fc(e 3 - J/0? \M Join the drive to unseat Mississippi Congressmen
FROM MISSISSIPPI TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL: A LESSON IN DEMOCRACY AT RIGHT, MRS. ANNIE DEVINE ADDRESSES MFDP MEETING ON PLANTATION Committee are Rep. Jonathan Bingham, Bronx, and Rep. Frank Thompson, Jr. of New Jersey. OTHER NEWS TO NOTE Victory Is in Sight The chairman is Omar Burleson of Texas. Why an MFDP? p. 2 T HE CHALLENGE to the five members of Those New York City area Congressmen who * Congress from Mississippi is now entering its supported the challenge at the opening of Con The Statistical Story p. 2 final stages and victory for the Mississippi gress on Jan. 4 when 149 Congressmen voted to The Record: Freedom Democratic Party is in sight.The MFDP block the seating of the Mississippi regulars, and its supporters throughout the country are are: Otis Pike (D-Riverhead), Lester Wolff (D- The Mississippi Congressmen .... p. 3 making the final push to line up support in Great Neck), John W. Wydler (R-Garden City), Civil Rights Leaders Support MFDP . . p. 3 Congress before the House Subcommittee on Seymour Halpern (R-Queens), Benjamin Rosen Questions, Answers p. 4 Elections gives its report, expected the first thal (D-Queens), John V. Lindsay (R- Man.), week in July. The Subcommittee on Elections Adam Clayton Powell (D-Man.), James Scheuer What Is Needed p. 4 includes six Southern Democrats and three Re (D-Bronx), Jacob Gilbert (D-Bronx), Jonathan publicans, one of whom is from the tradition Bingham (D-Bronx), Paul Fino (R-Bronx), Og- those who failed to support the challenge In ally conservative midwest. Rep. Charles Goodell, den R. Reid (R-Westchester Co.). Rep. Richard January. They are: James Grover, Jr. (R-Baby- Republican from Jamestown, N.Y., is a sub L. Ottinger (D-Westchester Co.), was prepared lon), Joseph Addabbo (D-Ozone Park), James committee member, and he voted to seat the to vote against seating, but he was not then J. Delaney (D-Bklyn.), Emanuel Celler (D- Mississippi regular Congressmen on Jan. 4. Bklyn.), Edna Kelly (D-Bklyn.), John Rooney sworn and could not vote. (D-Bklyn.), Hugh Carey (R-Bklyn.), Abraham The MFDP has followed all of the procedures All should be encouraged to continue their Multer (D-Bklyn.), Eugene Keogh (D-Bklyn.), outlined in the statute (U.S. Code Title 2, Sec. support by demanding that the challenge be John Murphy (D-Staten Island). 201 et. seq.) and 15,000 pages of sworn testimony presented to the full House of Representatives In at least a dozen Northern states MFDP substantiating the allegation that Negroes of before July 14. Special pressure should be put on supporters are urging their representatives Mississippi have been systematically denied the through letters and visits to their offices, right to participate in the political process have through petitions, and through other public been placed before the subcommittee. Because events to vote to unseat the Mississippi "regu of the group's composition, it is to be doubted NEW YORKERS RALLY lar" members of Congress. This kind of activity MFDP arguments will be accepted over those of is what forced the nation to pay attention to the lawyers for the five Mississippi representa- " to support the Mississippi Freedom Democrats' demand for tives. seats at the National Democratic Convention in Therefore, the MFDP victory can only be won MFDP CHALLENGE Atlantic City last August. It was also the ef when the issue is put before the full House. JUNE 20 2 P.M. forts of people across the country which won the Now pressure is needed on members of the Ad huge vote in favor of the MFDP insCongress in ministration Committee of the House to in TOMPKINS PARK January. sure that the challenge is placed before all The same effort is required NOW to win in the of the members of the House. The New York Tompkins and Lafayette Awes.,, Brooklyn final round of unseating the five from Mississ- . area members of the House Administration Ippi. J CIVIL RIGHTS WORKER talks about voting to a Mississippi cotton field worker at left. After m,onths of such canvassing and many mass meetings some courageous Negroes attempt to register to vote. The walk to the court house is often, as at right, under the watchful eye of police and their cameras. Often the way is blocked by police, dogs, guns and violent mobs.
Voter figures tell the story HE CHALLENGE to the seating of Tthe five Mississippi Congressmen grows out of such statistics as these: In the 2nd Congressional District Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer received 33,009 Free dom votes as opposed to 70,201 for Rep. Jamie Whitten in the official election. Voter registration figures in the follow ing counties in the district are: Benton —82.5% of 2,514 eligible whites, .21% of 1,419 eligible Negroes; De Soto—75% of 5,338 eligible whites, .18% of 6,246 eligible Negroes, Holmes—74% of 4,773 eligible whites, .09% of 8,757 eligible Negroes. In the 4th Congressional District Mrs. Annie Devine received 6,001 Freedom votes against 28,057 for Arthur Winstead (D) and 35,277 for Rep. Prentiss Walker (R). Voter registration in the 4th in cludes: 1 registered Negro in Clarke County, 9 in Jasper and 30 in Kemper. 34.4% of the adult population of the District are Negroes, yet only 2.64% are permitted to vote. These figures are from the 1961 report of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. AFTER LONG WALK TO THE MISSISSIPPI COURTHOUSE: In the 5th Congressional District Mrs. A SIT-IN AT ATLANTIC CITY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION Victoria Gray received 10,138 Freedom votes and Rep. William Colmer received 83,120 in the "official" election. Among the counties in the 5th are: Covington The real meaning of the challenge with 75% of 5,329 eligible whites regis tered and 3.5% of 7,032 Negroes; Forrest "Frankly, we're just plain scared to the Congress and the administrative ag the seating of the five Mississippi "reg with 57% of 22,431 eligible whites reg try to register." encies of government operate. Hundreds ular" Congressmen, the MFDP is in a po istered and .3% of 7,495 eligible Negroes; —Baptist Minister, Charleston, Miss. learned in Atlantic City how the Demo sition to affect not just the lives of the Jefferson Davis with 99% of 3,629 eligi cratic Party functions and manuvers. ble whites registered and 2.3% of 3,222 CROSS MISSISSIPPI among the disenfranchised and oppressed Mississippi RUT THE MFDP is more than this fight Negro, but the lives of the politically eligible Negroes. In Marion County, the A Negroes eligible to vote one finds U.S. Civil Rights Commission reported thousands who would and do agree against fear and more than political ed dispossessed all over the nation. The en ucation. It is also a key in the attempt in 1961, of 8,997 eligible whites 9,540 with the above statement. Yet, the num tire country has been at the mercy of (sic) were registered to vote. Registra ber who say "won't let nobody turn me to break the interlocking power of busi the reactionary, segregationist "Solid nessmen and politicians which has cre tion of Negroes in Marion was 10% or 'round" increases every day. With every South" representatives for many years. 363 out of 3,630. precinct meeting held in a pasture or a ated a state government that openly The Dixiecrats have controlled Congress rural church, with every march to the supports the racist White Citizens Coun and blocked progressive legislation for courthouse, with every Freedom Vote cil with public tax money. Tax money many years. The move to unseat the that Negroes, no matter how poor$, have campaign that number increases. Mississippi delegation is recognized by yune carried a story by its Jackson cor This swing from "we're just plain scar paid. (In one of the MFDP's depositions respondent, W. F. Minor, pointing out presented to Congress Earl Johnston Jr., the Dixiecrats as a serious blow at the that the challenge was considered a seri ed" to "We are NOT afraid," is the fun foundations of this control. damental reason for the existence of the director of the Mississippi Sovereignty ous matter by the politicians. "Johnson Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Commission, admitted under oath that THE SUCCESS of the challenge will be (Gov. Paul Johnson of Mississippi) saw There now are also thousands of Mis as of Jan. 1, 1965, the White Citizens a major blow at racism for all the South, fit to tell the people that they should be sissippi Negroes who have tried to take Council had received $193,000 in tax for Mississippi would have to have new on their best behavior in preserving the part in the democratic process—filling money.) and open elections. Governor George peace so that no incident would mar the out voter registration forms, marking a The MFDP program has demonstrated Wallace and Governor John McKeithen chances of the state holding its Congres ballot, electing representatives to coun to the rest of the nation the need for of Louisiana would get the message. Even sional seats." ty, state and national political party grassroots political organizing for the as far back as January it was apparent Such caution will be exercised all over conventions^ Hundreds have journeyed ghettoes. that segregationist politicians had been the South if the Mississippi delegation to Washington and seen first-hand how By the significant step of challenging shaken up. The New Orleans Times-Pic- Is sent home. • * King, Farmer and Lewis Backing the Challenge R. MARTIN Luther King Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership D Conference, pledged himself and the SCLC to the "fullest support" of the chal lenge. On May 17, the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision outlawing seg regation in the schools, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party presented more more than 600 depositions to Congress to prove the five Mississippi Congress men were elected in violation of the Constitution. The depositions described a The records pattern of intimidation, violence and terror which prevented Negroes from of the racists voting in 1964 elections. That day Dr. King, James Farmer, ex OUR OF THE Congressmen from Mis ecutive director of the Congress of Ra ./>" F sissippi whose seats are being chal cial Equality, and John Lewis, chairman «- lenged-by the Mississippi Freedom Dem of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating .?%* ocratic Party have long legislative Committee, renewed their pledges of records as racist reactionaries. They are support of the MFDP's challenge. Thomas Abernethy, William Colmer, MFDP CANDIDATES: VICTORIA GRAY, ANNIE DEVINE, FANNIE LOU HAMER Jamie Whitten and John Bell Williams, FARMER said: all Democrats who have been members "CORE unequivocally supports the these seats that the Negroes in that on March 15—"The harsh fact is that of the House of Representatives at least historic challenge of the Mississippi state will be free to participate. It Is in many places in this country men and since 1946, some longer. The fifth is a Freedom Democratic Party and calls for only when the Congress takes these ac women are kept from voting simply be Uepublican, Prentiss Walker, in his first a great coalition of civil rights, political tions that the political forces in the cause they are Negroes. Every device of term. Walker has no legislative record, and civic organizations and individuals South that are opposed to Negroes vot which human ingenuity is capable has but he celebrated his victory by making to join this struggle. CORE pledges its ing will understand that Congress and been used to deny that right."—applies his first public appearance after the fullest support of MFDP on this 11th the nation are serious about guarantee specifically to Mississippi." election before the Americans for the anniversary of the Supreme Court deci ing the rights of Negroes to participate Preservation of the White Race. sion outlawing segregation in the public fully in the process of government. Rec schools. . . . ognizing this, SNCC stands ready to DREW PEARSON SAYS; The four Democrats, because of the "As we take these depositions to the commit the major portion of its organi seniority system, hold key positions in Congress, I ask of the Congress fast zational resources and energies to the Congress. They are: remedial action and the rejection of the support of this challenge during the next McCormack in a 'deal' two months." Thomas Abernethy, 1st District, in the regular Mississippi Congressional pre tenders who have been elected on a plat with Mississippi bloc House since n)42—22 years. He is fifth Lewis said that SNCC is recruiting in seniority below the chairman on the form of blood and disenfranchisement. DREW PEARSON in his syndicated col "CORE is prepared to take whatever 2,000 students and young people to lobby House Agriculture Committee. Aberne in Washington for the challenge. He umn May 20 wrote: "It will probably be thy is also first below the chairman on steps may be necessary to support this denied, but gaunt, gray Speaker [of the challenge. Discussions are under way as said: "SNCC stands ready to support the Committee on the District of Colum with all its organizational resources, House of Representatives] John McCor bia. to a schedule of massive demonstrations mack of Massachusetts has made a se if the Congress fails to act and act both North and South, any call that comes from the MFDP and its allies for cret deal with Mississippi Congressmen Jamie Whitten, 2nd District, in the quickly." to help them remain in Congress. With House since 1941—23 years. He is fourth a national mobilization of people in KING'S STATEMENT said: "The un Washington." out his help they would probably be oust in seniority below the chairman on the seating of the Mississippi Congressmen ed." House Committee on Appropriations. will be the test of the moral integrity LAWRENCE GUYOT, chairman of the MFDP executive committee, pointed out: Pearson points out that Congress for John Bell Williams, 3rd District 1946— of the Congress of the United States." the first time since New Deal days Is 18 years. He is first below the chairman He added, "I wholeheartedly support, as "In making these depositions, amounting I have from the beginning, these chal to over 15,000 passes of evidence, the Ne dominated by TJnrthprn HhpraV, "^H in seniority on the House Committee on that, in addition, some Southerners are Interstate and Foreign Commerce. lenges." gro people of Mississippi have again come forward to risk reprisals of vio moving in a liberal direction. "As a re SNCC's Lewis said: "The issues raised sult," Pearson wrote, "Speaker McCor William Colmer, 5th District in the by the MFDP challenge to the Congres lence and terror. However, these deposi House since 1932 — 32 years. Colmer is tions, formally signed and witnessed, are mack has told Mississippi Congressmen sional delegation from Mississippi go to that they would lose a showdown vote to first in seniority below the chairman of the heart of Negro exclusion from the an incontrovertible body of evidence the Committee on Rules. (This commit proving that the general elections of keep their seats. Their only hope, he has political processes in Mississippi and the advised, is to sidetrack the move to un tee handles the rules and order of busi South. November, 1964, in Mississippi were un ness of the House. It determines how constitutional." seat them. And he has promised to use much time any bill will be debated on "It is only when Congress unseats the his own tremendous power to do so." the floor of the House, how much time Mississippians and calls for and conducts Guyot said: "They prove that the con The Clerk of the House seemed to each side will have to debate, whether free and open elections in Mississippi for ditions described by President Johnson have taken the first step in the "deal" or not the bill can be amended on the when he delayed a decision on when and floor, etc.). how much of the MFDP's testimony would be printed for the public record. ALL FOUR have anti-labor, anti-poor Jack Anderson reported in the Washing and anti-civil rights records. For exam ton Post May 29: "Obviously he [the ple, all four voted against public housing Clerk of the House] was in no hurry to in 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, have the House vote just after the Sen 1955, 1956, 1959 and againt extension of ate debated the Negro voting rights bill. imemployment compensation in 1949, . . . The temper of Congress right now, 1954, 1958. Three (Abernethy, Colmer after the Selma beatings and the Klan and Whitten) voted against rent control trial for the murder of Mrs. Liuzzo, would in 1946 and all four in 1949. They have be to unseat them." Anderson pointed consistently voted against federal aid to out that the clerk "who runs the red tape education, for loyalty oaths and for the machinery in the House of Representa House Un-American Activities Commit tives ... in answerable to Speaker John tee and against anti-poverty and public McCormack." works measures. In 1960 the four voted against federal funds for school construction and fed N. Y. City Council eral aid to chronic unemployment areas. In 1961 Abernethy, Colmer and Whit Backs Challenge ten voted to give police officers author ity to arrest and jail for an indefinite THE NEW YORK City Council voted period persons suspected of crimes. (Ab to memoralize Congress urging a vote ernethy, Colmer and Whitten had voted to unseat the five "regular" repre for the same measure in 1958). sentatives from Mississippi. All four recorded additional votes The New York Ad Hoc Committee against public housing and federal aid to support the MFDP is now encour to schools in 1961. In 1962 they again aging political, civic, religious, trade voted against help to the unemployed union, fraternal and other organiza and also voted to turn over control of tions to adopt resolutions supporting the communications satellite system to the challenge and to notify Congress A.T.&T. though the government had of their support. spent $25 billion to develop it. The resolution introduced by Coun In 1963 all four voted to discontinue cilman Paul O'Dwyer urges that "all the first anti-poverty program, the Area Congressmen from the . City of New Redevelopment program and in 1964 they York, vote to unseat the five Con voted to outlaw any federal action to gressmen from the State of Mississ correct apportionment of state legisla ippi until such time as a congression tures and against the Economic Oppor al delegation is elected from that tunity Act to provide training for long- State through the operation of an term unemployed workers and youth. electoral system open to all people Needless to say, they voted against the without regard to race or color ..." 