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Student Voice, April-May, 1961

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Student Voice, April-May, 1961 THE STUDENT VOICE Vol. II THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE April & May Nos. IV & V 197V2 Auburn Avenue, N. E., Atlanta 3, Georgia 1961 SNCC Wires President Kennedy On May 23, Edward B. King, Jr., Ad­ ministrative Secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee sent the following telegram to President John F. Kennedy: TELEGRAM The recent outbreak of mob violence and the massive assault upon free-born American Negro students, who are first class citizens of the United States, as they traveled throughout the cities of the state of Alabama, as inter-state passen­ gers on inter-state buses, is completely unjustifiable. At a time in the history of our great nation, when we are telling the people of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the free world in general that we desire to be their friends, Negro Ameri­ cans continue to be assaulted by the Southern reactionaries. It is a fact, in Alabama, and in the entire South, that the decisions of the United States Su­ preme Court as well as rulings of the Inter-state Commerce Commission, re­ garding the equal treatment of Negro citizens are constantly being denied or circumvented. It is also well established that many Negro students have been beaten, cars burned, resulting in a com­ plete break-down of law and order in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. A threat to our position as a democrati­ cally governed nation abroad prevails at this time and we feel that the office of the President of the UnitPd States.. has failed to make any public statement to the American people, either condemning or upholding this disrespect for an im­ portant segment of this nation's citi­ zenry. We strongly believe that the President has a moral obligation and a legal duty as the Chief Executive of this nation, to speak out against violence. The office of the President cannot re­ main silent any longer on this grave LOUISVILLE - Birdie McHugh, SNCC Member, and others climbing into paddy wagon under arrest after "stand-in" demonstra­ crisis. tion at downtown segregated department store tea room. In view of all these tragic develop­ ments in Alabama, the President must now, more than ever, exercise firm and precise leadership in this, over and above the general direction given the Attorney FOCUS ON LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY General, sweeping power to: "Take all necessary steps to handle the situation." "Integration of downtown public ac­ downtown facilities, and a similar state­ the Committee and the Negro public." Speaking as the South-wide spokesman commodations is not only morally right ment by students and faculty at the It is with pride that "The Student and economically feasible but is also in­ University of Louisville favored integra­ for the student nonviolent sit-in move­ Voice" tells their story. The "Voice" ment, we hereby request that you, the evitable," according to Louisville Mayor tion at two eating establishments near offers its congratulations to the students the campus. There were also expressions President of the United States, speak to Hoblizell. The mayor made this state­ of Louisville, Kentucky for their excel­ the American people on the issue that ment, as he called upon operators of of active support from the Presbyterian lent dedication to see that those rights and Baptist Seminary students. Negro Americans are, in fact, first-class downtown restaurants and theaters to innately endowed all freeborn American citizens of this nation; that they are as discontinue racial segregation by May 1. citizens, are won in our time. At the same time, the mayor called upon One of the student leaders, Miss Bev­ such, entitled to exercise all rights and erly Neal, said "there were many times privileges guaranteed by the Constitu­ leaders of the sit-in movement to dis­ when we felt like giving up. But the continue demonstrations until at least tion of the United States as they seek to things we are working for are too im­ use the various modes of inter-state May 3. portant; we had to keep on." And the travel. And finally, that your high office The mayor's plea is a follow-up of a students are still moving in Louisville. LATE NEWS issue a firm and unequivocal statement trip he made to St. Louis, Mo., with With two department stores, 92 restaur­ Four Negro college students leaders in support of the right of free travel representatives of the Mayor's Commit­ ants and four theatres already open to Wednesday, May 17th, led a suit in Fed­ for all citizens without interference by tee and the Steering Committee which all, the students say they still have a eral Court seeking desegregation of At­ any segment of the American people. directs the demonstrations. The purpose long way to go. They plan to completely lanta, Georgia, parks, swimming