, -90.208619 Robert Burns’ photography studio and of Colored People (NAACP) joined with minister William Wallace and AME pastor On an August night in 1955, Chicago provided office space for SNCC’s first SNCC to promote voter registration and M.J. Black, coordinated the 1967 boycott of a slow but certain shift in the winds of Greenwood operative, Sam Block, in the literacy efforts. On the night of March 24, local businesses from this site. teenager Emmett Till was kidnapped and justice, a gathering spirit of hope and murdered after a chance encounter with summer of 1962. After Block was attacked 1963, a fire destroyed much of the records the wife of this store’s owner. The outrage and beaten, SNCC sent field secretaries and equipment in this office. Emmett Louis Till promise and determination that what following this incident galvanized the Lawrence Guyot and Luvaughn Brown in had been taken for so long would be taken emerging Civil Rights Movement. to work with Block. Several incidents of Third SNCC Office The brutal murder intimidation and vandalism were directed at 708 Avenue N no more. Those with deep roots in the of 14-year-old Emmett Till “Black Power Speech” the SNCC office, and Mr. Burns requested From 1964 to 1968, the two-story building Delta joined their voices with those Freedom Trail Marker that the office be relocated. on this lot served as SNCC’s national head- in 1955 awakened the nation Broad Street & Avenue N quarters. On the same block, directly across from far away and vowed that they would On the night of June 12, 1966, SNCC Second SNCC Office from Broad Street Park, the Southern Chris- and mobilized the American not be turned back. Their steps can be (Student Nonviolent Coordinating McLaurin Street & Avenue G tian Leadership Conference, NAACP and traced, even today, along the streets Committee) Chairman Stokely Carmichael After leaving the Avenue I office, SNCC Congress of Racial Equality also had offices. Civil Rights Movement. in and around Greenwood. Fitch Bob by Photo Park Street Broad Greenwood’s in speech Power” “Black his delivering Carmichael Stokely First Christian Church Friendship M.B. Church Wesley United (now East Percy Street Christian Avenue E & Noel Street Methodist Church his daily struggles with racism during a 1965 Church) 100 East Percy Street After its offices burned in March of 1963, 800 Howard Street interview for an NBC News documentary, Reverend Aaron Johnson allowed SNCC COFO’s headquarters was moved to Friend- This church served a critical role in the Mississippi: A Self Portrait. organizers to hold a meeting in his sanctu- ship Baptist Church, whose congregation distribution of donated food and clothing ary after the Elks Lodge refused to host and minister had reluctantly joined the through SNCC and COFO efforts during Greenwood City Hall any more gatherings. Local blacks packed movement for Civil Rights. When Friendship the winter of 1962-1963. From this location, Main & Church Streets the room for preaching, testimonies and stepped up its participation, 31 ministers The city’s 1930 Art Deco administration singing, energizing both young and old for signed a pledge endorsing the growing building also housed the Police Department the struggles yet to come. efforts in Greenwood. in the 1960s, leading to several notable confrontations as marchers were arrested Elks Hart Lodge Reno Cafe and jailed. Frequent clashes between city successful. was movement 106 East Scott Street 310 West McLaurin Street officials and movement organizers occurred Greenwood the that heroism Cleveland Jordan, a Greenwood farmer Workers like Sam Block of SNCC operated on the lawn and in the hallways. and courage their to due was It who had challenged the voter registration on a shoestring budget and were largely laws as early as 1951, used his influence in dependent on the kindness of friends and Moore. Betty and Green Duane the black Elks Lodge to make it available for business owners to keep food on their Moore, James Brown, Bernice Sam Block’s SNCC meetings in 1962. This tables and roofs over their heads. The Reno Johnson, June Williamson, arrangement ended after just two events, Cafe’s proprietors were known by move- SNCC Executive Secretary James Forman Arrance Ware, Susie Massey, when lodge members bowed to pressure ment organizers to be generous and quietly led a large group of protesters toward City (Freeman) Rosemary McGhee, Silas from the Citizens Council and closed their supportive of the activities going on in their Hall, where they were met by city officials and Jake were: Included equality. doors to SNCC. neighborhood. and police, including one off-duty officer for fight the of brunt the bore with a leashed German Shepherd. After the who emerged acitivists community Jennings Temple Turner Chapel AME Church confrontation, the crowd returned to Wesley young of group a 1960s, the Methodist Church 717 Walthall Street Church with renewed determination. of times turbulent the During This African Methodist Episcopal Church Sites Greenwood The 320 Avenue G Leflore County Courthouse Heroes Local This church served as a polling place for served as a gathering place during the Au- Booker’s Place 306 West Market Street gust, 1963, Primary Election Freedom Vote. 211 Walthall Street This imposing building became the flash- RIGHTS CIVIL FOR the 1963 Primary Election Freedom Vote, the first time many local blacks had enjoyed Many blacks voted for the first time in their Booker Wright owned a small restaurant and point for Civil Rights protests, with frequent the opportunity to cast a ballot. On March lives, although their ballots were rejected by worked as a waiter at Lusco’s, a segregated marches and demonstrations. Newsmen www.visitgreenwood.com • 453-9197 (662) STRUGGLE THE 16, 1968, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. the Leflore County Democratic Party. restaurant for whites only. It was well known and photographers from around the world 38930 MS Greenwood, • Street Howard 225 spoke at Jennings Temple, just a few weeks A few months later, during the November among community organizers that good set up on the corner of Fulton and Market before heading to Memphis in support of general election, thousands of blacks across meals and fellowship were always available streets to record the clashes between Mississippi turned out to vote. REMEMBERING striking sanitation workers. He would be at Booker’s Place. Wright lost his waiter’s job Greenwood’s authorities and the growing assassinated there on April 4, 1968. as a result of heartfelt remarks made about body of aspiring voters. Money Road Hemingway Lee E. Robert Ln. Rosemary Dr. Riverside Weightman A Marching for freedom E Music and the Movement Corner of Gibbs and Main streets n 306 West Market Street o Greenwood Civil Rights Historyi Sites l Civil Rights icons Martin Luther King Jr., l In 1963, Bob Dylan entertains a group of a d Avenue Stokely Carmichael and Andrew Young lead . e SNCC volunteers in Greenwood, Mississippi r Park D M 1 “Black Power Speech” 10 Friendship M.B. Church Poplar a group of protesters through the streets of singing ‘Only a Pawn in Their Game,’ a song tman 17 Sanders Sgt. John Pit Mississippi Freedom Avenue E & Noel Street Grand Greenwood in June of 1966. about the murder of activist Medgar Evers. Ave. Cpt Trail Marker Blvd. Broad Street Park Stribling 11 Reno Cafe B Arrested F Segregation forever Broad Street & Avenue N 310 West McLaurin Street 306 West Market Street 325 Main Street Grenada Blvd. By the mid 1960s, the Greenwood Police Public transportation facilities were segre- 2 Third SNCC Office 12 Turner Chapel AME Church Department had an organized auxiliary to gated throughout the south. Local vandals . Madison Ave provide additional manpower in their efforts 708 Avenue N 717 Walthall Street ne intent on reminding travelers of the “rules” ibor a McLemore Cl to curtail the marchers and demonstrations.
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