1957, 1960 and 1964 civil rights acts. MARCH IN WASHINGTON: MISSISSIPPIANS ON CONGRESS' OPENING DAY Questions and Answers About the Challenge ERE ARE answers to some of the lined the procedures to be followed for H questions often asked about the contesting elections. Notice of challenge Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party's was served on the contested members challenge to the seating of the five and filed with the Clerk of the House Congressmen from Mississippi: on Dec. 4. Thirty days later the Miss- What is the basis of the challenge? issippians answered these notices. The MFDP then had 40 days in which to The elections held in Mississippi were gather evidence and take testimony with in violation of the Constitution and the use of federal subpena power. The Con laws of the United States. Mississippi gressmen then had a 40-day period. All has blatantly violated the 14th and 15th evidence is submitted to the Clerk of the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution House, who, in consultation with the by preventing Negroes from voting lawyers for both sides, decides what through official and officially condoned material will be publicly printed and terror, intimidation and economic re presented to the Subcommittee on Elec prisals. tions and Privileges of the House Ad ministration Committee. Each side then Mississippi has violated a federal law has a 30-day period to file briefs. The passed in 1870 under which the state House Subcommittee must consider the was admitted to representation in Con issue and report early in July. Its re gress on condition that the then exist port is in the form of a simple resolu ing Constitutional qualification's to vote tion requiring a majority vote. would "never be amended or changed so as to deprive any citizen of the right to In order to be entitled to use Statutory vote." Of the 400,000 Negroes in Miss Procedure, don't you have to be a issippi who meet age and residency re claimant in the election? quirements, only 22,000, about 5%, are No. The statute reads: "Whenever any registered to vote. 500,000 or 67% of person intends to contest an election whites of voting age are registered. to the House of Representatives . . ." Why should a Northern Congressman (But, the three MFDP Freedom candi NEW YORK SUPPORT: PICKETS AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING vote for unseating? dates, Mrs. Annie Devine, Mrs. Victoria The lawlessness of Mississippi is an Gray and Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, are American problem. The moral issue is valid contestants on the basis that their The need for a strong law clear and primary, but in addition, the petitions to be on the ballot were il Mississippi system has practical signifi legally denied.) THE MISSISSIPPI Freedom Democratic be held throughout the state. This will cance for the North. As long as the What is the basis for the three MFDP Party has urged that the voting rights mean that mayors, local law enforce Southern Democrats are unchallenged contestants? bill be strengthened to include a provi ment officers, and other officials who and allowed to build up seniority rights, The MFDP candidates did qualify for sion for free and open elections. In testi have been the visible symbol of brutal they will be a block to all progressive the regular elections by gathering peti mony before the House Judiciary Com ity and intimidation will be elected for legislation. tions with 300 valid signatures of regis mittee Freedom Congresswoman Mrs. four more years before Negro registra Victoria Gray explained why. She said: If one supports the MFDP challenge, tered voters, which meets the require tion under this new law will be large doesn't that also mean recognizing ments of Mississippi law. These peti "The Negroes in Mississippi and much enough to have any effect on these elec the FDP contestants' rights to sit in tions were capriciously rejected by the of the Deep South suffer at this mo tions. How effective will this bill be in Neshoba County, Mississippi, if local Congress? Secretary of State. In any state other ment under the jurisdiction of elected officials in whose elections we had no law enforcement remains in the hands of No. The first step must be voiding the than Mississippi Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. De- vine, and Mrs. Gray would have been part. Can such officials be responsive or Sheriff Rainey and Deputy Price for elections and unseating the so-called responsible to the needs and rights of four more years? How effective will it be Kentatives. Once the seats are va- candidates with their names properly placed on the ballot. the Negro people? The sad truth is that in Selma if Negroes en route to J&e- "cai« And we of Mississippi ask: Where Are "THE GOOD MEN" My name is Fannie Lou Hamer. I'm from Ruleville, Mississippi. I am 46 years old. Many people in the North think that things are getting a lot better in my state. Twenty- one men have been arrested for taking part in the murder of James Cheney, An drew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Over six hundred prominent citizens of McComb have called for an end to vio lence. Eleven white men were arrested for bombing Negro homes and stores there. The newspapers carry big stories about these things. But things look different in Mississippi. Maybe a few people are alive now who wouldn't have been earlier this year. May be there won't be so many bombings. But that's about all. There aren't any more Negroes being allowed to register and vote than before. We are still denied a voice in our own government by compli cated tests invented just for that, by the threat of losing our jobs, by terror. It's been that way for almost a hundred years, and still is. And if you don't have a voice you don't really have anything. That was why we started the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Last August, we challenged the credentials of the regular Mississippi delegation to the Democratic convention at Atlantic City. Now we are challenging the seating of five Mississippians in the House of Repre sentatives on January 4th. They don't rep resent the Negro people in Mississippi— almost half the population. Their election was invalid, because Negroes aren't al lowed to vote in almost every part of the state. This challenge is a legal one and it will follow the terms set forth in a U.S. statute (Title 2, USC 201-226). Three women from Mississippi are making the challenge on January 4th. I am one of them, as Vice Chairman of the Freedom Democratic Party; the others are Mrs. Annie Devine and Mrs. Victoria Gray. Three women to change a system — but there are people behind us. Last summer, 60,000 Mississippians registered in the Freedom Democratic Party. At the Demo cratic National Convention, where I tes tified before the Credentials Committee on nation-wide television, many delegates were on our side. Now we are asking for your support in the new challenge. THE CHALLENGE The challenges to the contested Congress men will be filed in accordance with a formal statute of Congress . . . (Title 2, sections 201-206). STEP ONE (December 2-January 3rd) The challenges have been filed with the contested Representatives and describe the basis of the challenge: the systematic reign of terror used to deny Negroes their voting rights. The "regular" Democrats have 30 days to reply. STEP TWO (December 2-January 3rd) On the opening day of Congress, a group of Congressmen will challenge the right of the contested Representatives to their seats, they will offer a FAIRNESS RESO LUTION, asking that no one take the con tested seats until the issue is decided. REGARDLESS of the fate of the resolution, the challenge will continue. STEP THREE (January 2-February 10th) The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party has 40 days to use federal subpoena pow er to take testimony in Mississippi in public hearings. STEP FOUR (February 10-March 20th) The challenged Representatives then have 40 days to take their testimony. STEP FIVE (March 20-March 30th) The challengers then have 10 days to take rebuttal testimony. The overall evidence is presented to the Clerk of the House, and then forwarded to the Public Printer. The briefs are then presented to the Subcom mittee on Elections and Privileges. STEP SIX (May 1-July 1st) The challengers then have 30 days to file their briefs; the challenged have 30 days to reply. STEP SEVEN The Subcommittee on Elections and Privi leges will hear the case and decide whether to hold public hearings. The Sub- committee then submits its report to the entire House for approval. The real con frontation will probably take place on or about July 1, 1965. The entire fate of the Freedom Challenge will depend upon the amount of political support that can be developed through out the nation. The only way to make a Congressman act is to build up sufficient pressure in his own district. Thus, such ac tion as: PETITIONS & LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGNS The N. Y. Committee has form letters and petitions which you may want to use. RALLIES Since time is so short, and rallies are a good way to reach a large number of peo ple, we suggest that you hold one in your community. I'm not talking to people who think every thing will turn out all right "somehow." People who don't care what happens to the next fellow. I'm talking to you people of conscience and courage, who believe all Americans have the right to representa tion. I'm talking to all of you good men. Do you care? We in Mississippi slill think so. We think you, too, are tired of waiting and hoping for real justice. We think you, too, want to do something to help make this country more truly democratic. Here is how you can help: (1) Write or wire your Congressman urging that he support the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Challenge. (2) Form a group in your community to support the MFDP challenge. (3) Send a contribution to support our effort. Your financial help is needed today! N. Y. AD-HOC COMMITTEE for the support of Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Challenge 514 West 126th Street New York 26, N. Y. 663-0800 663-1104 am enclosing $ Name Address City State. b. |**M MISSISSIPPI There will be a HINDS COUNTY FD.R MARCH Sou+u.r-^cuu , /IcLrck Hr The inarch will leave the Coll$£UW) at 12^ o'clock and go to the Carl Lee Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. C^^^^^J • REASON FOR THE MARCH : to the s a ,y of PROTEST ' ij' \3 Mfc. UHARLEST JACKSON at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. pf Natchez, Mississippi We are asking every Negro citizen of the state of Mississippi NOT H BUY **-J ARMSTRONG- *£££ M^CHANDISC until the killer of Mr. Jackson has been caught and convicted for his crime. We are further asking every Negro minister that loves his people and cares about their welfare to join us in this march - especially every Negro minister in Hinds County. Sincerely, Hinds County Freedom Democratic Party II* 3 a Mr. John Jones, President U.S. COURT THROWS OUT MISSISSIPPI ELECTION'. ORDERS NEW VOTE IN EASTLAND'S HOME COUNTY. NEGRO MAJORITY CAN WIN LOCAL OFFICES. In Sunflower County, Miss. — Senator Eastland's home base — there is now being waged a dra matic, history-making battle for the ballot. 11 is one that YOU can do something about. The facts: OnMarchll, 1966, the U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out the 1965 muni cipal election in the town of Sunflower and ordered a new election. The court, acting on a suit of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, ruled that Negroes had not been given a chance to vote and this made the election invalid'. The court said, further, that when certain technicalities were met in the other five towns in the county, its decision will hold for them as well. Two-thirds of the county's citizens are Negroes. Following the Court's decision, Negroes in Sunflower town began to register and now make up a majority of the registered voters! Thus, in the heart of Mississippi's plantation country Negroes, in significant numbers, can be elected to local office NOW. The election is expected to take place during the early summer. We can expect the racists to put every possible pressure on the Negroes to discourage them from running for office or voting and to use physical terror and starvation to drive out those who resist. THIS IS WHERE WE COME IN. THE POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL BACKING OF PEOPLE THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY IS NEEDED TO SEE THAT THIS FIGHT FOR ELEMENTARY DEMOCRACY IS WON, The Justice Department has hailed the decision as showing that "the registration of Negroes under the Voting Rights Act will not just be a paper right." But it has so far refused to send registrars into Sunflower County because this is Eastland's home base. Federal registrars would not only speed Ne gro registration but would help to protect the voters. The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party has asked people everywhere to insist that the Attorney General and the President ACT NOW to protect the right of all citizens of Sunflower to vote. - HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO — 1. Write or wire Attorney General N. B. Katzenbach. Justice Department, Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., demanding: a) Teams of mobile registrars be sent at once to Sunflower County. b) Federal protection be given to the citizens of Sunflower. 2. Visitor write your local congressman and senators urging their active support for the right to vote in Sunflower County. 3. Send your contribution in the form of checks or money orders payable to: New York Committee for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 100 - 5th Avenue, New York City 10011, Room 803 or to Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 802 G St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 u i I MiSSi5S!PPi FREEDOM ; : MO'CRA;nc Pmjy WILL HOLD ITS F//W?L . XJ POSIT 10 MS K rs ^•"N / \ N \ "v_->, i S U OMAL L ^HERE: MASONIC FEMPLE. 1072 LYNCH bx WKEN; Twa^sD^y^PRiL. i T^RU S/m>RD/)y #pf?ii_3 -. A N \/ v*J/ \/T U \ \\Ji\i • -^"r::" ' MICHIGAN'S STAKE IK THE FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY The Democratic Party of Miss issippi has consistently opposed the best, interests oi the Citizens of Michigan and the nation. Legislation which Michigan's rep MISSISSIPPI resentatives in Congress have pro posed on behalf of Michigan consti FREEDOM tuents has been openly opposed by DEMOCRATIC by representatives oi Mississippi. PARTY Mississippi's disenfranchised cit izens wish to participate in ti country's two-party system effec tively. If they continue to be denied a voice in national government anc a legitimate place in the Demo cratic Party, they will be forced to go it alone with their party. The Democratic Party in Miss It is vital that a large segment of issippi which supports the National people in this country who wish to Democratic Party Policies. exercise their rights as regular Democratic Party members be :hc ce, The loss of their votes is a loss to the Democratic Party. We cannot afford this loss! Help Free Mississippi '. Sponsored by Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) NAACP, CORE, SCLC, SNCC WHAT IS THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM PARTY REGISTRATION CONVENTION CHALLENGE FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY? AND ELECTIONS The Party was established as a Groundwork for the Party is laid in The Mississippi Freedom Demo challenge to the traditional Demo a statewide unofficial Freedom Reg cratic Party plans to challenge cratic Party of Mississippi which istration whose purpose is to regis the seating of the regular Miss has made,it impossible for Negroes ter the estimated 400,000 disenfran issippi Democratic Party at the of the state, or white people who chised citizens of Mississippi. National Convention in August, consider all people to be citizens, The Party is open to citizens of both to participate in the Democratic Grounds for the Challenge: races. Registra.rs in each county Party. The delegates of the regular Miss register applicants who fill out a Mississippi citizens who are in issippi Democratic Party are simple form, the Freedom Regis chosen by undemocratic means. sympathy with the goals platform tration Form, based on the voting and national candidates of the Nat applications used in several north The Mississippi Democratic •p ar • ional Democratic Party cannot ern states. No literacy test is ap ty has been consistently disloyal support them within the party as plied. The only requirement for to the National Party. it is now constituted. registration is that the applicant be The regular Mississippi party The regular Democratic Party of 21 or over and a legal resident of organization did not support the Mississippi is in direct opposition trie state. national convention's nominees to the national party. in I960 - John F. Kennedy and Meetings of the Freedom Party Lyndon E. Johnson. The regular Democratic Party of throughout the state and the selec Mississippi has stated in party tion of party candidates to the Nat The regular Mississippi party literature that it is not a part of ional Convention parallel the meet organization repudiatea the nat the national party. ings of the regular Democratic Party ional convention's platform in The regular Democratic Party of of Mississippi and follow the pattern ly60, and has stated that 'Both Mississippi has not supported the stipulated in the Election Laws of national parties are enemies, ' Democratic presidential candidates Mississippi as closely as possible. and 'The Mississippi Democrat in the past. ic Party is completely free of Freedom Registration books will be both national parties, and is Therefore, the Mississippi Free used for the unofficial freedom elec solely an instrument of the cit dom Democratic Party was formed tions to be held at the same time as izens of this state. " to serve as the party in which all the official Democratic primary and The Mississippi Democratic par citizens of the state who wish to N o v e m b e r g e n e r a 1 elections. ty stands in violation of the nat support national Democratic Party ional party policies and princip policies can participate. The Freedom Democratic Party is les. These are sufficient grounds The Council of Federated Organiz designed to show that thousands of citizens of Mississippi who are to withdraw recognition of the ations, a coalition of national and state party according to nation local civil rights groups in the presently denied the right to vote and participate ln the regular Dem al Democratic party rules. state, aided the local citizens in ocratic Party would do so, if they sotting up a Democratic Party could. St ructure. I FREEDOM CANDIDATES MISSISSIPPI For the first time in this century,, fou-r Negroes are candidates for national office from Mississippi. One is a candidate for the Senate and three for the House of Repre sentatives . The four campaigns are being coordinated under the auspices of the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO), an umbrella rivil rights organization in Mississippi com prising the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), CORE, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the NAACP. All four candidates are entered In the regular Dem ocratic orimary in Mississippi to be held June 2. They are running on what is be called the FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY. If they are defeated in the Democratic party, they will be able to continue their campaigns as Independents in the General Election in November. The candidacy of the Freedom Candidates is a direct challenge to the lily-white one-party political structure of the state. Only 28,000 or 6.6% of Mississippi's 422,000 Negroes of voting age have been registered to vote. 525,000 whites are registered voters. All the Freedom Candidates will make Negro voting rights one of the basic issues of their campaigns. The campaigns themselves will serve as the focus for Voter Reg istration activities by COFO during the coming months. For those not allowed to -register on the official books there will be a separate program-: FREEDOM REGISTRATION. The Freedom Democratic Party has set up Its own unofficial voter registration books for the purpose of registering as many as possible of Mississippi's 400,000 disenfranchised Negroes. These books, known as Freedom Registration Books, will be managed by Freedom Registrars appointed by COFO in every county. The Freedom Registrars will have the power to ap point deputy registrars to aid them in covering the county to provide every Negro with the opportunity to register to vote . Freedom Registration has several purposes. First., it will serve as a mechanism through which Negroes can, organ ize across the state. Secondly, it will be the focus of attempts to get Negroes registered on the official county books. Thirdly, Freedom Registration will form the basis for FREEDOM ELECTIONS to be held at the same time as the official elections in June and November. In the Freedom Elections, the only qualifications will be that voters are 21 or over, residents of the state, and registered on the Freedom Reg istration Books before the election. Whites as well as Negroes will ,.be allowed to vote. Democratic and Republican candidates will be listed together with Freedom Democratic Candidates. >• Through Freedom Registration and the Freedom Elections, it will be made clear that thousands of Negroes who are de nied the right to vote in the official elections would do so if they could. On this basis, the seating of successful Re publican and Democratic candidates will be challenged in Congress and in the Federal Courts on the grounds that a significant portion of the1 voting-age population has been denied the right to vote because of color or race. Thus, the Freedom Candidates will serve not only to bring- the issues to the people of Mississippi, dramatize voter discrimination, and the atmosphere of harrassment and resis tance by the official state apparatus, but will serve as a ba sis for challenging the rights of the incumbents to assume their seats in Congress. As a further part of its political program, the Freedom Democratic Party will send a FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION to the National Democratic Convention at Atlantic City -in August. The Freedom Candidates will serve as the titular heads of the Freedom Democratic Delegation. -Other delegates will be chosen through a series of meetings on the precinct, county, district, and state levels just, as In the regular Mississippi Democratic Party. Unlike the regular party machinery, however, which is all-white, exclusive, and often dominated by White Citizens Council members, Freedom Delegates will be chosen in open meetings in" which all registered voters (whether official or Freedom registered), Negores and whites alike, will be al lowed to participate. .» At the National Convention, the Freedom Democratic Del egation will attempt to have the Regular Democratic Delegation unseated and the Freedom Delegation seated in its place, it ' will do this on the grounds that'the Regular Democratic Del-, egation was chosen by undemocratic' means and that the Dem ocratic Party of Mississippi has been disloyal to the National Democratic Party. * The Regular Mississippi Democratic Party split with the National Democratic Party in i960. It did not support the National Democratic Ticket selected by the National Con vention: John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. It also ....refused to support. the platform adopted by the National Convention. The Regular Mississippi Democratic Party can didates in the gubernatorial race of 1963 told the voters : that the Mississippi Democratic Party stands .for white su premacy and against Negro voting power, The principles of the National Democratic Party make It clear that a State party which behaves in the manner of the Mississippi Dem ocratic Party stands in violation of National Party policy. This is sufficient grounds, according to National Democratic Party rules, to. withdraw recognition of the State party. The Freedom Democratic Delegation will be pledged to support the National Democratic Ticket ancTThe National Dem ocratic Platform chosen at the National Democratic Conven tion - - as well as being pledged to work for the full and equal rights of all Americans. FREEDOM CANDIDATES: Below are brief biographical sketches and campaigning programs for the four Freedom Candidates. MRS. FANNIE LOU HAMER --- running in the 2nd Congres- : sional District against Rep. Jamie Whitten, Chairman of the House Appropriations Sub-Gjmmlttee on Agriculture. Mrs. Hamer, 4-7, comes from Sunflower County, the home of James Eastland, where Negroes are 69% of the population. She is the wife of Perry Hamer, a cotton gin worker in Rule- ville. Until 1962, the Hamers had lived for 16 