pools, of the trip was to observe how desegre­ eliminate racial segregation from the tennis courts, the Municipal Auditorium, gation works in St. Louis, which came City of Louisville, and until this end is :he Murticipal Courts and everything else said eight students-seven Negroes and a as a result of the strong stand taken accomplished, the protests will go on. the city has anything to do with. The white girl-were taken into protective custody. "It is dangerous for you and for by the mayor of that city. There was a hint recently by Negro suit--a sort of broadside against all re­ maining segregation in city facilities of others to stay here," Moore told the Since the demonstrations started in leaders that integration efforts aimed at students. February, more than 651 students have segregated hiring policies would probably every kind-was brought by members of been arrested. By the end of March, be underway soon. Frank L. Stanley, the Committee On Appeal For Human All told, 16 persons were taken into 18 major downtown establishments, in­ Jr., Co-Chairman of the Steering Com­ Rights. custody-14 Negroes, a white man and cluding hotels, theaters, restaurants and mittee, said that Committee was now A racially mixed group of college stu­ the white girl. Ten of them-including department store tea rooms had agreed studying plans for a proposed "Selective dents from Nashville, Tennessee, trying the two white persons-were on the bus to integrate, and a major break through Buying" campaign to be directed only to crack bus station segregation, were coming into town. on other facilities was anticipated. The toward those businesses that refuse to taken to jail Wednesday, May 17th, in The Rev. F. L. Shuttlesworth, president students still were not satisfied knowing hire qualified Negroes as clerks or in Birmingham, Alabama after a tense four of the Alabama Christian Council On that there were numerous public facili­ other capacities than menial. The Rev. hours at the Greyhound terminal. A Human Relations, was charged with inter­ ties downtown where they could not re­ W. J. Hodge also said that the Commit­ gmall number of white persons allowed on fering with an officer and refusing to obey ceive first-class service. They renewed tee would take under consideration a the loading docks by police sent up a an officer. He was released on $50 bond. their demonstrations with larger forces boycott against the Louisville Transit cheer and a round of hand-clapping as The students remain in jail. and with more arrests. In the meantime, Company to hire Negro bus drivers. officers loaded the group into patrol The bus station arrests came shortly prominent white citizens signed a news­ "Employment," said Stanley, "is still of wagons. As the wagons pulled away, the after the group foun ditself stymied in paper ad urging swift integration of all paramount importance to members of students sang. Police Chief Jamie Moore an effort to board a bus for Montgomery. SNCC ONE YEAR OLD SNCC Integrates Atlanta One year ago, April 17, 1960, the Stu­ strations to take place on the first anni­ dent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee versary of the "Sit-In" Movement. White Greyhound was established at the first conference Specifically, SNCC asked that students for Southern "Sit-In" Leaders and focus attention on theatre discrimina­ Northern Student Supporters, held at tion. In eleven Southern cities, students Restaurant Shaw University, Raleigh, North Caro­ walked up to the ticket windows of down­ lina. One month later, the Committee town white only theatres, and requested The following report is a first hand held its first meeting on the Atlanta admission. They were turned away. But account given to "The Student Voice" by University campus, Atlanta, Georgia, it was a big day in the South . as it two members of the Student Nonviolent where plans were made to establish an has been a big year. SNCC continues Coordinating Committee, Harold An­ office and secure staff personnel. to call for students to join this, the drews and Frank Holloway, both of At­ Since the birth of SNCC one year "second phase of the student protest lanta, Georgia. ago, we have witnessed growth within movement." "Working under the guidance of SNCC the Committee and we have seen the With a sincere interest to help those on Sunday, May 21, 1961 at approxi­ organization combine the natural and citizens of Fayette and Haywood Coun­ mately 1:30 p.m., we, Frank Holloway spontaneous leadership within the indi­ ties, Tennessee, who demonstrated their and Harold Andrews, successfully inte­ vidual protest groups, to carry out non­ determination to the entire nation, their grated the lunch counters at the Grey­ violent demonstrations against racial right to exercise the freedom of casting hound Bus Station in Atlanta. We were segregation throughout the Southland. a vote in the ballot box, SNCC initiated politely served without incident.
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