SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CON FER E NCE
Special St. Augustine Issue H INSIDE THIS ISSUE
3i.r::.~.~.','.':,:, Ed't1 orta . I ------P age ~r Sarah Patton Boyle ___ __ .Page fi. Dr. King Writes ______Page 0
•. .. ~.:~,~:~·, ,.~.i, Letter~e~ ~=:wLib~h;:,~ From Jail ______::____~ Page:::: Volume II June, 1964 Number 7 Why St. Augustine? ...... Page SCLC Scores Victory In St. Augustine Against Klan, Violence Rebuilt Georgia Churches Declicafecl Demonstrators Assaulted The three Negro churches which were burned two years ago in the rural area By Police, Ku Klux Klan of southwest Georgia, were rededicated on Sunday, June 28, by SCLC President Martin Luther King, Jr. and others who had spearheaded a fund-raising drive to get them rebuilt. After more than a month of raging Addressing more than 600 persons at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Dr. King violence in St. Augustine, Florida, declared: "Two years ago I stood among the smoldering ruins of these churches. America's oldest city, in which more Those days told us of man's potential for than 300 SCLC-led demonstrators were evil. Now we see the goodness of man re arrested and scores of others injured flected. These new churches symbolize the by Klansmen wielding tire chains, and quest for human dignity. You can't kill an Report 275,000 Negroes other weapons, Dr. Martin Luther idea. It will live on. The rebuilding of these Registered In Georgia King, Jr. was able to proclaim victory churches symbolizes this fact." in this rock-bound bastion of segregation and Cost $100,000 An estimated 275,000 Negroes are discrimination. The three churches--Mount Olive and now registered voters in Georgia, ac The nonviolent forces of the Southern Mount Mary in Terrell County and Shady cording to the latest figures. Negro Christian Leadership Conference, determined Grove in Lee County-were rebuilt at a candidates are also being encoura~ed in its desegregation thrust in this ancient total cost of more than $100,000. to qualify for public office. The statew1de, stronghold of slave trading, suffered the Former baseball star Jackie Robinson, non-partisan, non-political group, sponsored most violent assaults to date at the hands of who. served as honorary chairman for the by the Southern Christian Leadership Con Ku Klux Klansmen, openly endorsed by Jaw SCLC church fund, told the group: "We in ference and the Georgia Voters League, enforcement officials. Yet, they continued the North can only hope that we can ac conducted Citizenship Clinics in eight dif their protest marches by night and day to quire .the kind of courage you have in the ferent cities, supported by the Voter Edu the old slave market where surly gangs of South. With this spirit, we will be truly able cation Project. Klansmen awaited them with chains, clubs (Continued on Page 2) (Continued on Page 2) (Continued on Page 2)
,------.. Beginning Of St. Augustine Drama (See Pages 6 & 7) ------.,
SCLC's C. T. Vivian (r.) and Mrs. Dorothy Cotton lead one of the first Police with dogs soon interrupted march, snatched bull horn from C. T. prayerful marches to slave market with about 800 demonstrators. Vivian as Ku Klux Klansmen (r.) moved in to intimidate marchers. CHURCHES DEDICATED (Continued from Page 1) to overcome." Others who participated in the dedica tion were: Rev. David G. Prichard of the Georgia Council of Churches; Rev. E. James Grant of the Albany Movement: Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, SCLC Treasurer, and Rev. Wyatt Walker, former SCLC Executive Director. Windows Donated The cost of rebuilding each church was about $34,000. The stained glass windows were made and donated by the brothers at the Trappist monastery in Conyers, Geor gia. Others who a·ided in the rebuilding SCLC OPENS WEST COAST BUREAU-Cutting the ribbon to formally open the new combined program included: The Atlanta Constitu offices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Western Christian Leadership tion, which sponsored a campaign that Conference, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., SCLC President (third from right), officiates ot recent yielded more than $10,000; New York ceremonies. The bureau will be under. the direction of . Rev. Thomos Kilgore (fourth from right), Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, who contributed who formerly headed the New York offoce of SCLC. Open~ng of the new office now brings to a total of three branch offices for SCLC besides the home office in Atlanta. another $10,000; William Rlack, president of the Chock-Full-Nuts