years on a plantation four miles from Rulevilie. On August 31 of that year/ the day Mrs. Hamer registered to vote, they were told the$ would have to leave the plantation ..immediately. Mrs. Hamer began working-with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in December 1962 and has been one of the most active workers in the state on Voter Registration. On June 9, 19"63, while returning from a SNCC workshop, she was arrested in Winona, Miss., and brutally beaten with a blackjack while in jail. Mrs. Hamer opened her campaign in Ruleville on March 21. She hopes to use her campaign to ar ticulate the grievances of Mississippi's Negroes, particularly in the cotton-rich Delta, the 2nd Congressional District, where Negroes are a clear majority (59$) of the population. Mrs» Hamer constantly tells her audiences that she is only saying "what you have been thinking all along." But Mrs. Hamer plans to dire.ct her campaign to whites as well as Negroes. It is her thesis that all Mississipplans, white and Negro alike, are victims of the all-white-, one-party power structure of the state. In her campaign, she explains how Jamie Whitten, from his position on the House Appropria tions Sub-Committee on Agriculture, killed a bill to train 2400 tractor drivers. Six hundred of those to be trained were ( white. Mrs. Hamer is presently ill in Ruleville (the nearest.doc tor is 10 miles away). Her condition is provoked and made more serious by after effects of the 1963 beating, from which she has never fully recovered. JAMES MONROE HOUSTON candidate from the 3rd Congres-_ sional District against Robert Bell Williams, second in command on the interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. Mr. Houston, 74 years old, is a retired machinist from Vicksburg, member of the NAACP for over 20 years. He was ar- / rested in 1934 for participation in a rural district meeting called to discuss the new Roosevelt programs. He was arrested, again in Jackson in 1963 while attempting to march from a Meth odist cfeurch to City Hall. In his opening campaign speech In Vicksburg on April 5, Mr. Houston told a crowd of 200-300 peo ple 'that he would use his campaign to show what conditions for Negroes in Mississippi are really like. He claimed active sup port in all fourteen of the 3rd District's counties and said that he would represent all the people in the District if elec ted. For this reason, he 'Said, his election would restore honor and digaity to the state of Mississippi. REV. JOHN E. CAMERON candidate for the seat of William Meyers Colmer, second in command of the House Rules Committee, from the 5th Congressional District. Rev. Cameron, 31, opened his campaign in Hattiesburg on March 26, addressing an audience of approximately 200 from the . back of an open truck. His campaign will stres jobs, education, and citizenship rights for Negroes. In Biloxl, on April 4, Rev. Cameron sailed on both state and federal governments to provide training for unskilled laborers so that they may qual ify for fulltime and rewarding employment. He stressed the importance of a candidate running in the 5th Congressional Dis trict who would represent the entire population of the district, rather than only one racial group. Rev. Cameron is a former President of the National Baptist Student Union (1954-55), and holds a B.S. degree from Ru&t Col lege and a Bachelor of Theology'from American Baptist Theologica: Seminary. He is a member of the NAACP and a Friend of SNCC. On April 4, Rev. Cameron was refused entrance to a public forum in Hattiesburg unless he agreed to sit in a section reservc for Negroes. A white minister with Rev. Cameron was threatened with arrest for attempting to discuss the matter with the Chair man of the forum. At present?*, Rev. Cameron is In jail, one of 66 people arrested.In Hattiesburg April 9-10 under Mississippi's new anti-picketing lav;. MRS. VICTORIA JACKSON GRAY --- candidate for Senate against John Stennis. Mrs. Gray, 37, of Hat.tiesburg, is the mother of three children. She was one of the-first Negroes tp register in Forrest County, where Registrar Theron C. Lynn Is urtder Federal indictment for refusing to register Negroes on an equal basis wit whites. In an opening campaign statement given to the press April i Mrs. Gray stressed that "Unemployment, Automation, Inadequate Housing, Health Care, Education, and Rural Development are the .real Issues in Mississippi, not 'States Rights' or 'Federal En- '• croachment'. " Mrs. Gray's own emphasis during the campaign will be on the problems of education faced by Negroes in the state. * April 12, 1964 -' 7?^f <9cr. TO: ALL I VOLUNTEER FROM: THE FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY We need your help,We are having a Freedom Vote October 31 and November 1 and 2, in which all Mississippians over 21 can vote, Aaron Henry is running for Senate, Mrs. Hamer for Congress in the Delta, Mrs. Annie Devine in the [}th District and Mrs. Victoria Gray in the £th District. For future challenges against the Regular Democratic Party of Mississippi, we must get more votes in the Freedom vote than the incumbents get in the regular election. Therefore we are calling for 2^0-^00 volunteers to work in the state from Oct. l8» A more detailed description of the Freedom Vote is included in the material accompanying this letter. Since returning from tea Convention we have been able to strengthen our positionall across the state, and in particular local leadership has became much more importai t and much better organized. Wo will follow the Freedom Vote with a new challenge. We will try to have nullified the elections of the regularDemocratic Party candidates for Senate and House. If that Fdls we will try to have the Democratic caucus strip the Mississippi representatives of their seniority - 9/10 of their real power. That is why wo must get more votes for the FreedomNCao didates for Senate and House than the Regular candidates get. If you can return to Mississippi for either Oct. 18-26, Oct, 26- Nov. 3, or both weeks, please fill out the two a plication forms and take them to the nearest Friends of SNCC office. Only if there is no' office in your area should you send applications directly to Jackson. Those who have not been In Mississippi before will be Interviewed. Those who havebeen in M issiaaippi must still complete the application forms and forward them through the Friends of SNCC offices. This will help, us coordinate the recruiting, transportation and orientation of volunteers. Arrangements will be similar to the summer, Transportation to and from Mississippi and *oney for food must be provided by the volunteer, housing will bo provide3edd bvy the FDP together with COFO. Volunteers must make their own arrangements Co provide bond money, Arrests during th Freedom Vote are likely to be very frequent. The Freedom Vote is the most important happening on Mississippi in the nest few weeks, You must help, If you cannot come, find another responsible person who can. FDP, 852|v Short St, Jackson, Mississippi 1 APPLICATION FOR WORK ON THE. FREEDOM VOTE Name Age Dirth Date -::-Race -^-Needed for placement Home Address Phone Father' s Name_ Address _Phone_ Mother's Name Address Phone Describe your present job or status and program in school School Address List the social, fraternal, political, collegiate, community aid other organizations to which you belong: List briefly any special skills (typing, photography, etc.)_ Do you have a car you could use during your stay in Mississippi?_ I can work in Mississippi from Oct. 18 - 26 ,Oct. 26 - Nov. 3 I can arrange my own bail money . Both _ If under 21, enclosed please find parental consent Describe briefly the civil rights activities you have participated in, If you have ever been arrested, give place, date, charge and status of •ase. If you have not worked in Mississippi before, on a seoarate sheet please make some statement you feel would help us decide whether you should work In Mississippi. SIgnature_ Date Return this application at earliest possible date to: Robert Weil FDP All applications must be recieved by Oct. 11. 8£2 -| Short St. Jackson, Miss. Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party "I saw the doors close and now I have seen them open again." Rev. W. G. Middleton Batesville, Mississippi Rev. Middleton saw the doors close in 1890 when he was 10 years old. In that year Mis sissippi in effect repealed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments by disenfranchising almost the entire Negro population of the State. For 74 years, Rev. Middleton and almost one mil lion other Negroes lived under the "Missis sippi Plan" — a legal and social system that kept them silent, powerless, and terrorized. But in 1964 these Negro citizens began to speak out through an organization of their own creation — the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Summer 1964 In April of that year, 300 Negro Mississip- pians came together and decided that since they were barred from the State's political processes, they would establish a new voice in the State — a political party open to all races. That summer, with the united support of the civil rights movement, they built the MFDP into a functioning party. In four short months, they "Freedom registered" over 70,- 000 Negroes who had been barred by the State's discriminatory registration laws, by economic intimidation, by threats of violence. Precinct meetings were held and county con ventions followed, some held in Jackson be cause home counties were too dangerous. Across the State Negroes were speaking out for the first time — electing men and women who would really represent them. These representatives to the MFDP State Convention launched the first real challenge to the Mississippi system since 1890. Declar ing themselves the only political organization that would represent the National Democra tic Party platform and policies, they sent delegates to the National Convention to be seated instead of the "regular" racist Dem ocrats. For four days they told their story in Atlantic City and waited for justice. Instead they were given the promise that it would never happen again. But when they returned to Mississippi, the same conditions of terror and discrimination prevailed. Candidates were illegally kept off the ballot when they attempted to run for Congress. Negroes were still kept from regis tering, and those few registered were often frightened to cast their votes. The Congressional Challenge The MFDP then turned to the House of Representatives, using federal statues to chal lenge the seating of Mississippi's five Con gressmen. As Congressman Roosevelt said, "They cannot win 'elections' from a system based on murder and then claim the right to govern free men." For nine months the MFDP and its sup porters in every part of the Nation united in the effort to unseat the Congressmen. To ful fil the legal requirements of the Challenge, 150 attorneys came to Mississippi to take testimony from Negroes who were risking their lives to speak out. Over 600 MFDP rep resentatives came to Washington while the House deliberated on the Challenge, to stand outside the seat of their national government and ask that they be heard. But while they watched, the House voted to dismiss the Challenge on a legal technical ity by a vote of 228-143, and merely pledged that future elections would be free and open. The Present The MFDP intends to hold Congress to its promise — whatever the risk, however long the struggle. As Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer said, "We will come back year after year until we are allowed our rights as citizens." And they will continue to fight for their rights at home in Mississippi as well as in Washington. Recognizing that significant change can come only through free and open elections, the MFDP program for the coming year is directed toward insuring that all citizens may participate in 1966. To accom plish this, the MFDP is undertaking: A state-wide voter registration drive; Campaigns with MFDP candidates running against all five Congressmen and Senator Eastland; A drive to get federal registrars into all 82 Mississippi counties; Intensive political organizing to develop local leadership; A reapportionment suit calling for redis ricting of the State Legislature and new elections; Demanding recognition as the only func tioning Democratic Party in Mississippi from the National Democratic Party. But many obstacles stand in their way. Conditions of terror and intimidation still exist. This fall, Natchez Negroes were for a month victims of an oppressive curfew en forced only against the Negro population. Al most 40 were jailed in protests there and held under maximum security in Parchman State Penitentiary. The unexplained deaths of two Negro boys this summer caused regis tration to decline in LeFlore and Oktibbeha counties. The shooting of a Unitarian mins ter, the Metcalf bombing, and hundreds of other violent incidents go unnoticed by the Nation and uninvestigated by the FBI or local law officers. The Justice Department has declined to send federal registrars to many counties where complaints have been filed. The Con gress of the United States, by dismissing the Challenge, has denied representation to Mis sissippi Negroes until at least 1967. All the MFDP has to keep it going is the hope and determination of almost one million Negroes to change their way of life. They were working against almost impossible odds to fulfill the promise of democracy in the United States, but they need your help. Will You Help? Organizing political activity means reach ing people, talking to them and showing them how they can work together to over come fear and despair to change their own lives. Reaching people in a rural community means needing a car, and gasoline to get to mass meetings and county and state conventions, or to a church that has just been burned, or to people who are afraid to come to us, and to take people to courthouses to regis ter and to vote. It means an office, with a telephone, and a typewriter and a mimeograph machine, and paper to feed into it, and envelopes and stamps, and posters and buttons for political campaigns. It means getting the information necessary for change to the people who need it: literacy programs, citizenship classes, . and information on federal programs and local laws. Anything you can give to the MFDP will be an important help in providing the means for Mississippi Negroes to continue this struggle. Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party 926 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. Fnclosed is my contribution of $ Name Address MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEM< ATIC PARTY Washington Office: P.O. BOX 1329 1353 'U'STREET, N.W. JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - 39203 WASHINGTON, D. C. - 20009 Telephone: (601) 352 - 9788 Telephone: (202) 332 - 7732 STATEMENT BY MARTIN LUTHER KING Press Conference - December 17, 1964 " I am gravely distressed over the news which reached us in Oslow that on the same day the civil rights movement was receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, a U.S. Commissioner was dismissing charges against 19 of the men arrested by the FBI in connection with the brutal slaying of three civil rights voter registration workers in Mississippi last summer. All of the people of Europe share this acute distress. " I am convinced that the whole national conscience must be mobilized to deal with the tragic situation of violence, terror, and blatant failure of justice in Mississippi. I have already indicated that we intend to consider calling for a nation-wide boycott of Mississippi products that would summon all people of good will across our country into active participation in the struggle for justice and human dignity in this nation. " Aside from the proposed boycott, however, there is a more immediate opportunity for congress to speak out in the next few days in a way that would remedy the root cause of Mississippi injustice — the total denial of the right to vote to her Negro citizens. " On Monday, January 4th, the House of Representatives will have an opportunity to vote upon a challenge to the seating of the entire Mississippi delegation in the House of Representatives. I am informed that, under the provisions of the act of February 23, 1870, readmitting Mississippi to representation in the Congress, it was stipulated that the principal condition for readmission, never to be changed or amended, was that all citizens 21 years or over, who resided in the State for six months or more, and who are neither convicts or insane, be allowed to vote freely. Mississippi has deliberately and repeatedly ignored this solemn pact with the nation for more than 50 years and maintained seats to which she is not entitled in an indifferent Congress. These members will be challenged on the opening day of the Congress by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. This Act of 1870 provides that these Mississippi congressmen are only entitled to their places when all citizens can vote freely in that State. " The conscience of America, troubled by the twin Mississippi tragedies of the presence of violence and the absence of law, now can express itself in supporting this moral challenge to immoral representation." THE "WASHINGTON POST Thursday, Dee. 17, 1964 The second, Mr. Kunstler, MISSISSIPPI SEATS said, is that Mississippi dis The Washington Merry-Go-Round enfranchised Negroes in its Con stitution of 1890, thus violat By Drew Pearson UNDER CHALLENGE ing a compact under which it was readmitted to the Union Freedom Party Says Negro after the Civil War. Under the Kindly McCormack Rep. Jamie L. Whitten is compact, which took effect in John W. McCormack, Chairman of the House Ap Voters Were Denied Rights 1870, the state promised to gaunt, gray Speaker of the propriations Subcommittee maintain nondiscriminatory vot House of Representatives, is for Agriculture, with almost ing procedures then in exis a kindly man who feels the life and death powers over By JOHN D. MORRIS tence, he said. some phases of the farm Freedom Democrats, barred suffering of his fellow men. Specli! to The New York Time» from the ballot in the Mississippi McCormack also has a program. As noted previously WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 elections, held an election of built-in compassion for fellow in this column, he once held The Freedom Democratic party their own from Oct. 30 to members of The Club, the up the Agriculture Depart took steps today to challenge Nov. 2. They chose Mrs. Vic name given to the elite ment appropriations bill for the seating of all five mem toria Gray of Hattiesburg, Mrs. powerhouse that dominates six months while arguing hers of Mississippi's delegation Annie Devine of Canton and with Sen. Richard B. Russell Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer of Rule Congress. For that reason, he to the House of Representa- isn't happy about the move to (D-Ga.) over whether a pea ville to fill seats now held by nut laboratory should be in tives. Representatives William M. challenge the seating of four Spokesmen announced at a Colmer, William A. Winstead Mississippi Democrats be Mississippi or Georgia. news conference here that no and Jamie L. Whitten. cause their State violated the Rep. John Bell Williams, tices of the challenges were Mr. Kunstler said a special constitutional right of all who deserted the Democratic served on the interested par election to fill the other two men to vote. It excluded most ticket and campaigned for seats would be required if the of the Negro population. Goldwater, is No. 2 man on ties today and yesterday. challenges were successful. They So far, all of The Club and the Interstate and Foreign They said that a "Legal Peace are held by Representatives Commerce Committee, which Corps'' of more than 100 law Thomas G. Abernethy and John most Democratic members of Bell Williams. AH the incum Congress agree with the influences the railroads, TV, yers would go to Mississippi radio, telephone and tele to gather evidence in the case. bents are Democrats. Mr. Win- Speaker. However, a small stead was defeated Nov. 3 by graph, oil and gas pipe lines They issued an appeal for vol group of Northern Democrats Prentiss Walker, a Republican. led by Rep. William Fitts and electric rates. unteers. Mrs. Devine is challenging Mr. Rep. Tom Abernathy is a The final decision, under the Walker's seating. Ryan of Manhattan has been arguing that the barring of potent member of the Agri procedure being used, rests ,The Freedom Democratic culture Committee and along party was founded in Jackson, the four Mississippians would with the House' itself. be a great blessing to with Williams is a member of William M. Kunstler of New Miss., last April 24 by a coal! tion of civil rights groups in Speaker McCormack, to the the District of Columbia York, counsel for the predomi an attempt to organize pro- President, and to the Demo Committee. This puts two nantly Negro party, said the integration forces loyal to the cratic leadership. Mississippians in the position challenges were based on two national Democratic party and of making policy for the Cap principal grounds. its candidates. Roll Call ital, which is one reason the During the Democratic Na schools of Washington — 86 Constitution Is Cited tional Convention last August, Here are the four Missis The first, he said, is the per cent Negro— have suf the Freedom Democratic party sippi Democrats involved and fered from lack of funds. constitutional requirement that tried to get its members seated arguments that have been members of the House be elect as the Mississippi delegation. If Rep. Ryan of New York Unauthorized, 21 occupied emp made regarding them: and the other Northern Dem ed by all the people. This was Rep. William M. Colmer is violated, he continued, because ty seats of regular delegates ocrats who want to block who had refused to take a loy a member of the House Rules the seating of the Mississippi many Negres were not per alty pledge. The regulars had Committee, has voted against Congressmen get their way, a mitted to register and vote. Only withdrawn when the convention Presidents Kennedy and long list of people, ranging 5.7 per cent of the Negroes of approved a compromise permit Johnson on almost every from officials of the Agri voting age could vote in the ting two Freedom delegates to issue. His vote, together with sit with them. culture Department to the election last Nov. 3, he said. the Republicans and that of residents of Washington, to James J. Delaney (N.Y.), the most of the schoolteachers of friend of Cardinal Spellman, the Nation, will be delighted. has tied up aid to education for four years. LEFT, Society Hill Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, Sept. 20, 1964; RIGHT, Bombed Freedom House in Vicksburg, Mississippi, October 3, 1964. Photos by Cliff Vaughs. FANNIE LOU HAMER ANN IE DEVINE VICTORIA GRAY THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE WHAT IS THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS? The United States Congress is a meeting of people chosen from all over the United States. These people meet in Washington to make the laws of the United States. Congress makes laws which say how much cotton a farmer can crop and how much he should be paid for his cotton. Congress made the Civil Rights law. Congress says how much money the government in Washington gives to Mississippi. Congress could make laws to give us good schools. Congress could make laws to say that people who chop and pick cotton should make more money. Congress could make laws to say that we can all get food and clothing from welfare when we need them. Congress could make laws to make it easy for everyone -- black and white -- to vote in Mississippi. WHY DOESN'T THE CONGRESS DO THE THINGS WE WANT? Congress does not do the things we want because we do not have anyone in Congress to speak for us. Jamie Whitten, John Bell Williams, Tom Abernathy, Prentiss Walker and William Colmer were chosen November 4th to go to Congress from Mississippi. We did not help choose them. We were not allowed to vote on November 4th. And so the men elected November 4th cannot speak for us. They do not know what we want. WHOM DO WE WANT IN CONGRESS? We want someone in Congress who will say what we want done. Many of us voted in a FREEDOM VOTE October 30th and 31st, November 1st and 2nd, for our repre sentatives in Congress. In the FREEDOM VOTE we chose Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer from Ruleville, Mrs. Annie Devine from Canton and Mrs. Victoria Gray from Hattiesburg to go to Congress to speak for us. c Everyone could vote in the FREEDOM VOTE. So Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray can speak for us and all the people in Mississippi. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray are members of the FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY. The FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY is made up of people in Mississippi who want to vote and choose their representatives. WHAT IS THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE? Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray are going to Washington. They are going to say that they should be allowed to sit in Congress and talk about our problems. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray will have help from many people. We have friends in Congress who will tell other members of Congress on January 4th that the men chosen in Mississippi in the regular election should not be allowed to sit in Congress. And lawyers will come to Mississippi after Congress opens. They will want us to tell why we can't vote in Mississippi. And they will want us to tell how the Congressmen from Mississippi don't do the things we want. The lawyers will take these things back to Congress. They will tell Congress what things are like in Mississippi. They will ask Congress to let Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray sit in Congress as our representatives. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray will also tell people in Congress and all over the United States what things are like in Mississippi. They will open an office in Washington, and they will tell everybody that they are the Congresswomen from Mississippi. WHAT MUST WE DO HERE IN MISSISSIPPI? We must make the Freedom Democratic Party strong in Mississippi. We must go to precinct meetings, county meetings, and the state meeting December 20th in Jackson and say what we want the Freedom Demo cratic Party to do. We must help the lawyers when they come to Mississippi. W~e must tell them how hard it is to vote in Mississippi. And we must tell them that we don't want the men elected in the regular election to represent us. We must tell them that we want Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray to speak for us in Congress. We must be ready to go to Washington January 4th. We must go to Congress when it opens January 4"th, and tell the country that we want Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray to be our representatives in Congress. We must- let Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray know what we wantT We should send letters and petitions to Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray in Washington, and we should visit them there. We should tell them what is happening in Mississippi and ask them to help us. We should tell them what we want them to say in Congress. We should tell them about welfare, cotton allotments, jobs and schools. We should tell everybody in America that we want Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray in Congress. We shouPd write to newspapers and congressmen in Mississippi and other states and tell them about the Freedom Democratic Party and about the Congressional Challenge. We should go to other states and speak about Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray. We should let all the country know that we want our own representatives in Congress. WRITE TO MRS. HAMER, MRS. DEVINE AND MRS. GRAY AT: FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1353 "U" Street Washington, D. C. L \ DELEGATES AT MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION JACKSON, MISS. WE CALL to a CONFERENCE on FREE ELECTIONS to be held April 24 in i9es Sponsored hy* MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY MlSSISSIPPi FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 153 U STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. THE CHALLENGE Over 400,000 Negroes of Mississippi are denied the right to vote by an oppressive system of officiall ysanc- tioned racism. For a century now our Congress has accepted the pretense that the men from Mississippi who sit among them are representatives of the people. The Challenge of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party asks of this Congress and of the American people, to put an end to the mockery; so say that the people of Mississippi are not now represented in the United States Congress and will not be until the alleged representatives are unseated and free and open elections are held. As Representative James Roosevelt said on the opening day of this Congress, "they cannot win 'elections' based on murder and then claim the right to govern free men." On December 4th, in accordance with a Federal Stat ute which governs procedures for contesting congression al elections, representatives of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party served proper Notice of Challenge on the five Mississippi Congressmen and to the Clerk of the House claiming those congressional elections were illegal v fact of systematic disenfranchisement of Negroes by e use of terror, violence and harrassment. On the opening day of Congress 151 members, only 75 votes less than a majority voted against a motion to seat the Mississippians who were seated tentatively pending the outcome of the Challenge. Since that time over 125 volunteer lawyers from throughout the Nation went into Mississippi and collected testimony from over 700 witesses including local Negroes, Justice Department Officials, and State and Citizens' Council officials. This impressive body of evidence proves conclusively the almost total disenfranchisement that exists. The Mississippi congressmen have been able to submit no evidence whatsoever to refute this testimony. In July the House of Representatives must again vote on the fitness of the Mississippians to sit. The Negro people of Mississippi who have risked much in participat ing in this challenge, will be waiting eagerly for the ver dict of the Congress. The evidence of mass terror, eco nomic slavery, and police violence is conclusive. It will be up to us, the American people, through our congressmen to decide whether men elected by fraud and oppression will continue to sit in Congress, or whether the Congress will call upon Mississippi to hold free and democratic elections for those seats. FREE ELECTIONS IN 1965 Place: METROPOLITAN A.M.E. CHURCH 1518 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Time: 8:30 A.M. Conference Registration PROGRAM MORNING SESSION: REPORT FROM THE SOUTH Mississippi's New Image: Myth and Reality. Reports will be given on evidence gathered by the MFDP for the Challenge, including testimony of former Governor Ross Barnett, Attorney General Joe Patterson, and offi cials of the White Citizen's Council. Discussion of the developments of political activities in Mississippi and throughout the South, and the implications of the Civil Rights Bill in terms of real political democracy. AFTERNOON SESSION: MAKING VOTING LEGISLATION MEANINGFUL How strong will the voting legislation passed in this Congress be? How can we aid in its implementation to ensure that the right to register and to freely exer cise the vote will be a reality in the South. How can we aid the Southern Negro in organizing politically for long-needed social change. How is the effects of the voting legislation and the Challenge relevant in the Northern Ghetto? • ORGANIZING FOR THE VOTE AND THE CHALLENGE Discussion groups, on regional basis, to discuss organ izing in the north for FREE ELECTIONS IN 1965. How do we mobilize and focus the aroused conscience of the nation so that the shock of Selma, Montgomery and Mississippi will be translated into action in their heme communities. EVENING SESSION: CONGRESSIONAL REPORT The Challenge and Voting Legislation are now before Congress. Those leading the fight will report on ac tivities and developments. SPEAKERS * JAMES FARMER, Executive Director, CORE JAMES FORMAN, Executive Secretary, SNCC DR. ROBERT SPIKE, Director, Commission on Race & Religion, National Council of Churches MFDP REPRESENTATIVES LAWRENCE GUYOT MRS. VISTORY GRAY MRS. FANNIE LOU HAMER MRS. ANNIE DEVINE * Partial List THE CALL The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party issues this Call to the American people of all communities"; the Civil Rights Movement, the Churches, the Unions and to individuals interested in contributing to the effort to bring the secessionist South into the Political Community of America. The Conference is planned to be a meeting of North and South so that interested people from both regions can discuss the implications of the Voting Rights Bill and the Challenge and what these acts will bring to the politically deprived and powerless people among us. The Conference will provide a forum and an oppor tunity for groups and individuals to join with us in evolving practical and effective programs in communi ties and in the Congress to bring about meaningful participation in the decisions governing their lives by the people presently excluded from this process. Among the programs to be discussed are included national efforts to secure new and democratic elections in the South as soon as the people who have been pre viously barred from participating in those elections are to be registered, and to ensure that newly registered Voters are not kept by violent methods from exercising that right. The final national effort to unseat the Mississippi Congressmen, and what this Challenge will mean in terms of bringing truly free and open elections throughout the South will be discussed. Together we can learn and do, and in the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson "We Shall Overcome." Registration Form Return to: MFDP 1353 U Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. NAME (Please Print) ADDRESS CITY STATE ORGANIZATION (If Any) SmTEMEN_T_BXJ^^J?A»iER^ in WASHIN GTON D.C..MON MY, MAY"l7CR> I96'^. "••'. A A CORE uneqlvocally su pport the history challe nge of the mississippi FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC • party ^^ eallfor a great coalition of.civil rights ,politi cal and civic organization and individuals to join this struggle* CORE pledges its fu llest support of MFDP on this Ilth ANN IVERSARY OF the SUPREME COURT decision o utlawing segregati on in the public school THE chronicle o f brutality to be presented to day in th ese petition h as no equ al in the parlimentary history of our nation • TH ESE are real voices of the re al AMERICAN S wh ohave bee n blooded and e ven murdered in thier efforts to exercise the right to vote.. AS we take these deposition to the CONGRESS, I ask of the congre ss fast remedi al action and t he rejection of the regular mississippi CONGRESSIONAL pretender who have been elected- on a platform of blood and disenfranchisement, :, . -..._.,., CORE is prepard to take whatever steps may be necessary to support this challenge » DISCUSSION S are underway as to a schedule of messive demonstration if the CONGRESS fails to act and act quickley.THESE ' demonstration will bein large parts directed at congressmen across the • nation who have opposed this challenge. FOR example, on JUN E 20, a major demonstration is planned for BROOKLY N,N EW YORK CALLING call attention to CONGRESSMAN EMMAN UEL CELLER and the BROOKLYN CONGRESSIONAL delegation vote against th© fairness RESOLUTION ON JANUARY U th, 1965. AS to the voting rights bill before CONGRESS at this moment, these depositions bear tragic witness to the need for this bill — and more specifically to the need for a bill with real legislative and judicial teeth. 334 Auburn Avenue,: N.E., Atlanta, /georgia : . _,,,_.,,..ffg STATEMENT BY DR. MARTIN LUTHERKING MAY 17, 1965. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, on the Ilth.Anniversary of the historic Supreme-Court decisA Ton outlawing segregation in the Public Schools, the MFDP has filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives the more then 600 de positions taken in support of the Challenges to the seating of -'the entire congressional delegation from Mississippi. This indeed is a momentous and historical moment. I whA'A.heartedly support as I have from the beginning, these Challenges. The unseating of.the Mississippi congressmen will be the'test of tho moral- integrity .0.7 Alio Congress of the United States. The weakening of the voting bill by the Senate's shameful action in stripping away the anti-poll tax provision makes it absolutely imp;orai.:::"i5ethatthe House of Representatives does not waiver in its.obligation to unseat the congressmen. The unseating will make any voting bill meaningful, I, therefore, again pledge myself and the SCLC to. the. fullest supp' ': Challenges of the MFDP and call upon all Americans to join with me in this commitment. ..30 SPECIAL INVITATION TOs ALL MISSISSIPPIANS INTERESTED IN POLITICAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FROM: THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY,P,0.BOX kk7,SUNFLOWER,MS, The MFDP cordially invites you to attend a special meeting called for the purpose of collecting information about irregularities which occured at the recent Mississippi Democratic Party precinct and county conventions. We must have this information if we are to challenge the seating of the racist regular Miss.Democratic Party in i) the U.S.Federal Courts and 2) the National Democratic Party convention in Chicago this August. TIME AND PLACE: Friday, June 7, from 10 am on...at the Masonic Temple, 1072 Lynch st.JacKson,Miss. WHO WILL COLLECT THIS INFORMATION? Attorneys from all the civil rights lawyers' groups-- the LCDC, "the Presidents'Committee, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund,Inc. WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION,STATEMENTS AND AFFIDAVITS DO WE NEED? We must know what happened in your precinct and county convention. Anything which you think might have been an irregularity is of interest to us. Here are some common examples of irregularities:-" 1) Negroes were not informed about the place of meetings. Notices were not posted in churches,cafes and other places in the Negro comm unity. Some local newspapers didn't carry announcements of the place of meetings at all, some carried announcements only after the meetings were finished. Bring along ads from your local newspapers regarding these meetings if they are available. 2) Negroes were not allowed to participate completely and freely in some conventions. Reasonable motions were not recognized. The meeting places were too small to hold all the Negro voters present. Negroes were not allowed to present some resolutions. 3) Secret ballots (paper ballots) were not used as required by the law. 4)Meetings were held too early or too late,sometimes meeting places were changed at the last minute. 5)Precinct voter lists were set up so that whites had control of mast precincts in a county despite the fact that Negroes had more registered voters. This has been done to give whites more delegates to the county conventions. There is no uniform rule which applies to the number of delegates and alternates to be chosen from each precinct. Therefore a precinct with 100 white voters and no Negroes would have as much voice a s a precinct with 1000 Negro voters. 6)Some precincts prevented Negroes from entering or participating except in a limited way. WHO ELSE IS PARTICIPATING DESIDES THE MFDP? All Mississippians regardless of race,religion or political beliefs who are interested in charting Mississippi politics are cooperating including the NAACP, the Miss. Young Democrats, the Miss.AFL-CIO and the Miss. Voter Education and Registration League. Remember we neted your statement in person. Those who would allow evil to remain have o-ly to be silent. #**#**•#».#**###### I Missisaippi-Freedonr Democratic Party For further information; Mike Thellwell 926 Pennsylvania Ave., S .E. Washington, D.C. August 23, 1965 MFDP DEMANDS MORE FEDERAL REGISTRARS Lawrence Guyot, Chairman of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, today demanded that federal registrars be appointed for each of Mississippi's 82 counties. Guyot disclosed that the MFDP has filed complaints with the Justice Department alleging voting discrimination in six Mississippi counties. Federal registrars have been re quested for Holmes, Sunflower, Amite, Humphreys, Rankin, and Warren Counties. The new Voting Rights Act provides that federal registrars may be sent into affected areas upon receipt by the Attorney General of twenty complaints. The MFDP is in the process of compiling complaints in a dozen more counties, including Hinds County, in which Jackson, the state capitol,is located,, Despite the passage of the Voting Rights Bill three weeks ago, Guyot said, "It appears that most local registrars still refuse to register illiterate Negroes. In some..counties registrars have been absent from their offices for extended periods of time. In Warren and Lauderdale Counties registrars have been asking prospective regis trants for the names of their employers." Guyot added that Negro applicants in Amite County have been photographed as they enter the County Courthouse. Negroes in Marion /' County have been warned by police that it is dangerous for them to attempt to register. In calling upon the Federal Government for more decisive implementatidn of the Voting Rights Act, Guyot said, "It is clear that Mississippi registrars are not yet pre pared to register''-large.numbers-.of their Negro fellow citizens. In most of the 82 counties of the state, the new Voting Rights Act appears to have had no effect on traditional patterns of delay, harassment, and intimidation. The strikingly high rate at which Negroes are being registered in counties where federal registrars have been appointed demonstrates that swift federal action across the board is required now. Mississippi's disenfranchised Negro citizens are .reluctant to believe that the slow pace at which federal registrars have been moving into the state has been motivated by a desire to placate Mississippi's racist power structure. I urge the President and the Attorney General to display as much energy in implementing the Voting Rights Act as they did in securing its passage. -To that end I am tc?ay asking that -federal registrars be appointecLfor each of Mississ ippi's 82 counties. " -30- //M] FREEDOM VOTE VICTORIA GRAY FOR CONGRESS VICTORIA GRAY is the candidate of the FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY for Congress in the Fifth District. Mrs. Gray is the mother of three children. She used to be a school teacher. She was one of the first people to open her home to civil rights workers in Hattiesburg. Mrs. Gray has worked for many years to help Negroes vote in Mississippi. Victoria Gray and the Freedom Democratic Party want JOBS, JUSTICE, and EDUCATION for all people in Mississippi - black and white. And they want all people to have the right to vote. That is why the FREEDOM VOTE is being held. Anyone who is 21 or older can vote in the FREEDOM V0TEo You do not have to be registered at the Courthouse to vote