Co., who gave $5,- 000; and Frank Shiffman, owner of New ST. AUGUSTINE VICTORY Citizenship Workers In York's Apollo Theater. who contributed (Continued from Page 1) $1,000. of various sorts, even guns. Race For Congress In Attacked By Police 275,000 REGISTERED A prelude of what was to come occurred Miss. Freedom Move on May 28 when Harry Royle, SpeciaJ As- (Continued from Page 1) sistant to Dr King. was set upon by a city Two SCLC citizenship education SCLC staff members participating in the police officer with a dog on a leash. Shout- workers in Mississippi, Mrs. Fannie clinics were: Rev. Fred C. Bennette, field ing, "there's that nigger lover," he knocked Lou Hamer of Ruleville and Mrs. secretary, Rev. Andrew Young, voter-edu Mr. Boyte to tbe ground, and immediately Victoria Jackson Gray of Hattiesburg, cation and citizenship training director, some 20 other whites gathered around and have joined Rev. Jolm Cameron of Rev. Daniel Harrell and Mrs. Juanita Har started kicking the faJlen man. Soon four Hattiesburg and retired fumiture deal- rell, Hosea Williams an~ Rev. Samuel Wells, other police dogs appeared and began leap- er James M. Houston in challenging tbe f1eld workers. Others mcluded: Mrs. Bar- ing--and -tearing-at-him uporr the-command~- segregated -politi-caJ- 11ystem-whi'Clrhas --k.ept .. - .bara .WhitakeLot:....YE£._ G. C. Williams of. ''sic 'em!" them disfranchised in the state. Madison, Rev. Clarence Tuggle of Rome. A newsman, Paul Good of the American Slater King, of Albany, Elijah Ja.ck son of Broadcasting Company, threw his body Freedom Ticket G reensboro, l.le1 Albany singers and field across Mr. Boyte's to absorb some of the All candidates are running on the Free- workers of SNNC. Several NAACP branch brutality, which momentarily brought an dom Democratic party ticket and opposing presidents and field workers aJso partici- end to the attacks. the candidates running in the regular dem- pated in workshops. ocratic party, which in Mississippi, refuses Gunfire Blasts Car to admit Negroes and wbkh aJso has dis Later, as Mr. Boyte drove away in search associated itself from the national demo Youth Wins Bonk's $500 of a motel for ovemight lodging a car fol cratic party. lowed. When he finally parked, blasts of Spur Voter Registration Award; Criticizes It For Job Bios gunfire tore through his rear window, leav ing nine holes the size of a half-dollar. He In addition to the congressionaJ cam A San Diego high school senior, David was missed only by inches. paigns, which will spur voter registration Wofsy, won a $500 Achievement Award The next morning when he went out to a efforts among Negroes in the state, and from the Bank of America and promptly cottage that had been rented by Dr. King, which will result in chaJlenges to the seating contributed half of the cash prize to help and where he had stayed on two previous of delegates at the Democratic National in the furtherance of civil rights activities. evenings, an examination showed that 21. Convention and the seating of white repre He made the donation to SCLC President shotgun and rifle blasts had been fired sentatives in the Congress, COFO will op Martin Luther King at a civil rights rally through the place during the night. erate a number of community centers and in San Diego on May· 29. freedom schools for teenagers and young When the office of Sheriff L. 0. Davis Criticizes Bank was notified of the damage to the house adults. The youth, a student at Cla.iremont High and furniture, the reply was: School, woo secoud prize in Science and "What are you concerned about? The desegregation got under way, attempted place was empty, wasn't it?" Mathematics in the finals of the Southern wade-ins at the beaches brought bands of California Bank of America Achievement Later, as SCLC's fuJI-scale assault against fist-swinging, club-wielding whites who Awards Program. He noted, however, in a sought to drive the integrated demonstrators letter to Board Chairman Jesse W. Tapp out of the waters. of the Bank of America that the bank In another direct confrontation, SCLC's practiced discrimination in employment and President Martin Lutber King, Jr. and urged that the firm "act immediately to Treasurer Ralph Abernathy sought to be assure fair employment practices in all its served at the Monson Motel Restauraru branches." and were arrested on trespassing charges. Both were later released under bond. Violence finally subsided only after a two week tn1ce was agreed upon and a secret bi-racial committee formed to arbitrate the Register To Vote! city's discrimination ills.