in the FREEDOM V0TEo You can vote at churches, barber shops, cafes - at any FREEDOM VOTE polling place. AND: VOTE for VICTORIA GRAY in the FREEDOM VOTE on OCTOBER 30 - 31 and NOVEMBER 1-2. LYNDON JOHNSON FOR PRESIDENT HUBERT HUMPHEY FOR VICE PRES. AARON HENRY FOR SENATE WHEN: OCTOBER 30-31 NOVEMBER 1-2 WHERE: Or At Any FREEDOM VOTE Polling Place fv • Come to WASHINGTON To Support THE CHALLENGE OLTSIOE THE CAPITOL OF THE NATION ON JANUARY «k Qwr 500 Mississippians came to Washington to unseat the Mississippi Congressmen. The people were talking about their FREEDOM. Were you there? More people are planning to come to try to get Congress to unseat the Segregationists in late August. Find oat how you can help win the challenge. WHO IS GOING TO WASHINGTON? The people from Mississippi who support the CHAL LENGE. WHY ARE THEY GOING? To talk to Congressmen and to go to the Capitol in Washington to ask the Congress and the Nation to put out the Congressmen from Mississippi because we could not vote in the elections. ^Tfaey will ask the Nation for Justice and Freedom in Mississippi. WHEN ARE THEY GOING? Late in August. WHY ARE THEY GOING NOW? Because the Congress has all the evidence about Missis sippi and it is time for them to act. But the people from Mississippi must tell them what they want. WHO CAN GO TO WASHINGTON? Anybody who is not satisfied with conditions here in Mississippi. Anybody who wants to tell tne Congress about conditions in Mississippi. HOW WILL WE GET THERE? BY ORGANIZING TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP PAY THE WAY. PEOPLE ARE CALLING MEETINGS AND TALKING ABOUT' THE FREE DOM TRAIN TO WASHINGTON, WHY DONT. YOU FIND. OUT ABOUT THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON TO UNSEAT THE CONGRESSMEN, CONTACT YOUR FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY GROUP IN YOUR COUNTY. . We Didn't Vote — They Cannot Stay In Congress Come to the Meeting to Find Out / t fa Challenge Trip DATE PLACE To Find Out More About the Trip — Contact Your Nearest FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICE, or write or call ississippi Freedom Democratic Party 507 f~2N. Farlsh Street, Jackson, Mississippi T« I~ «L,,,« «, QAQ f\A7Q KEEP POWER m YOUR. HANDS The voters in a county now have the right to decide if they want to join with another county - and become just one county instead of two. (This is called wcounty consolidation,") *^ *"* * *""* ©lis right could be taken away UNLESS YOU & VOTE A A»HST the Amendment to Consolidate counties on November 8th, 1966. The Mississippi legislature has phased a law to say- that the Legislature - not the voters - should decide what counties will be put together. YOU CAN S*TOP 2MEM PROM TAKING AWAY THIS POWER FROM YOU, the VOTERS *— —• ^^^ I Amend VKexx 4~z> ^ / V O I c_ net Get more information from MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 5071 North Parish Street Jackson, Mississippi 352-9128 or 352-9312 On November 8, 1966 ballot there is going to be a referendum which asks the voters of the state to allow the State Auditor of Public Accounts to succeed himself. Right now, the law says that the State Auditor can only run once ( a 4 year term) and then he must wait 4 years before he can run again for the same office. Hamp King is now the State Auditor of Public Accounts. The State Auditor of Public Accounts checks the books of officials to see they have spent the money legally. Hethas a lot of Power. IP, he can run for the same office over and over again, he will keep getting more and more powerful. mm **• • Right now, the Governor and the Sheriff cannot follow them selves in office. If we allow the State Auditor to keep running for the same office then soon we will find that the Governor and the Sheriff will also be able to do the same. VOTE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT ON NOVEMBER 8th. IT IS AN ILLEGAL AMENDMENT WHICH IP PASSED IS A CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE OP MISSISSIPPI. ? Vote " NO " on Amendment to Section 134 of the Constitution. l Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party 507& North Parish Street Jackson, Mississippi 352-9128 352-3312- M.F.D.P. STATE CONVENTION ( Masonic Temple, Jackson, Sept. 12. 12pm) ONE THING THE STATE CONVENTION WILL DO THIS SUNDAY IS TO PICK SOMEONE TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE. NEXT YEAR (1966) SENATOR JAMEa 0. EASTLAND'S SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION. Senator Eastland has been in Washington a long tine - 23 years in fact. Because of that he has clinbed to the top of the tree in several IMPORTANT Comnittees, One is the Coixdte© which deals with COTTON. Sen. Eastland in 11 1 11 !• knows sonething about this. He lives on a plantation - at Doddsville in Sunflower County. He votes for cotton : it is also true that he votes against progrand that would help poor people. THE F.D.P. IS GOING TO TRY TO GET SOMEONE IN THE SENATE WHO WILL THINK ABOUT POOR PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS. AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM TOO. HE. OR SHE WILL BE YOUR CHOICE . THE CONVENTION WILL ALSO GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS OF 1. PLANNING WHAT WE SHALL DO IN WASHINGTON D.C. 2, PLANNING WHAT WE SHALL DO AFTER THE CHALLENGE, THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE YOU AND THE CONGRESSMEN IN A WAY YOU OWN CONGRESSMEN , LIKE YOU OWN YOUR OMN HOUSE, OR CAR ecetera. YOU DO, IF YOUR VOTE PUT HIM IN CONGRESS.. ' IN RETURN FOR YOUR VOTE HE IS SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU.-- A .....---•-:^--- IN MISSISSIPPI TOO ? WELL, REPRESENTATIVES ABERNATHY, WALKER, COLMER WILLIAMS AND WHITTEN, GOT INTO CONGRESS WITHOUT THE HELP OF MISSISSIPPI NEGROES. THERE WERE VERT, VERY FEW BLACK PEOPLE ABLE TO VOTE IN LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION. » WHY ? THE CONGRESSMEN SAID BLACK PEOPLE WERE'NT INTERESTED. ' OTHER PEOPLE SAID SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THE SUPREME COURT, THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, AND 60Q MISSISSIPPIANS AT F.D.P. HEARINGS THIS YEAR, SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MISS.-NEGROES HAD "BEEN BEATEN AND BOMBED. AND BECAUSE OF THE ILLEGAL VOTING #LAWS. AS ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE VOTED (COULD VOTE FOR THEM) * THE CONGRESSMEN WERE NOT. ELECTED BY AIL THE PEOPLE. SO m, IN THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHALLENGED THEM. WE ASKED THE HOUSE OF EEPRESENT* ATIVES TO UNSEAT THE CONGRESSMEN FROM MISSISSIPPI. Show the rest of the World - we. were saying -'that Congress believes in L real Democracy.- DOES CONGRESS BELIEVE IN WHAT IT SAYS ? SINCE WE TOOK OUR EVIDENCE , OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO REGISTER ecetera , TO CONGRESS, THERE HAVE BEEN HOLD-UPS. SOME POWERFUL MEN IN CONGRESS DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE MISSISSIPPI CONGRESSMEN THROWN OUT. over..• 2. THESE POWERFUL MM DON'T MIND SMALL CHANGES. THEY GO ALONG WITH THINKS LIKE THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL (this year's). They THINK THEY WILL GET PEOPLE'S THANKS •— AND THEIR VOTES. THEY PRETEND YOU CAN HAVE FREE AND OPEN ELECTIONS IN A PUCE LIKE MISSISSIPPI , WHERE .. BEATINGS AND BOMBINGS ARE STILL GOING ON. WHEN .OF COURSE , YOU CAN'T. When Mississippi voted on the Constitutional Amendment issue (August 14), some Negroes cast ballots some didn't. Some people who could, have voted ,were turned around. JUSTICE Can ONLY BEGIN .WITH AN END TO ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE REMOVAL OF OFFICIALS WHO GOT THERE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING IT. WHY SHOULD WE GO*TO WASHINGTON D.C.' ? CONGRESS IS A BIT. LIKE A MULE. IT TAKES PRESSURE TO MOVE IT, BUT IT MUST BE THE RIGHT PRESSURE. MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND THE N.A.A.C,?. ARE PRESSURING CONGRESS TO UNSEAT THE FIVE CONGRESSMEN. BUT.1THAT ISN'T ENOUGH . IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE PRESSURE FROM BLACK MISSISSIPPIANS M WASHINGTON TO MAKE UP SOME CONGRESSMEN'S MINDS. TO GET THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VOTES WE HAVE GOT TO GO IN LARGE NUMBERS. HOW MANY SHOULD GO ? AT LEAST 1,000 SHOULD BE THERE FROM ALL. OVER.MISSISSIPPI,...WE.: FEEL THAT THIS NUMBER IS, LARGE ENOUG.H TO MAKE CONGRESS DO SOMETHING , INSTEAD OF JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE page 3. WHEN TOLL WE GO ? WE SHOULD LEAVE MISSISSIPPI ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER IAth , SO AS TO BE IN WASHINGTON BY SEPTEMBER l6th. •^11.11—^H.., II III, I—«««— HOW LONG WILL WE STAY ? INCLUDING THE GOING AND THE COMING BACK , ABOUT EIGHT TO TEN DAYS, WHAT WILL WE DO IN WASHINGTON ? TALK TO EVERY CONGRESSMEN WE CAN SEE, AND TELL THEM THAT PEOPLE AREN'T SATISFIED WITH ALOI OF THINGS IN MISSISSIPPI. W, CAN ASK STILL BEING THEM (Congressmen) IF THEY KNEW THAT MISS. NEGROES. WERE /..PUT OUT. OF THEIR HOMES FOR TRYING TO DO THE THINGS WRITTEN INTO LAW IN 1954. WE WELL DEMAND - ALONG WITH SUPPORT GROUPS SUCH AS S.N.G.C. AND CO.R.E. - THAT CONGRESS MAKES A DECISION ON THE CHALLENGE, BEFORE IT GOES HOME. TIME W ILL ALSO BE SPENT IN WORKSHOPS ( discussing the Voting Rights Bill) AND IN VISITING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. HAVE YOU OTHER IDEAS ? IF YOU HAVE, COME TO THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE F.D.P. THIS COMING SUNDAY IN JACKSON. IT BEGINS AT IE NOON IN THE MASONIC TEMPLE, Ps : Buses, will be leaving on the I4th from Jackson, Greenwood, Meridian, Hattiesburg, and West Point, MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY \ 507% North Farish Street Jackson, Mississippi March 8, 1966 A mass meeting was held in Jackson last Saturday to talk about WHAT WE COULD DO TO END SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION IN HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CLINICS IN MISSISSIPPI. Mrs. Devine of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was chairman of the meeting and lawyers, doctors, and nurses were there with many MFDP people from all -.around the state. It was decided that we would have a mass campaign to get complaints against every health facility in Mississippi that discriminates. People should go to the hospitals and clinics in their community and then fill out the complaint forms (ONE FOR HOSPITAL AND ANOTHER FOR BOARD OF HEALTH CLINIC ) and return them to us. WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO OUR LAWYERS SO THAT THEY CAN CHALLENGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FORCE THEM TO END » DISCRIMINATION IN MISSISSIPPI HOSPITALS AND CLINICS. . • « — Let's no longer trade our human dignity in order to get decent medical care which is our right* ' ' ' A '' PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLAINTS FILLED OUT RIGHT^A-WAY TO: MEDICAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 507% NORTH FARISH STREET JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI \ / • i Jj^U/rt^oJ A MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY. A MEMO : Viet-Nam Pray-in : AND Sunflower City Election. ft'V; i i i PRAY-IB. The people in Sidon have decided to hold a pray-In around the Viet ^am war, It will be held at the Sidon Community Center, Ham Saturday, Marcn h 26th„ There'll be a fish fry at the close of the meeting Anyone who Is concerned about bringing Peace to Viet Nam ia asked to come0 Last week the people there put out a leaflet. It said : Negroes in Mississippi know That just a few getting togehher. Can't stop the war In Viet iN|am We know that talk can't stop the War But we know that if we can't speak about the War Getting that vote wasn' t much good We looked 8t what happened to Julian Bond They told him his election didn1t mean anything Because he said the War should st6p * We know there will be noone to work the land we want Or to build the houses we want, Or to live in them Or to learn in better schools If all out sons go off to Viet Nam. We know that only prayer Can do the thing we need So we are getting together for a prayer meeting To see if all the prayers Help stop the War in Viet ^am. The meeting is this SATURDAY , MARCH 26th, starting Ham NEW ELECTION A Federal Court has decided that the municipal election in Sunflower City, last year , was Illegal. It has said there must be new elections In this town for Mayor, five Aldermen, and a city Clerk. The decision came last Thursday after condideration of a P,D<,Po suit8 Our suit asked for elections thereto be declared illegal because Negroes had not had a chance to.participate. WE ASKED FOR A NEW ELECTION. Sunflower City In Sunflower County has a population of about 650 people. Its about "7ft$ Negro -.„ Last Friday about 100 people came to a FDP meeting to talk about the new election (thre date Is not fixed yet). They decided to have a big registration drive. Some people talked about running for office. • (••'• THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE RECONSTRUCTION DAYS THAT A A COURT HAS OVERTURNED AN ELECTION IN THE SOUTH. (map of Sidon -over-V, .; 7 .'" • • —r Q^€£rJ U/oo,> /> \\ 0 ... j o jvviLc^s vf*-!*fr *•') oA • -1 I I V r'tr i. i —> . W l .o •'.,: * A- j/\cksoNf * Co^^^vLij a^hLv is ^ 9^^ ro^ • -. • 1% - •-, •! rf c .'i i." • »-. -> r •>.. i ». -'• • -fit C. ; .;i.-o'' : •}•• V Mississippi" "Fre-edom Democratic Party"-:. .. 507ir North Parish Street... Jackson, Mississippi 352-9128 352-9312 April - 1966 EVERY school district in Mississippi can be desegregated this year if you are willing to make a minimum, effort. There are two ways that a ijohbo'l district can be desegregated: 1, By Court Order, or 2. By filing a plan with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. It is not important to you which method of desegregation is used in your district. What is important is that you and every member of your community exercise your rights. If you don't, no one will for you'. The white community is delighted to watch the Negro community sit back and do nothing. This is what they expect you and the members of your community to do. It is easy to exercise your rights. Some ideas that may be helpful to. you and members of your community follow. FIND OUT THE DETAILS,OF THE DESEGREGATION PLAN IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. 1, Call or visit your superintendent of schools. Tell'.him that you are Interested in your communities plans for desegregation this coming year and that you want to know the details of their plan. THIS SHOULD BE LONE IMMEDIATELY'. The reason for speed is that many school districts are now or will shortly begin their enrollment period. 2, Find out what grades will be covered by the plan. All children entering these grades will have the right to choose MY SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT In which these grades are taught. 3c Obtain forms for making your choice of schools. These forms should be sent to every parent Of a child in a grade reached by the plan. If any parent does not receive a form he may get one from the office o-f . the superintendant or from any school in the district. -'[>* Mail the form to the superintendents office, CLEARLY INDICTING THE SCHOOL OP YOUR CHOICE. A form must be mailed for each child. 5= The above, rules apply to both court ordered elans and plans submitted to HEW, .Additionally, in school districts under court order, CHILDREN IN ANY GRADE may exercise their freedom of choice to attend any school In the district whether or not the plan covers the childs grade. Simply write a note to the superintendant and request a transfer on behalf of any child or use a form provided by the school office. 6, In school districts operating under an HEW plan children in grades not covered by the plan may transfer: a, To attend school with a brother, sister or other relative LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE who has transfered under the plan, if the school to which the relative has transfered offers the grade in which the brother, sister or other relative will be attending. Example: A plan covers grades 1, 2, 3, i|-, 9, 10, 11, and 12. A child exercised his choice UNDER THE PLAN for grade one In a white school which offers grades 5 or 6 next year may transfer also even though the plan does not reach the childs grade. b0 To obtain a course not offered in the school which the child is assigned. Example: a course or courses are offered In the white school which are not offered in the Negro schools, ANY CHILD may transfer to take such a course even though the plan does not cover the grade the child is in. Using the example plan above, where grades 5,6,7, and 8 are not covered by the plan, any child in these grades can transfer to take a course not offered In the Negro school. Examples would lnoludo languages, science, art, music, shop, etc. Because of the right to transfer to take a course It Is Important that you find out exactely what course are offered in both the Negro and white schools. c. If the child presently attends school outside of the district he lives In he must be given a choice of schools within the district in the coming year. "Oisit every person on your block and seek volunteers to visit every home In your district NOW1. Many school districts have not maintained or have maintained too few schools for Negroes. Because of this Negro children have been required to attend schools In neigh boring school districts. This cannot be done in the future. Any child whether or not the plan covers the grade which the child will attend next year, must be given freedom of choice to attend any school offering his or her grade. 7. This year all facilities must be desegregated and no child may be discriminated against on the basis of race or color. This means that every child must be permitted to participate in athletics, dances, lunchroom activities, school sponsored clubs, transportation and every other activity or function at the school. This includes parents also - a'll parents must be permitted to participate in any school related program for parents including PTA. meetings, attendance at athletic and other school functions to which parents or members of the general public are invited, •8. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH NO PL'-N If your district has no plan they can be sued to desegregate. The Department of Justice may bring «uch a suit for you and all members of your community. Write, Attorney General.Katzenbach, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. and tell him that your schools discriminate against Negroes and that you want him to do something about It. In your letter besure to tell him the name of your school district and the name of the school district. You may also contact us and we will be glad to help you in any way that we can. 9. If your community is to effectively desegregate schools, the people must be informed of their rights. It Is helpful to contact church leaders, business organizations, clubs, and all other groups and inform the fir-members of their rights, or request that they inform their members of their rights. 10. ENROLLMENT PERIOD. Every school district will be required to have an enrollment period of 30 days. (HEW plans will all have 30 day periods - we assume that court order plans will provide for 30 days also) Child exercising their choice during this 30 day period will be assigned to the school of their choice unless the school is overcrowed. If over crowded, children living closest to the school will be given priority - RACE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IN AWARDING PRIORITIES'. Every student must exercise a choice. It is important that choices be made during the enrollment period so that the children will have priority. Choices can be made after the enrollment period but in the event of overcrowding children making late choices will not be given a priority. Many school districts are now in their enrollment period - these districts include Jackson and Meridian. Act now'. IP YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR YOU WANT PUT HER INFORMATION OR YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH YOUR SCHOOL OFFICIALS IN GETTING INFORMATION OR IN EXER* CISING YOUR RIGHTS OR IF WE C "IT BE OF ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US. WE WILL BE GLAD TO MAIL YOU ANY INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL PAMPHLETS LIKE THOSE ENCLOSED WITH THIS LETTER; JUST WRITE AND TELL US HOW MANY (PLEASE TAKE ONLY AS MANY AS YOU WILL USE). Henry M. Aronson Marian E. Wright 538! North Parish Street ' : •• Jackson, Mississippi mssossom FI^XM D^OCMTOC PASM. MffiO : Io Qpuniy chalnmen, Q,D'JjM, ckainmen and MFffP Aiaff. ^£ ; $une "Jik Democratic fnimany. election % 20£i. O966. o:7UD SUOTS Ike F.D.f, kaA J,UA1 fougkiiiw AUHA... one io delay, ike date of ike Democratic fnimany f^une yik) election*, and ike oiken, io make ii poAAible pan. candidates io nun. Jin ike aenenal election, OA well OA in ike pnimany election. Ike second AuLt , ikougk, had a lanaen. punpOAe, Oi WOA aimed al qeilina. nid of a MiAAiAAippi election law (AeccLon 302% of ike MidA. JjxLe) -which. AayA ikai a candidale hoA io Aupponi ike palfonm and pnincipleA of ike paniy koiding, ike election. (JJe ikink HA Autficient io day. ikai ike Democratic Paniy of ikiA Siale voied in. favon (l^oU) of delegation and agaUxAi ike 1^6U Q-vil HigJvtA Bill, __ Ike AUHA wene keand by ^udfye. Qlayion al Oxfond (jjjLdAtdAippL/ on Monday and lueAaay. , . •. ' We IOAI ike xxxfabc Auii -t delay ike election, bul we won ike nlgkl io have oun. candidates nim in xrie genenal eleciiton OA well OA in. ike pnimanij. election. eian.e now goinA io appeal $udg.e QlauionlA nuling, in ike fi/iAt J e one Aaying, thai ike election on june 7 will noi be nepncAeniaiLve until /none NegnoeA one. negiAiened io vote. 2. Mf?t AKJ IHj TOLUNg STATIONS ? Ike Qouniy fetecwtive . fcamiiieeA of ike Democratic Parly of ftliAAlAAippi. one n.eApondibie Ion ike nunnina oi. ike Pnimanu elections on fl * n 11'•' T 0 • I ' i I 'it II' i° i •' • " i June /in. to find oui wnene ine potLina AiattonA one JJI youn county , wniie , on call, ike ckainman of ike (ouniy ex.ecuiL^e Qommiiiee, Below , Li a pantial liAl of ike Qouniy chairmen : AMIS - ftk. W.g. (anien., Naicke$. AM9T£ - Din. Wt L. Bannon , Summit. ATTALA - ftk. 