2 One Man-One Vote r;·~>:·>:«<·tETTEri"·=~~FRoM""/si·:/.=iii6us~ri'NE >=j~ii'[,,... _,.,.;~.,.,, i f. ~ (EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter w'as written ~~ r.: llegroes Must Have Vote And A Voice ::: by a young white volunteer who joined the nonviolent ~ By James Bevel and Andrew Young §~ army in St. Augustine and committed herself to go to ~ History has long since proved that one group of people ~ jail if necessary. She was arrested and wrote the follow- ~ could not govern another. Rome could not govern Asi.a ~ ing letter to her hometown newspaper.) ~ Minor and Europe; England could not govern the Amen ~ I live in Ormond Beach but I write from the county ~ can colonies or India, Ghana and Nigeria; France could ·' jail in St. Augustine. I write to you, my community, be- f..·.~. not govern Algeria. No nation or group of individuals i cause I learned that you have been informed of my within a nation can successfully govern persons who have ~ presence here, and I wish to discuss it with you. Twenty no voice in the governmental ~ years ago this week my father was killed in action on an process. Yet in Nineteen hun ~ island in the Pacific fighting for the freedom of his fam- dred and sixty four, Whi.te peo f, ily, his country, his world. Twenty years ago on the ~ ple are still determined to try ~ same day he died, I was born, and it is fitting that I am to govern Negroes. This can not be. It will not be. ~~ now fighting for the same thing. The army I have joined Southern Schemes ~.:.'. is a nonvdiolent one b~rhn ohut of lfsufferinfgAand .lo~e Nand ;~ Since the passage of the concerne not on 1y w1t t e we are o menca s e- Fifteenth Amendment, there gro citizens but with the spiritual weU being of our have been continuous Southern whole country. I marched quietly with more than 400 schemes to keep the Negro out others through the streets of St. Augustine and looked ~ of politics, that is to keep him ~ into the eyes of hatred. I felt sick to my stomach when i from having anything to say ~ some behind me were attacked and all we knew was the ~\ about his government. The ex perience of Reconstruction was .ri<: sound of screaming, bricks being thrown, and barking Young (1.), Bevel (r.). not a bad one, in spite of ~· dogs. I hurt for those that suffered then, 1 hurt because =< what most history books say to our school children. Re * there is only one of me from my community; I hurt for ~ construction was no worse than Germany would have been i my state that tries in vain to cling to the immoral tradi- ~ after World War II had it not been for the Marshall Plan. ~ tions of the past; I hurt for my country that has failed to ~ Economic impoverishment leads to corruption, and the enormity ~ Jive up to the principles on which it was founded; I hurt S of the task confounded not only the zealous, though unlearned, ~ for aU humanity that has not yet learned how to live in black men who made up Southern Legislatures; it literally destroyed ili a spirit of Jove and brotherhood. That is why I am here; two Presidents of the Uni ted States and produced a third "least I hurt. common denominator candidate" who compromised the U.S. Con ~ stitution into a century of turmoil and litigation. KATHY FENTRESS Hayes Compromise , St. Augustine, Florida m The compromise of Rutherford B. Hayes paved the way for the ~.. : ·:·:<;«·:•:•:·:o»:·:·:·:-»:.:.:.:·:·:~:·:·:·:·:~~·:·:~·=·»:~·:·:·:·:·:~~·:·:•:•*:·:<(.:.:-:-:·:-:·:·:·:~:-:·:·:·:~:·:·:·:..:~:.;·:v:.:-:.:·:.;(>):•:>:•:.;*:·:·:·:·;~:·:·:·~:<·:·:.:«·:·:oow:•:·::: Grandfather Clause, poll tax, literacy test, Democratic white pri United States fought a war over the right of South Koreans to mary, and a system of education designed to keep the Negro vote, then they held free elections with the candidates pictures on politically illiterate. Tbis in effect has been the source of our slav the ballots so that all Koreans could vote. Wby can't the same ery. It has kept us without a voice in our own defense in every thing be done in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana? Medgar state of this union. South of the Mason Dixon Line. Evers fought for the Koreans' right to vote, yet he was slain in his Now we cry. "Give us the Vote", "Unconditionally". You have own home town for trying to secure the very same right for his made us pick cotton six months of the year and then crowded us friends and neighbors. into shanties called schools. You have given us teachers who were It is our contention that the vote is the means of Cbristian wit controlled politically by those who would keep us enslaved, so ness in a democratic society. We pray, ''Thy Kingdom Come", but You have no right to demand that we know bow to read. The (Continued on Page 9) Wyatt Tee Walker On Two-Year leave From SCLC; Will Develop Negro History Wyatt Tee Walker, executive