'John Q. Lake $nn., KoAciuAko B£HT0N~ fifa. foe H, Heniley, Sauldbuny, lenn. BOUJVM- f'h. F.H. Nance, (levelxwd. ° (MPOLL- /tin. fj~, Allen, (oAAoWton. (H9Q(ASAV) - Mn. fneAion D. Qzfvten, Van Vleei. Qlaikonne.- flfa. K.D. Qaae. 000, foni C/ivAon. Qianke- 'Robeni £. Qavingion $ni., Quitman. (lay — / ,$. lubh, 'JJedi Poini. Qpakoma- fth. f-.H. Qmnon, QlankAclale. Qppiak- l%i, Bnyan A. QtewA, Ha^LehanAi • Dedoio - 2'^* Ru^^um, Hennando, Fonn&di- Ph.. f.Q. folk, RaiiLedbuna Hancock- fhn.. joe V. foldon, Waveland HanniAon- Ma.. BidweH Adam, {/uliponi, HinaU- fin. WiJl WelU, fcJvon. HolmeA- l%i, foe /ingle, Lexington. [Aee ovenloeafj page. 2. Lisi of Democratic chalnmen : (coni.J HUMPHPFJ/S - Mn.. V.B. Montgomery, Belgoni uj#/- Mn, William Lision, Winona OSSAQJ£M- fill. C Neuman, Valley Pank NESHOBA- Mn.- (anley Peebles, Philadelphia $A(KSON- fih. Poberi OAWOM, PaAcagoula N(WON-Mn. S.T.Poabuck, Newion. fflSPQi- Mn. Herman SimA, Bay SpningA. NOXUB&- fih. Mn. (kanles Fnqley, Macon $£FF£PSON- Mn, Fannan M Tnulfr, Fayette, 0K70BB£HA- Mn. W.£.PhillipAt Sianhville fo)N[S- Mn. Lesien Welch., Taylonsville, PANOLA- Mn, Dan L. FengitAon, Bales ville, K£filP£P- Mn. L.P.Spinhs, Dekalb. POKl- Mn. W.B. Richmond, Summit LAFAy{TF(- fih, ftXWilUanu,. Oxfond, QJOTfiAN-fih. T.N. goneSn.., fi)anks. LAUD{PDAL£~ Mn. QDl Shields, Menidian. PANKON- Mn. W.F. gondon, Flonence. L£AK£- Mn.. gilbent Bnaniley, Madden. . SQOTT- fih. Hugh MSunpky,. Fonesi. /L L&~ ^ * ^'P'Fo/id, (juniown. SHAPKQl- Mn. W.S. gajuieil, Anauilla L£FLQP£~ Mn, Albert King, §neenwood. SOfilPSON- Mn. £7. McAlpin, Magee, /XaW^S-ffh. SJ.PilMnionSn., Aniesia SUNFLOWfP- Mh. Oscan B. Townsend, fihdiAon- Mn. Herman MdAby, (anion. Ondianoia, flrWON- Mn. foWinfned (allenden, (olumbia TALLAHAT(H9i- Mn. fohn W.WhLtien fo, MAPSHALL- %V, (hanleJsi Dean. H,SpningA Sumneru lAlfc- Mn. Fned Sitffis, Senaiobia fi'DNPO^- fiht Bill Fowlhes, Among. TOPPAH- Mn. Lee Duncan, Pipley MLTHALL- fik. W.P, Bnumfield, Tylentown. ikeAe men one pnimaniXy TUNOQA-Mn. £.M. Hood, fo., Tunica. responsible fen-ike• way ike WAPP[N- fih. Pobeni M. Koesilen, Vlchsbu $UM£ 7 Democratic Pnimany WASHONgTON-fi)n. $eneB.NaAkSn. elections one nun in your, gneenville. county. I Key , and ikeLr. WLK3NS0N- fih. foF. Poilins, (eninevUle commiiiees, Aay who will be WONSTON- Mn. Neat Pnisock, Louisville. ike people io man ike polling HaZCO- fih, fohn S. Hoimes, Hagoo (ily» places. #***-X-*-)f-;HBC-***^^**^ FOP SMPLf BALLOTS AND DFTA3LS ON r/UL4¥J(H3Ng PCLLONg AND P0LL4WQ!0r:g wniie, on call (collect)- ->c:) M.F.D.P. 50/} N.Fanisk, fockson. $28 Ikejie, will pnobably be apoilina Aiaiion in ike Pnecinci in which, you live. Ike (ouniy Executive (hainman (see above) of the Democratic Paniy can ieil you ukene. Ike h ,D,P, would like io Aee. ikai we have a penAon at each, polling, place, On vcew of what happened in Alabama eanlien ihis monik, we will liave io waick out fon fraud and iniimidaiion. Anyone can be a POLL-WA/(H£P, providing, ikey have been aaikonised by a candidate who Li nunning, hi ike election. We have Aeni oui Apecial fonms fon ikls punpoAe, £ack of ike candidates we one Aupponiing, Anould have ikese fonms available, gei in contact wiik :- $ev, (lifion Whitley, Pusi (allege, Holly. SpningA (nunning. fon US Senate); /?,''Dock Bnurmond, P.O. Box. $80, KpAclusko ( Ost Dlshiict, US House), f'h, Paiikus Hatf.es, Pi, 2, Box 259} lekula (2nd DLiihict, U.S, Rouse) Pev, £d. King., cjo SCT/i N. Fanisk Si, fockdon (jnd District, US House) Pev. (lint (ollien, Pi, J, Phtiadelphia (kik District , U.S. House). Mn. Lawnence guyoi, c/0 50~/j Nonik Fanisk Si, fochson (Sik Disinici, U.S. House), —r-—*—-•„- . •••<., , , r A? /7 /c--/^>r t~ u *.-\ £*y '^^a^MwMMiewcMisfi^tfaBaaByj. v "f- O >?!'. '•f%e£rteiXj -A "-"-••' '"""' ALA^ tf^T- jfe^ »"^ ^a ..i o u.j- p t ;'c j A- r V"/ . ..;;A... /r> /< o /H /s"< /f^ ; [yaTf^^i J --'•'** TOW YOUR MISSISSIPPI/CONGRESSMAN VOTED LAST YEAR. Abernethy, Khittenr Williams, and Colmer all voted the same way on these issues.. .Aioy voted against the elementary and Secondary Education Act0 This is designed to help the education of peer people,, s**They voted against Medicare.^.,. iThey vAei agaij^t the repeal cf Section 1AB frcm the Taft Hartley Act, If the Section had been repealed, it would have been easier for Labor UAion to organize in icn.ssi~ssappXg \ y voted a,:"'-'::'; the rent subsidy bill. This bill is to help poor people with their | I :;y- rr:^ 'AT1 WHAT YOUR WilTE CC^O^ESSMAI HAS POME FOR YOU AND MB . ' o © : V'A DC ''HEN You VOTE ON JUNE 7 When ;/ :. i .hs p'AAAr.s place, the man will ha.il you a piece of paper. This Is the ballbtc If you can'-1 write good or mad good, tell, the man and he is supposed to help , All you have to do is to n.;A.e a cark by the candidate you want to see win, It has to be a nark like this J.:. aftel lb has to cose right in the line „, dike this( X ) When you have dcos tl ' z put your ballot in the box0 If the man says give it to him, do thato This is what the Mississippi law says In-supposed to happen, but people »s (White and Black) have d;a: .cAtiercntly in the pasta You have_;AA.a-A'-3 _ to mark your ballots If the man gets to cussing or anything let your pollwai.cher mow about it, or your nearest FDP office, or you could call (collect) the L,C,~cC„, Jacks^K 943-4191, or the Lawyers Committee, Jackson 94S-5400. ^> ' '-A # P v A v " <> frd ; r* A \\ !\ Hy wktrx - —ii-lLt LJJLjK i & AV A iYh \ P o\W Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Cadidates Reports. -£07l North Parish Street .-----. Jackson, Mississippi Phfcne 352--9I28-—9312 Dear MFDP: . There seem to be a great deal of confusion and.comcern over the results of the first election suit in Oxford , May 16, 1966 ( the section 3129 suith The basis cf the Lawsuit was to interpert this section in our favor or declear it unconstitutional if it were interperted against ue<. After our presentation setting forth our point of view Mr. Will--- Wells , the Assistant Attorney General of the State of Mississippi stood up and stated the following: " We do not contend , if the Court please, that section 3129 bars them ( the Cadidates ) from running in the General election. " Once the Court heard that he advised us that since there was no longer any controversy pver the fact that the statute said what we wanted it to .say the case must be terminated and so we moved to discontinue the actios The net result is what we come for , we came home with that is our Cadidates may run in the Primary election and them may run in the General 'election, Donald A. Jelihek BIOGRAPHIES OF THE CADIDATES Rev. Clifton R. Whitlejr, aged 32 , Chaplin and Professor at the Rb Rust College , Holly Spring's . Running for the Senate seat now ..held by James Eastland. Rev. Whitley studied at Rust College , and at the Gammond Theological Seminary in Atlanta c. Married , with one child , he served in Korea during 195>1 with the 7th Infantry Division, H e has been active in civil rights; since 1958. In August, 196J+, he went to Atlantic City as one of the MFDP -delegates to the National.'Democratic Party Convention in Atlantic City A' Ralthus Hayesj age 5>0, a farmer from Tchula, Holmes Co. Mr. Hayes is married and has five children. He Is running for the seat how held by Jamie Whitten, of Charleston, Tried for 11+ years to pay poll tax in the county of which he is now, county P.D.P. chairman . He was fired from his job in 1951+ when he tried to register to vote, A B aptist, he helped buil the Holmes Co. community Center at Mileston in 196i|o Rev. Ed King, aged 30, Chaplain and Dean of students at Tougaloo College, Jackson,, A Mothodist, he was born at Vicksfeurg., and has : studied at Millsaps, Boston University School of Theology and Harvard University. Since 1960> he has been arrested over a dozen times in connection with civil rights'. He was selected'National Committeeman by the MFDP I96I4. State Convention. He is running for the seat now held by John B ell Williams.. Married, with one child, he received the I96I4. John P. Kennedy Freedom award* Rev, Clint Collier, aged 56, a Methodist minister and farmer from Philadelphia, Neshpba County,, One of a family of 13, he studied at Tougaloo College, Jackson State College, and the School of Architecture and Engineering, Howard University. H e served in the Navy, 19^3-45° H e taugh* math in Neshoba Co. school wntil 196A4., when he lost his post because of civil rights activity. H e is pastor of two churches, and co-FDP chairman of Neshoba Co. He has three children. Lawrence Guyot, 26, from Pass Christain on the Gulf coast. Ml?. Guyot, who is state chairman of the MFDP, studied at Tougaloo College, majoring in physics and chemistry. In 1962 became field secretary for BNCC, and in 1961+ organized the first Freedom Day in Mississippi, at H attiesburg. In 1963. served two month in Parchman for his involvement in Freedom Rides. H e was elected chairman of the MFDP, August, 1961+. In October, 1965, he appeared before Democratic National Committee to ask recognition for the MFDP as the legal Democratic Party of Mississippi,, He is running for the seat held by William Colmer, POLLING AND POLL *# WATCHING There will probably be a polling station in the precinct in which you live „ The County excutive Chairman of the Democratic --•-• party can tell you where. The Freedom Democratic Party would like to see that we have qt each polling place , In view of what happen in Alabama , (1) In Alabama Black peoples had to wait in line a long time before they voted, Some peoples , because of thier work, had to leave before they got a chance to vote. (2) ^ome white peoples made things worse by taking a long time to vote. Peoples voted and then found out that thier votes weren't any good because they hadn't put thier vote on the line. (3) The peoples put It like this f~^~i or TJC) • The white officials said it should have been like this (.._ ^ ). (J+) These officials were trying to disquality the Black peoples, The same thing will happen in Mississippi. (5) We have got to let all peoples known what to_A3o at the polls, and what to expect, (6) One way to see how things go on at the polling place , Is for us to have poll—watcher,, AnY one can' be a' poll---wathcor .providing that they havo boon.— ._. authorised by the Candidate that is riming in the Election. We have sent out forms for that'purpose. Each of the Cadidate we are supports should have these forms available .. Get in touch : . ... Rev.( Clifton Whitley, Rust College, Holly Springs(running for^US — Senate) Mr. Dock Drummbnd , P*0. Bos 587 , Kosciusko ( 1st Dictrict US H ouse) Mr. Rathus Hayes Rt,2 Box 259, Tchula ( 2nd dictrict US H ouse) Rev. Ed,King c/o 507^- N. Parish Jackson ( 3rd dictrict US House) Rev. Clint Collier , rt.7, Philadelphia (Uyth dictrict , US House) Mr. Lawrence Cuyot , c/o I4.2I E. 6th Street Hattieburgs (5th. Dxctrict.. /Sri WHAT is M.A-P- ? On September 13, 1966, Governor Paul Johnson gave a state charter to a new organization to control Federal anti-poverty money in Mississippi. Its name: Mississippi Action for Progress - MAP These men - all white - got the charter and control MAP: Owen Cooper, President of the Mississippi Chemical Co.; President of the Mississippi Economic Council; big businessman from Yazoo City. Leroy Percy. Chairman of the Boaid of Mississippi Chemical Co.; Chairman of the Pirst national Bank of Greenville; owner of the Trail lake Plantation. He gave $1,000 to Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Lodding Carter III, editor of the Delta Democrat-Times and chairman of the Young Democrats of Mississippi - pledged to support Lyndon Johnson. The charter was part of a DEAL. • The Washington end was planned in the White House (by IBJ). The Mississippi end was planned by Douglas Wynn. Wynn is a Greenville lawyer. He is the lawyer for the Miss. Young Democrats. He gave $1,000 to Lyndon Johnson. He is now working hard to get Eastland re-elected. (New York Times. October 4, 19bo. and Delta Democrat- Times. July 27. 1966.) THE DEAL: to give control of Pederal anti-poverty money to men who would deliver the Negro vote to Lyndon Johnson in 1968. The White House got Roy Wilkins to bring in Aaron Henry to integrate MAP. He brought in Charles Young, cosmetics maker from Meridian, and Rev. R.L.T. Smith, supermarket owner in Jatekson. (New Republic, October 15, 1966) Other men were added to the board: Rev. Merrill Idndsey (Aaron Henry's brother-in-law), James Gilliam, Rev. W.P. Davis, Oliver Emmerich, and plantation owner Oscar Carr. Henry, Young, Smith, and Carter all got together before to try to form a political machine to sell the black vote to Lyndon Johnson. This was the Mississippi Democratic Conference. formed in July of 1965. Young was vice chairman of the MDC. Smith was treasurer. Young also gave $1,000 to Lyndon Johnson. Ilae Charter of MAP gives it unlimited power I On October 11, 0E0 gave the first $3 million of $10 million set aside for MAP. MAP will use this money to build a political machine. The black men who loin MAP are only being tricked. Many years ago in Mississippi, just the same thing happened: Black "leaders" sold their people's vote to rich whites. The rich whites used the political power of the black vote until they didn't need it any more. Then they took away the right to vote, in 1890. Paul Johnson and Senator Stennis say they like MAP. We know what this means: that MAP won't change the way we live. MAP was set up by rich white men. They own factories and ' plantations. We work on Oscar Carr's plantations for almost nothing. But ^ he says he i8 our friend f Let's face facts: President Lyndon Johnson and the MAP board only care about OUR VOTES. They do not care about our Children, They are using our Children as political footballs: to give poor people money and then throw our New Votes around where they want to. They are trying to make a political plantation out of Mississippi, run by Paul Johnson, Sen. Stennis, Sen. Eastland, Douglas Wynn, and Hodding Carter for Lyndon Johnson. Our grandparents were sold out in the same way many years ago. WE need to KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US - and WHO is doing it - and WHY # Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party - Community Development Agency - Freedom Information Service * , MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC — PARTY " I saw the doors close and now I have seen them open again. " Rev. W.G. Middleton Batesville, Mississippi Rev. Middleton saw the doors close in 1890 when he was 10 years old. In that year Mississippi in effect-repealed the 13th, lhth, and l^th Amendments by dis enfranchising almost the entire Negro population of the State. For Ik years>• Rev. Middleton and almost one million other Negroes lived -under the "Mississippi Plan" - a legal and social system that kept them silent, powerless, and terrori-. zed. But in I96I4. these Negro citizens began to speak out through an organization of their own creation - the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The MFDP is undertaking: 1. A state-wide voter registration drive; 2. Campaigns with MFDP candidates running against all five Congressmen and Senator Eastland; 3. A drive to get mobile registrars; h. Intensive political organizing to develop local leadership; 3>, A reapportionment suit calling for redistricting of the State Legislature and new elections; 6. Demanding recognition as the only functioning Democratic Party in Mississippi from the National Democratic Party; 7. A drive to get federal registrars into all 82 Mississippi counties. Inorder for all of us to accomplish thee Issuescwhich we -are now und6rtaki.ng, it is Tery important that everyone involve themselve in a sub-committee, 0:"' . through these sub-committees raa'-c»n begin to organize in...our communities, gain local leadership and explore the provision of the various programs " offered us on the state and national levels. We would urge everyone to take an interest in the sub-committees and tefce note of tettfcai. of sub -commit tee meeting in future Mailings, FREEDOM, ^fSfliv^al 1 ^ ... '"vO H 1 i ; «2P r n For.A the WAR- ' .. '" 'STUART W, ROCKWELL STATE DEPT. WASHINGTON D.C, PRO?. JOHN Q, ADAMS CHAIRMAN. POLITICAL SCIENCE MPT, , J/TTJ.SAP iX jjijfc. ? COLLEGE, JACKSON AgaAng^i the WAR ..DAVE MCREYN0LD3' EXEC, SECRETARY, WAR RES1STERS LEAGUE PRO?. EQBAL AHMAD SCHOOL OP INDUSTRIAL (FROM Pakistan) B'PT, flr p T ON « f0A W'R T,T, TT'MTVR,X7!?TmY An event jointly sponsored by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and Tougaloo College's Social Science Advancement Institute # ^gA?. •' < , •u f FEDERAL I AM Mr Ralthus PROGRAMS Hayes r~^ ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS including AHTIPOVERTY programs should be rim by 1 AM KOHKINS FOR C0HGR3SS POOR PEOPLE. Washington must rewrite IB TEE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL tho guidelines of CAP and other programs so that LI STRICT- money which ia meant for the Poor is controlled by I AM A FARMER WROU TGKULA Poor People. IB HOLKES COUNTY. I AH AH HSADSTART is run by tho Poor,, gives jobs to^the Poor, ACTIVE EBESDQM. sJORKER ; I and nursery schools*"^© poor children for the first time.. HAVE WORKED OH VOTER WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE C.D.G.M, Headstart PROGRAM REGISTRATION, AND SCHOOL EXPANDED IK THE SECOND DISTRICT — TO EVERY GOUETI IHTEGRATiOH WHERE IT LOESSB'T EXIST. WAR will stand up> for AND MEDICARE EOfi ALL M3S P_oy_ERXY AH END TO SEGREGATED HOSPITALS. We want to see tho money that is being used to expand HIGHER MIMMB/WAGB bho war in Vietnam, tissd 3 TO REALLY EIGHT POVERTY, AH EXTENDED HEADSTART PROGRAM committee to e!~ct havp 306 3rd st, Lexington • I 1 SCHOOLS VOTE s fII Schools in all the^cojjnfcles FOR iVsi JL ", i. f the State should be 41 mproved — with hotter hooks, M • labs, rx •hatever parents mid teachers I'eel is most needed. ME X PARENTS SHOULD 2AVB A SAY AH EACH COiiv UNITY AS TO WHAT AMPE0YKM3HT3 ARE IM'E IB THE SCHOOLS. On June 7 'JOBS 7e want to see ALL GRADES Wo need a large-scale program through Graduate and Law from Washington for hiring '.ohools, integrated this year, people to build roads, sowers,. (ITH SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO dams, olear forests iN TK4E 2nd ALL WHO HEED THRV-JQR COLLEGE. Wo should encourage MW INDUSTRY here ~~ but make laws CONGRESSION so It has to hire fairly, and pay a HIGHER M1EIKUM WAGS. AL DISTRICT LAND DEMOCRAT We want to see 'Washington pica for FEDERAL LAND TO BE GIVEN TO LANDLESS PEOPLE. Primary Election RIGHTS We are tired of a State where there is no protection for the People, We want to see from Washington,,,• PROTECTION OE THE RIGHTS OE THE PEOPLE TO VOTE, TO ENROLL LEGAL THEIR CHILDREN IN IETEG RATED SCHOOLS. TO PROTEST UNEAIE Wo want to see ERSE legal CONDITIONS. counsel for the POOR. BOTH WHITE AND NEGRO... and integrated Juries, .. , .,..— , . •— ..,...., ii, • .- „.•.--«-».-.mj.wm-i» M •. !••>.••• M-^„ •..,.,., ,.,.,,,,,.,,•,,•. . -•*— -—>-•>.--r I will write or wire Katzonbach and Shriver help raise funds for S\jnflower contact organizations in my community for support write or visit my Congressman other: Name; Address; TH is SIDE OF CARD is. FOR ADDRESS MISSISSIPPI EREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARIt ' \. SO^G STREET, S. E, - WASHINGTON, D, C GRAPHIES OP THE CANDIDATES CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. SENATE; Rev. Clifton R. Whitley, aged 32, Chaplain and Professor at TAast College, Holly Springs. Running for the Senate seat now held-by James Eastland. Rev. Whitley studied at Rust College, and at the Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Married, with one child, he served in Korea during 1951 with the 7th Infantry Division. He has been active in civil rights since 1958. In August, 196k, he went to Atlantic City as one of the MFDP delegates to the National Democratic Party Convention in Atlantic City. CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, 2nd DISTRICT: Ralthus Hayes, aged 5>0, a farmer from Tchula, Holmes Co. Mr. Hayes is married and has five children. He is running for the seat now held by Jamie Whitten, of Charleston. Tried for Ik. years to pay poll tax In the county of which he is now, county F. B.P. chairman. He was fired from his job In 195k when he tr.ied to register to vote. A Baptist, he helped build the Holmes Co. community Center at Mileston in 196k. CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, 3rd DISTRICT: REV. ED KING, AGED 30, Chaplain and Dean of students at Tougaloo College, Jackson. A Methodist, he was born at Vicks burg, and has studied at Millsap3, Boston U niversity School '"if Theology and Harvard University. Since 1960> he has been arrested over a dozen times In connection with civil rights. He was selected National Committeeman by the MFDP 196k State Convention. He is running for the seat now held by John Bell Williams. Married, with one child, he received the 196k; John F. Kennedy Freedom award. CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, kth DISTRICT: Rev. Clint Collier, aged 56, a Methodist minister and farmer from Philadelphia, Neshoba County. One of a family of 13, he studied at Tougaloo College, Jackson State College, .and the School of Architecture and Engineering, Howard University, He served in the Navy, 19k3-k5« He taught math In Neshoba . Co. schools until 196k, when.he lost his post because of civil rights activity. He is pastor of two churches, and co-FDP chairman of Neshoba Co. He has three children. CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, 5th DISTRICT: Lawrence Guyot, aged 26, from Pass Christain on the Gulf coast. Mr. Guyot, who is state chairman of the MFDP, studied at Tougaloo College, majoring in physics and chemistry. In 1962 became field secretary for SNCC, and in 196k organized the first Freedom Day In Mississippi, at Hattiesburg. In 1963 served two months In Parchman for his involvement in Freedom Rides. He was elected chairman of the MFDP, August, 196k. In October, 1965, he appeared before Democratic National Committee to ask recognition for the MFDP as the legal Democratic Party of Mississippi. He is running for the seat held by William Colmer. •SHHKBHHKHHHH;- MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY. RESIST E SIX E.D.P.-supported candidates are running for Congress this year. They are :- REV. CLIFTON WHITLEY, for Senate, Mr, DOCK DRUMMOND, for US House, 1st District. MR, RALTHUS HAYES, for US House, Snd District. REV. ED. KINS, for US House, 3rd District. REV. CLINT, COLLIER, for US House, 4th District, Mr. LAWRENCE GUYOT, for US House, 5th District. They hare a - 6 POINT PUN FOR REFORM and PROGRESS in Mississippi IE IN 1, JOBS * The setting up of worfcafele Eedaral programs for displaced plantation and migrant workers0 * The repeal of 14 B, * The desegregation of all State and local employment offices. 2, EDUCATION * Desegregation of all School facilities from pupils through teachers to the administration - from the Elementary School to College, * federal aid through College. * Compulsory education up to 17, * Mora adult education, literacy, and Tocational training,., the setting up of more Junior Colleges, JttV!UOI\ - . - 3, HEALTH and WELFARE * Extend Medicare to everybody * Increase Welfare benefits. * Make welfare available to children of unemployed parents * Complete desegregation of all hospitals and public health clinics. * A hospital building program , REAPPORTIONMENT * Reapportionment of both Houses of the State Legislature on the basis of ths Supreme Court decision CHE MAE - OEE VOTE. * Reapportionment of counties. 5, POLITICAL REFORM * Lower th® voting age to 18. * Reform th© Jury system * Hand over control of poverty programs from City Hall and Boards of Supervisors to LOCAL PEOPLE. * Agrarian reforms - Use of federal land for and by people who don*t have a place to stay, * Congressmen should finance offices in each county, where they can receive complaints and establish communication with their constituents. * Free and open elections in ASCS elections, county, city, State, Congressional and Senatorial elections. * Federal MOBILE registration. LEGAL * Provide free Legal counsel for the Poor. THE CANDIDATES and GUEST SPEAKERS will be at A Convention of the FDP to mark the second anniversary of its founding OM SUNDAY. APRIL 24th at the Masonic Temple, Jackson, start 2,pm. For more information, write or call : Mlssississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 507i North Farish St. Jackson. 352-9128, SECOND BIRTHDAY OF THE MfTDP SUNDAY APRIL 24 AT THE MASONIC HALL JACKSON Z°00pm. A MASS RALLy ^ CANDIDATES GUEST SPEAKERS ^ SINertrs/Gr ^f SUNFLOWER ELECTION The Black People of Sunflower City have won a. great victory .... — They have won the right for a jew election, HOW? U March. I2tb, a FEDERAL COURT reached a decision on a, EQ,P $ui|. The Court ordered new ejections for town oJficUls BECAUSE BUCK PtOPLt of Sunflower had not been aJtaeU taAEfilSIEft, to VOTE We, People of the F.DJ» THINK THIS ELECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOB ALONG TIME Tit Black People ef Sunflower ma* tot choose WHO they mil to t ejusut them. FOR 100 years Black People have been kept out of Miss politics In SUNFLOWER CITY this has always been true There was no weapon of voting for Black People. " NOW this is changing. There are about 180 Negroes registered,and 160 Whites IN SUNFLOWER THE ELECTION Since March 12 the Black People of Sun flower have organi zed They have registered, they have held more literacy classes They have learned about taxes, and how a City should work They are building a community center, and have set up a campaign office THE ELECTION Very soon the date of the election will be set 8 people have said they want to run for office — Mayor, City Clerk, 5 Aldermen, The Black People who run will know the problems m and the answers in JOBS; WELFARE;SCHOOLS. These are the beginnings in Sunflower City,... Find out more what the Blaoi People of Sunflower are dolag.... Write, or call, Sunflower City MJTDP, 2»/0 Box 398, Sunflower City. Tel: Sunflower 17. We ask you to come to the aid of our fellow-Americans and write youi Congressman today urging him to vote to unseat the Mississippi Represent atives when the issue comes up. Urge your students and friends to also write: Congressman « U.S. House of Representatives Washington 25, D„ C. If you don't know the name of the Representative of your district, contact your Secretary of State or the persons in your state named below: TENNESSEE ALABAMA 'fill i « * • lini Mrs. Johnnie C, Fowler Mrs. Candace Gholston 1001 Old Cowan Road 905 N, Center Street Winchester, Tennessee Birmingham, Alabama Area Coue: 615 967-2592 EA 3-3220 VIRGINIA LOUISIANA :. • •.-..'•••,. I.Tifc«irfl> Mr. Herbert Coulton Mr, Jack Brady 432 Harrison Street P. 0. Box 1058 Petersburg, Va. Lake Charles, Louisiana RE 2-0643 433-4572 NORTH CAROLINA FLORIDA - - T I '-•' ' fTl ill I IT ' Mrs. Ethel A. Johnson Rev. Edward T, Graham 503 N, Boyte Street 356 N, Wa 9th Street Monroe, North Carolina Miami, Florida 283-4777 FR 4-1472 SOUTH CAROLINA or Mr, Benjamin Mack Dr. Robert Hayling 5249 Ridgeway Street 465 King Street Columbia, South Carolina Cocoa, Florida AL 4-0600 Area Code: 305 - 636-2103 or ' TEXAS Dorchester Center Mrs. B. M. Wheat Mcintosh Georgia 1120 Wd Lincoln .Area Code; 912 - 884-2444 Tyler,Texas Area Code: 214 • Ly 2-3163 Mrs, Bernice Robinson 22 Dewey Street GEORGIA Charleston, South Carolina Miss Annell Ponder SCLC 334 Aaburn Avenue Atlanta, Georgia Area Code: 404 - 522-1420 My own feelings about Eastland's re-electioni can be reduced to some fairly simple points • I. Whitley's name - his identification as a Black candidate and as a FDP candidate has persisted since June 7 primary. Little material, comparitively, was put out for Whitley this time round. We had practically no money and practiually no time. Even so, Whitley got nearly 30,000 votes and that is a reality. 2. It was an error to think Walker stood a serious chance if he got the Negro vote (150,000). The question begged others : how was it going to be delivered - what was the likely effect on the white vote once this was known, as it would have been. The idea here, I think, was to bargain. Or to show that we KHH have something with which to bargain with. But do we bargain new on a state-wide scale. If so, is this possible. 3. I don't think now that it was a mistake for Whitley to be on the ballot, for precisely the reason that it is psychologically important to repeatedly impress people with the idea they have (particularly on the local level) a Black, FDP candidate to vote for. Whitley had that aeffect. He - and the FDP - were constantly mentioned in the last week of campaigning. All this was free publicity (apart from the tiny fraction we bought), and had there been more staff, I think more advantage could have been taken of this. mike higson. -1 MEMORANDUM TO: ' Community Groups FROM: Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party The Delta Ministry I. Here are the State of Mississippi's new rules for the use of Federal money (Title I) in public schools. ($32 million) II. The important changes are: A.- Federal money must not be spent for regular programs; B - The Black and White schools should be completely equal before this money is spent; C - Advisory committees must be formed and must function; D - Limits are placed on construction and buying equipment; E - Money must follow poor children who attend white schools; F - The public has a right to know about the proposals and a right to call for hearings on things that are wrong. III. Your school district will be making a new project proposal in the next 2 or 3 weeks. IV. We ask you to take ACTION NOW: A - Get your people to form a committee and decide how you want the money to be spent. Make a list of what you want this year (free lunches, medical aid, Black history); B Ask to be on the Advisory Committee; C Go immediately to the Superintendent and School Board meetings and present your ideas. V. Make complaints if: A - The Superintendent won't show you the proposal before it is sent to Jackson for approval; B - If they won't put you on the Advisory Committee; C - If they won't put your groups ideas into the proposal; D - If your schools are not completely equal. VI. Make complaints out to the Local School Board AND SEND COPIES TO: Dr. Garvin Johnston Mr. John Hughes, Title I Program State Department of Education U. S. Office of Education Jackson, Mississippi 39205 400 Maryland Avenue, S. W. Washington, D. C. • 20202 Dr. Regina Goff U, S. Office of Education 400 Maryland Avenue. S. W. Washington, D. C. 20202 Community Groups Page 2 VII. If you want help for your group, these people will find someone to come to your community: A - Jake Ayers (Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party), Post Office Box 457, Greenville, Mississippi (355-1213) • B - Rims Barber (Delta Ministry), Post Office Box 457, Greenville, Mississippi (334-4587) C - Armand Derfner (Lawyers Constititional Defense Committee), 603 North Farish, Jackson, Mississippi (948-4191) D - Roger Mills (Legal Defense Fund), 538^- North Farish, Jackson, Mississippi (948-7301) E - Mike Trister (Rural Legal Services), 108 South Lamar, Oxford, Mississippi (234-2945) LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS DOING TO GET A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY. /3 fHj^°^'l Your CANDIDATE for Congress 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Politics is jhout the bread we eat# it is about Headstart. It is about the Sight of certain men to make slaves of others. It is about some men to be rich, and others poor. It is about War and it is about Peace. MY PLATFORM Health — IKDIGAKB for everybody —. Integration of ell medical and health facilities - — A medical survey and medical action in communities of poor people. Legal _ fre# legal aid for the poor. -— B«fora of the office of Public Defender. ELECT REV COLL. LR—- Education Increased adult education and adult vocational training. federal aid to education on all levels from 1st grade through College level. P I a t f o r m The immediate end of a separate school system. A compulsory school attendance law. Polica! Reform of the Jury system. Reform A lower voting age. The control of poverty programs by Poor People. Put the Voting Bill of 1965 into full effect. Housing Acceptance and implimentation of the federal Urban Renewal Housing Act. Heform of control of Federal Housing projects. e Jobs Allow free Union organizing : repeal section I4B. of the Taft Hartley Aot. .Bqual employment for everybody. Welfare Reform of the present welfare set-up. Increase in welfare benefits. VOTE REV COLLIER in the Democratic Primary I was born on August 24th,1910, in Meshoba Co., 14 miles from Philadelphia. My mother is from the same county, and my father came from Leake county. Three of my grandparents were slaves. Papa started me off counting-his money from cotton and seed sales when I was eight years old. 1 found that sometimes he got his money and sometimes he didn't. I did about any labor rAAfa to ggfc, through College, My father. and I ditched and cleare< the 1 children picked cotton, . 1 went north to the hits, cities, and during 1945-45 served in the iSavy. This teas followed by e period at ttoward University, and employment by the government , and in factories. In 1956 I came home. I came home and obtained a teaching licence - and a teaching job in the publie system. This lasted until the civil rights struggle came to the State, when I was put out of the school system. Also, when I returned hone, I entered the Methodist church, and took up farming again. for more information, advice, or suggestions "Write, or call, the Collier for Congress Committee : Rev. 0. Collier, George Raymond (campaign 242 A. Washington Ave, manager), Philadelphia. (Tel: 656-JJ998) 832 Lutz Stree* (Tel: 859-99441 Oancon. COLLIER FOR CONGRESS. COMMITTEE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FDP Summer Project. May 29th or May 30th, There should be a county meeting this week-end (may 29 May 30) in' EVERY county which has asked for, and Is planning, to have summer volunteers. This meeting should do several things :- 1. Go over plans for summer program. 2. Make sure there Is housing for volunteers. 3. Discuss and make suggestions for the planning of the orientation session of new volunteers. The orientation session will be held In Waveland June 10 - I5th and RUN BY MEMBERS 01 THE FDP. 4. Select 3 or 4 active people to go to a planning -. meeting in Hattiesburg, June 4, 5, 6th to discuss the Waveland orientation session and prepare material for it. 5- Plan the orientation session to be run by the county MFDP"s for volunteers when they arrive In the counties. ********* ********************** JUNE , 4, 5, and 6th Pre-orient&t ion session, Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Three or four people from ea ch county should be at this very important planning and working sessions. If this summer project is to be run by the FDP then ac tive members must be prepared to plan it. This include s preparing written material, and ;. conducting workshops in Waveland, and in general helping to teach the new volunteers everything your county thinks is important for them to know about Mississippi , the MFDP, and the program you want them to work with you on. There will be housing for people in the Hattiesburg community. *********** **** *********** ********* JUNE 10- I5th Orientation session for su mer volunteers for the MFDP summer project. This is to he held at the Gulfside Methodist Assembly in Waveland, Mississippi. This will be planned and run by those selected at the pre-orientation meeting in Hattiesburg. JUNE I5th Summer volunteers will leave Waveland , Miss., for yhe counties they will be working in. AFTER JUNE I5th '"••»" " '"" Hll*l HPWWip'K I'll1 Jfll«'"JI ' •»—"W«" 1 County orientation sessions should be held by the MFDP in every county for new volunteers. ********************** **** ******* State Office , Mississippi 507^ N. Farish Street Freedom Democratic Party. Jackson, Mississippi- ©48-4038. UNSEAT THE MISSISSIPPI CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DEAR CONGRESSMAN WE BELIEVE THAT THE HONOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS DEEPLY COMPROMISED BY THE PRESENCE OF CONGRESSMEN FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WHO ARE THERE BY VIRTUE OF ELECTIONS THAT ARE CONDUCTED IN BLATANT AND NOTORIOUS VIOLATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE, THEREFORE, URGE YOU TO DO ALL IN YOUR POWER TO SUPPORT THE CHALLENGE BROUGHT BY THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND VOTE TO UNSEAT THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SENT TO THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A DELEGATION ELECTED IN FREE ELECTIONS, OPEN TO ALL AND CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION, IS SENT TO THE CONGRESS FROM MISSISSIPPI. NAME ADDRESS 1. 2. 3 • 4. 5- 6. 7- 9- 10. 11. 12. 13- 14. COUNCIL CF FEDERATED ORGANIZATIONS 1017 Lynch St. Jackson, lass* LEAFLET DISTRI3UTIf.fi IS A CCN3TITUIC.ALLY G.'.URANTEBD "' RIGKT1! The following clearly affirms our constitutional right to distribute leaflets without requesting a permit from local authorities.. Local ordinances prohibiting this right or recuiring permits lor its exercise are clearly unconstitutional.. Thus, arrests for distributing leaflets constitute violations of the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution and we are within our rights to demand that such violations be immediately prosecuted by the Federal Government whose duty it is to uphold the Constitution. Since the decision in 1938 by the United States Supreme Court in Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, the public distribution of non-cormercial circulars, leaflets, pamphlets;, and other publications has been recognized as one of the activities protected by the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press. Tho ordinance under which thepetitioner Lovell was prosecuted prohibited distribution of literature without first having secured a permit from the City Manager. Holding the ordinance unconstitutional, the Court said: "...Whatever the motive which induced the adoption, its character is such that it strikes at the very foundation of the freedom of the press by subjecting it to license and censorship." AT 451 Subsequent decisionshave strengthened the authority of |^e Lovell case" In Schneider v. Irvington, 308 U.S. 147, in an opinion striking down a local ordinance restricting thepublic distribution of handbills • and circulars as a sanitary measure, the Court said, "...the purpose to keep the streets clean and of go d ap earance is insufficient to justify an ordinance which prohibits a person rightfully on a public street from handing literature to one willing to receive it." Several years later, in a similar case, Jamison v. Texas, 313 U.S. 413, the Supreme Court said, n...0ne who is rightfully on a street which the state has left open to the public carries with him there as elsewhere the constitutional right to express his views in an orderly fashion. This right extends to the Communication of ideas by handbills and literature as well as by the spoken word." See also galley v/ California, 362 S.S. 60; Marsh v. Alabama, 326 U.S. 501, and Martin v. Strutters, 319 .U.S. 141. These cases sustain the conclusion that there can be no limitations upon the peaceful distribution of non-commercial literature upon the streets of any municipality or on the public highway by local, state, or federal officials, as long as traffic is not unreasonably impeded. information from: The American Civil Liberties Union mi am W* OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL Ai\:j.-_„.,*ENT The state is asking the people for a "yes" or "no" on a Constitutional Amend ment which STRIKES OUT the illegal interpretation, good character, and publication sections from the state's voter registration test. The MFDP is asking ALL people to vote in the Referendum because voting laws affect ALL people. Those people who can vote are: 1. Those who have lived in the state 2 years and the election district 1 year; 2. Who will be 21 by November 3rd; 3. And who have not been convicted of a felony. If you fulfill these requirements, go to the polls to vote. If refused the right to vote, write a statement saying you were not allowed to vote in this election and send it to the State MFDP Office, 507 1/2 North Farish Street, Jackson, Mississippi. ..; 5 W u - : SUPPORT THE CHALLENGE of the five Mississippi Congressmen by coming "cc Washington and by signing petitions calling on Congress to unseat the The only way to create law and order in Mississippi and make the voting bill meaning ful is to change the voting laws in Mississippi arid to unseat the five Congressmen. JOIN THE LOBBY IN WASHINGTON TO URGE CONGRESS TO UNSEAT THE ILLEGALLY ELECTED CONGRESSMEN. If you wish to go to Washington in late August, contact your local FDP office. SIGN A PETITION ASKING CONGRESS TO UNSEAT THE ILLEGALLY ELECTED CONGRESSMEN. They are available at local FDP offices. The right to register will be useless unless people can use the vo The Vote means better jobs, better schools, unions, and law ana order for all sissippians. MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1353 *W Street, jf.Wi Washington, D.C. 332-7732 PRECEDENT FOR HOUSE ELECTION CONTESTS ROUSH-CEAMBERS ELECTION CONTEST This 1961 contest for the right to a seat In the Eighty-seventh Congress from the Fifth Congressional District of Indiana is the most recent precedent for action on House election contests. Republican George 0. Chambers was originally certified as the winner in the November i960 election over Democratic incumbent J. Edward Roush by the Secretary of State of Indiana in an extremely close election. Both Chambers and Roush came to Washington to claim the seat. Although Chambers had, on face, a valid certificate and Roush had n;ne at all,..on the opening day of Congress both men enjoyed access to the .floor of the House under the House Rules. After the Speaker of the House had been sworn in> Democrat Clifford Davis of Tennessee addressed the Chair as follows: "Mr. Speaker, on my responsibility as a Member-elect of the 87th Congress, I object to the oath being administered to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. George 0. Chambers). I "base this on facts and statements which I consider to be reliable." 2 The Speaker instrusted Chambers to remain seated while.the ratherMember s were administered the oath. Davis then offered the following resolution! "H. Res. 1 In the House of Representatives, U.S., January* 3, I961. Resolved, That the question of the right Of Ji Edward ROUsh or George 0. Chambers, from the Fifth Congressional District of Indiana., to a seat in the Eighty-seventh Congress be referred to the Committee oh HoUse Administration, vhen elected, and said committee shM.ll have the power* to send for persons and papers and examine witnesses oh o^th in relation tb the subject matter of this resolution; and be it further Resolved, That until such committee shall Report upori aiid the House decide the question of the right of either J. Edward ROush or Gebrge Oi Chambers to a seat in the Eighty-seventh Congress, neither shall be sworn.a Davis immediately moved the previous question, which was ordered by a roll-call voUe of 252-166. The Davis resolution was then approved by a standing v>te of 205-95- Pursuant to the resolution, the Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration heard oral argument of the parties and determined that a recount was necessary. This exhausting job was not completed until June 13> 19&1, when the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Rep. Robert T. Ashmore of South Carolina, submitted House Resolutions 339 and 3^0 and the accompanying Committee Report. H. Res. 339 was the Committee's resolution providing for administering the oath to Roush, who had been found the winner through the recount. After strenuous Republican objection on the floor to the original justification for end the procedure of the recount, the resolution was brought to a vote and passed. H. Res. 3^0, which proveded for payment tn Chambers (totalling about $2,000) from January 1 to the date of passage of the resolution and of Roush as a regular Congressmen from January 1 until expiration of his term, was also passed. During the 5 1/2 month period of the contest, both men enjoyed access to the floor of the House, however, neither was at any time recognized by the Chair (allowed to address the House), nor could either introduce bills or resolutions. The most important point to be made here, it would seem, is that under the terras of the Davis resolution, H. Res. 1, until the House made its final determination pursuant to the report of the Administration Committee, neither contestant was seated. 1. Rule XXXII, "Rules of the House of Representatives": p 919 2. Congressional Record; Vol. 107, Part 1; page 23 3- Op. Cit. 1 FANNIE LOU HAMER ANNIE DEVINE H^ VICTORIA GRAY THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE WHAT IS THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS? The United States Congress is a meeting of people chosen from all over the United States. These people meet in Washington to make the laws of the United States. Congress makes laws which say how much cotton a farmer can crop and how much he should be paid for his cotton. Congress made the Civil Rights law. Congress says how much money the government in Washington gives to Mississippi. Congress could make laws to give us good schools. Congress could make laws to say that people who chop and pick cotton should make more money. Congress could make laws to say that we can all get food and clothing from welfare when we need them. Congress could make laws to make it easy for everyone -- black and white -- to vote in Mississippi. WHY DOESN'T THE CONGRESS DO THE THINGS WE WANT? Congress does not do the things we want because we do not have anyone in Congress to speak for us. Jamie Whitten, John Bell Williams, Tom Abernathy, Prentiss Walker and William Colmer were chosen November 4th to go to Congress from Mississippi. We did not help choose them. We were not allowed to vote on November 4th. And so the men elected November 4th cannot speak for us. They do not know what we want. WHOM DO WE WANT IN CONGRESS? We want someone in Congress who will say what we want done. Many of us voted in a FREEDOM VOTE October 30th and 31st, November 1st and 2nd, for our repre sentatives in Congress. In the FREEDOM VOTE we chose Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer from Ruleville, Mrs. Annie Devine from Canton and Mrs. Victoria Gray from Hattiesburg to go to Congress to speak for us. Everyone could vote in the FREEDOM VOTE. So Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray can speak for us and all the people in Mississippi. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray are members of the FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY. The FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY is made up of people in Mississippi who want to vote and choose their representatives. WHAT IS THE CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE? Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray are going to Washington. They are going to say that they should be allowed to sit in Congress and talk about our problems. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray will have help from many people. We have friends in Congress who will tell other members of Congress on January 4th that the men chosen in Mississippi in the regular election should not be allowed to sit in Congress. And lawyers will come to Mississippi after Congress opens. They will want us to tell why we can't vote in Mississippi. And they will want us to tell how the Congressmen from Mississippi don't do the things we want. The lawyers will take these things back to Congress. They will tell Congress what things are like in Mississippi. They will ask Congress to let Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray sit in Congress as our representatives. Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray will also tell people in Congress and all over the United States what things are like in Mississippi. They will open an office in Washington, and they will tell everybody that they are the Congresswomen from Mississippi. WHAT MUST WE DO HERE IN MISSISSIPPI? We must make the Freedom Democratic Party strong in Mississippi. We must go to precinct meetings, county meetings, and the state meeting December 20th in Jackson and say what we want the Freedom Demo cratic Party to do. We must help the lawyers when they come to Mississippi. We must tell them how hard it is to vote in Mississippi. And we must tell them that we don't want the men elected in the regular election to represent us. We must tell them that we want / Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray to speak for us in Congress. We must be ready to go to Washington January 4th. We must go to Congress when it opens January 4~th, and tell the country that we want Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray to be our representatives in Congress. We must let Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray know what we want. We should send letters and petitions to Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray in Washington, and we should visit them there. We should tell them what is happening in Mississippi and ask them to help us. We should tell them what we want them to say in Congress. We should tell them about welfare, cotton allotments, jobs and schools. We should tell everybody in America that we want Mrs. Hamer, Mrs . Devine and Mrs . Gray in Congress. We should write to newspapers and congressmen in Mississippi and other states and tell them about the Freedom Democratic Party and about the Congressional Challenge. We should go to other states and speak about Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Gray. We should let all the country know that we want our own representatives in Congress. WRITE TO MRS. HAMER, MRS. DEVINE AND MRS. GRAY AT: FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1353 "U" Street Washington, D. C. The MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM LABOR UNION has requested that all Federal Funds he cut off to the Mississippi Employment Security Commission for the following reasons; 1. The Commission is lily-white and does not have a method for Negroes to serve on the Commission. Negroes should be represented in proportion to the number of Negroes employed, 2. Ihe Merit System has yielded a very small number of Negroes employed in the Mississippi Employment Service. 3. Ihe M.I).2?.A. courses are not designed to make people employable. In fact, courses are not designed to allow a person to make more money after training than he makes in training. 4. Neighborhood Youth Corps programs are designed not to train youth but for state agencies to get work out of the youth, with no hope for the youth to enter the work force. 5. Of the thirty-one local offices, not any of these are located in Negro communities. 6. local offices are referring people to jobs which pay far less than the minimum wage. 7. Negroes suffer undue hardship when applying for unemployment insurance. 8. M.E.S. is in collusion with the State Department of Vocational Education: No Negro non-profit organization can conduct the training phase of M.D.I.A. programs. MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1353 U Street N.W. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. For Further Information call 332-7732 MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATS CALL ON PRESIDENT FOR AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT RESHUFFLING The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party today called upon the President for a reshuffling of the Department of Agriculture and the removal of all employees of the Department responsible for racial discrimination in the programs of the Department. The Mississippi Based Freedom Party's actions came in a letter to the President from party-chairman Lawrence Guyot following a de tailed report of discrimination in the Nations agricultural programs by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In a Washington press conference, Mrs. Annie Devine of Canton Miss issippi, an executive committee member of the MFDP explained the history of the MFDP's negotiations with Secretary Freeman and other Department officials on the question of discrimination at local levelsi Mrs. Devine, MFDP contestant for the seat in the Congress from Mississippi's 4th district stated that she and other local Mississippians had tried unsuccessfully for months to obtain relief from dgency heads in Washington. Mrs. Devine told reporters that the Commission's report did not touch upon the discrimination prevailing in the surplus food program of the Department. She said that more than 2/3 of Mississippi's coun ties where the majority of Negroes reside -- receive no surplus food at any time. Guyot charges in his letter to the President that "..The Department of Agriculture has been, with full knowledge of the facts, perpetuat ing and increasing the degree of discrimination against the Negro in the South." The MFD? asked the President to request Secretary Freeman's resignation if at the end of thirty days he had not used all the legal powers available to him to correct the discriminatory functioning in the Departments -Droerams. TIS SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOE CONGRESS THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES TO RUN AGAINST J'„. 0. EASTLAND. TO j County FDP chairmen, excecutive members, and FDP projects FROM: Convention Committee A Committee was set up'at the State-wide FDP meeting in Jackson, August 20th, toprovide information for nominating Congressional Candidates to oppose the five Mississippi "Congressmen", as well as a candidate to run for the Senate seat now occupied by J.O. Eastland. The Convention Committee came up with the following suggestions : I. That each county hold a county-wide meeting prior to the District Convention. The county meeting should select eight delegates and eight alternates to attend the District Conventions'-.. and take any nominations they are agreed on. •* Second District Convention as set for Sunday, August 29th, at Greenville, and the Third District Convention at Steptoe's farm on Aug. 28th and 29th. In view of time-period some counties may have to elect their delegations at the District'meeting itself. The meeting would then re-form into a District caucus, 2»A11 Districts should have held Conventions by the I2th of September.... the 12 th is the date set for a State-wide Convention in Jackson. 3»The purpose of the District Convention should be:- a. to select a candidate to'run for the U.S. House of Representatives, and a campaign manager. b. to nominate a candidate to run for Senator Eastland's seat, and a campaign manager, w ho will actually be chosen at the State-wide meeting. iu That voting for the Congressional candidate and campaign manager should be by delegates only. Alternates would only vote where delegates were absent through illness, or some other reason. $„ That nominations should be accepted from the "floor" as well as from the county delegations. 6. That the same county delegation, or county alternates represent the county FDP at the State-wide Convention' on September I2th. If the alternates were chosen, they would become the delegates. 1st. itth and 5th District Conventions still need to be set up, MM, .,..*•, ,i»»"i.-w.—II..HI.I— — ...... mi— — — • •• • - • -—,-.-• -~ •• •-••• ••—•'! • « wiiiinwi* The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party "INSIDER'S NEWSLETTER" Thursday, June 17 TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN JAIL—WE ARE STEPPING UP OUR PROTEST CAMPAIGN. THE STREETS OF JACKSON WILL RIKTTWITH THE SOUND OF FREEDOM. THE WHOLE NATION KNOWS WHERE VOTT ARE AND WHY VOTT ARE THERF. KEEP UP THE SPTRTT-MORE ARE COMING FDP DECLARES "D-DAY" ON FRIDAY, CHICAGO MOVEMENT SYMPATHIZERS FROM ALL OVER THE TELEGRAPHS SUPPORT COUNTRY EXPECTED. Following Is the text of a text of The BDP will continue Its demonstra a telegram to the,FDP from the • tion activities protesting the Il oordinating Committee of Community' legal government of Mississippi" Organizations, Albert Raby, chair with a massive "Demonstration day" man. The group has been actively effort this Friday. The call has demonstrating, with picket lines gone out for all sympathizers from and sit-ins, protesting the re across the country to come to Jack hiring of School Superintendent son for the march. Benjamin Willis. In a week of ac tivity close to 550 demonstrators "Friday we willrpull every strategy have been arrested. we know how in the city of Jackson."' We will do whatever the spirit te&ls "Greetings from the Chicago move us to do Friday," a party spokesman ment in the 11 St police station told a news conference yesterday. to our brothers and sisters in the Jackson jail. In Mississippi and James Farmer, CORE National Direc Chicago, we shall overcome." tor, plans to join with FDP demon (signed) Al Raby strators and Dick Gregory, current Dick Gregory ly active In Chicago demonstrations, says that If he is not busy in the Yesterday the Chicago group focused Chicago jail,' he will be glad to its demonstration action on the join the group In the Jackson jail. arrests in Jackson, protesting po lice brutality and the illegal ar Demonstrations headquarters will rests. And in Washington D.C. de today be moved from the Morning monstrators enter their third day Star Church to the larger Masonic of picketing at the Justice Dept. Temple on Lynch St. to accomodate - protesting- the--Jackson—arrests and the large crowds expected for [ calling for the unseating of the today''s and tomorrow's cativlties. A Mississippi Congressional represen tatives. Most of today will be devoted to workshops and planning sessions on New York SNCC announces plans to canvassing and krganizing. In de begin demonstrations in support monstration activities this after of the FDP protest early next week. noon civil rights workers from Selma Alabama will join Mississipians and LIBERALIZING LEGISLATURE PASSES FDP volunteers as guests of the REPRESSIVE ACTS city of Jackson. In a one hour session yesterday At last night's mass meeting-a morning the state Senate tempor spokesman for the Negro Business arily abandoned their alleged ef mens Club said the group will forts to liberalize the state's support the FDP protest. Some voting laws and passed, without businesses will close on Friday to debate, two measures banning demon 'permit workers to participate in the strations at the Capitol and at march. courthouses throughout the state. MOVEMENT LAWYERS SEEK FEDERAL The Capitol measure, designed "for COURT AID TO STOP ARRESTS OF DE the protection of buildings and pro MONSTRATORS perty of the state CapsDtol building" carries a maximum penalty of $100 On Saturday Judge Clayton Cox of fine and one year in jail. The the Federal District Court in Jack courthouse measure, which carries son will hear a suit filed by at a penalty of $1000 fine and one torneys with the NAACP Legal De year in jail, makes It a crime to fense Fund seeking a ruling from 'demonstrate or picket in or near the court against the arrest of a building housing a court of the demonstrators. The suit also seeks state. . .or occupied as a resi to have the city ordinance requir dence by a judge, juror, witness ing a city permit for demonstrations or court officer, with the Intent declared unconstitutional of interfering with, obstructing or impeding the admininstration of The court ruled favorably in a simi justice." 1 lar suit submitted by McComb civil (con't. page 2 col. 2) rights demonstrators earlier in the year. 03 • -O I C >> 03 03 T3 K O !ffi co co 52 O ?H -P CO S • rH 3 • '-.- • o P2 . i 42 £H co CO ' •• S • 42 co 43 ' •.- hO:; CO -P -P rH •a rH co o -a o •H •' ' ' | E 03 03 r-i C2 P b0 O S2 3 CD rH pb'']H«iflflca CO CO S2 3 03 > P * '. ' S E-t ; The regular Mississippi Democratic Party, does not lot Negroes register to vote or attend its meeting. If you cannot vote, you have no say in how you are governed. If you participate in the • MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEI. OCR AT IC PARTY -• A: by signing a Freedom Registration form, you can help change this. V < H i The National Democratic Party upholds Civil Rights; the Mississippi Demo cratic Party does not. The Mississippi' Democratic Party did not supoort JOHN F, , IffiNNEDY in the 1960 election; Your FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY will fight for "- freedom just like the 'National Demo- '._ cratic Party. ,; . >., ' • • In order' to take part in the FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY, you need to:,...: \ 1. Fill out and SIGH a FREEDOM AA;; $ REGISTRATION FORM. 4 .Some ,of the delegates elected throughout v the State of Mississippi will finally go A to the National Democratic Convention in Atlantic City ,on Aug, 24. There, we hope } that they will be recognized as representing ; all the people of Mississippi. A YOU CAN HELP END SEGREGATION. o ,vf: V "'( V f • A..r ? , l/A THE PRECINCT A'/v.'--, ::.w:S;'f:...!W"-S;i'': ' YOUR community is a precinct. THIS is where you live THIS is where you vote. * This is where the MFDP begins, because the MFDP is made up of people who live in Precincts. .sjJflil * Several precincts make up a Supervisors district. Th -», - ere are 5 in a county. 3 people from each supervisors district make up a county executive committee. vTHY DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO * Many counties make up the SPEAK OUT? five Congressional Distri cts, Because no-cne else knox?s as . ^ -3 people from each well as you district make up the State Executiv * what you want. e Conriittee. « what you think should WHO ARE THESE COMMITTEES RESPONSIBLE TO ? be changed in your To the people who elect c oiamunity. them, to EVERYBODY in the Mississippi Freedom Demo Because part of your money cratic party. goes for Taxes. * you have a right to say how it is spent. HOW THE MFDP BEGAN.,.. HON WE GO ABOUT MAKING CHANGES ...... April '64 * A Convention of people officially The Mississippi Freedom Democrat -c Party believes that political form the MFDP in Jackson, Miss, activity is more than just rehiscering to vote, and voting. Summer '64 * People from all IT IS THINGS LIKE : over the State organise and el ect delegates * Running people for public office, ORGANIZING ECONOMIC to the Democratic ACTION. National Convent The FDP ran people for Congress ion. last year. It is running people, The FDP gave rise to a in the Municipal elections this Labor Union, the Miss. At 64 FD? offered two year. Freedom Labor Union. seats at the Convention. '• DEMONSTRATING AGAINST UNJUST LAWS Challenging illegal Compromise was AND GOING TO JAIL IF NECESSARY.; elections. refused. lie FD? has held Freedom Days The FDP is challenging Nov. '64 * Freedom Vote - across the State, picketed the election.of the 5 Mrs. Hamer schools and a factory. Congressmen from this Mrs. Devine State - because Negroes Mrs. Gray..run •'• Fighting the laws through the were kept from voting. for Congress. Courts. The FDP is asking Congress to unseat them. Dec. 3,'64 -> Seating of the The FDP has gone into court to 5 Mississippi challenge laws made by the State, Congressmen HELPING PEOPLE TO FIND challenged. and chose made by cities, such OUT WHY DECISIONS ARE as illegal ordinances banning MADE, AND HOW TO MAKE Jan 4, '65 " Congressional marches. THEM. Challenge - testimony is taken * ORGANIZING MASS VOTER REGISTRAT The FDP does this throu from Mississippi ION DRIVES. gh Freedom Schools and people and from workshops, where people Miss officials. The FDP is doing this in sit down together to lea Sunflower County and other places rn together. Hay '65 '" testimony is sent to •' ongresSi of r'oople who sr ?.ak -b^mr* elves. WE, THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI THE WAY TO CHANGES• WHO WANT TO WORK FORK FOR We can do this by REAL CHANGE HAVE JOINED TO^ political activity. GETHER TO FORM OUR OWN POLITICAL ACTIVITY is ways POLITICAL PARTY of organizing so that peoples will get :- The Mississippi Freedom * the things they want Democratic Party. * the things they want to keep. We did this * the things they want * because almost all changed. Mississippi Negroes have been kept from having a say in the PEOPLE get together in small political processes which affect their and large groups to fight lives. for these things. * because the present political structure keeps IOOOnds of people * This is the way political so poor, it is another parties begin. form of slavery. * because people can no THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM longer believe in lead ers... who ignore them, DEMOCRATIC PARTY BELIEVES who say one thing and do another. THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE * because this country is A SAY IN THE THINGS THEY run -'• ' politically. WANT.