assistant to Dr. Martin tion. He has made a tremendous contribution to the life and growth Luther King, Jr., has been granted a two-year leave of ab of SCLC and the South as a whole. We will surely miss his services sence from SCLC to accept a position as vice-president of during the period of his leave. I'm reluctant to let him go, but the Educational Heritage, Inc., a book publishing firm in development of the Negro Heri Yonkers, New York. In his new job, on a "lend-lease" tage Library is so critical to the long range goals of the Negro basis, Mr. Walker will help prepare a 20-volume Negro community that he goes with my Heritage Library, scheduled for publication in September. full blessings. He possesses the He commences his new duties on July 15. drive. the enthusiasm and the Mr. Walker, 34, an ordained Baptist minister, joined the creativity so necessary for this Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1960 and significant and monumental task." has played a vital role as chief strategist for the organization. Noel N. Marder, president of $4 Million Project Educational Heritage, Inc., one ln his new job Mr. Walker will supervise development of the of America's largest independent Negro Heritage Library program. The goal of the $4 million dollar book producers, referred to the project, Mr. Walker said , is to "so document the history of the Negro Heritage Library as one Negro community that the true record will be eventually inter of the most important publishing polated in all text~ of the nation's public schools." He called the efforts of this decade. He lauded "cultural black-out" resu lting from deliberate exclusion of the Dr. King for lend-leasing his Negro from hi!>tory texts, "a major tragedy of our times." top aide at "such a critical junc Dr. King Comments ture in the Negro revolution" as Of his temporary leave, Dr. King made this comment: "Wyatt led by Dr. King's organization Tee Walker is one of the keenest minds of the nonviolent revolu- and other Civil Rights groups. Wyatt Tee Walker
3 have to "give" the same kind of cour teous treatment in their restaurants, The Cartoonist's View motels and hotels that they give all other customers. Negroes will have to 'New Frontiers' ''give" response with friendliness rath Puhlisher, SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN er than hostility. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE It is to be expected that there will be no smooth application or acceptance 33~ Auburn Ave., N.E. of the new law overnight. It has taken Atlanta, Georgia 30303 all of 10 years for the nation to grow Phone: 522-1420 accustomed to the Supreme Court de crsron of I 954 and desegregated MARTIN LUTHER l EuWARD T. CLAYTON, Editor That Communist 'Smear' AIMS AND PURPOSES OF SCLC In times of desperation, desperate men do desperate things. It is obvious l. To achieve full citizenship rights, and total integration of the Negro in that Southern racists and those of ex 1 American life. treme right-wing elements have been ~~ '~;:,·. . utili s~-- * &51 • -~' 2 JLtZt 2. To stintulate nonYiolent direct mass driven to desperation in their die-hard Burck In The Chicogo Sun Times action to remove the llarriers of segre resistance to the civil rights movement. 'It Tokes Longer Cooked To Order' gatiOJl and discrinlination. The only cry they can send up is not 3. To disseminate the creative philoso phy and teehniqucs of nonviolenee one of "help,'' but rather one of "com- through loc:~l and area workshops. munist," which is intended to smear SENATE 4. To secure the .right and unhampered all those who are in the front ranks of LUNCH use of the ballot for every citizen. the civil rights movement. ROOM 5. To rcduec the cultural lag through A few months ago FBI Director J. the Citizenship Training Program. Edgar Hoover became a pawn in this awful desperation campaign by c ::::.';1..... - -.-~""~:r: ing ·tnat communists ftad "infil Editorial the civil rights movement. Later, a Ne gro woman, Mrs. Helen Brown, identi The Civil Rights law fying herself as an "FBI informant'', went on Boston radio station WNAC Now that the long-argued civil rights to reassert this claim and make broad bill has become Jaw, the huge task and sweeping accusations of civil rights ahead in the civil rights movement is leaders. to see to it that the law is vigorously The tactic is an old one. The plan, implemented. Without question it is in this case, is to keep civil rights lead certain that there will be those who ers and others in the movement on the will seek to use various subterfuges to defensive, forever denying that there flout the new law just as has been the are communists in the movement. It is Burck In The Chicogo Sun Times case over the past l 00 years. designed to operate in much the same Toke A Look At Yourself. Yankee! For the most part, the nation will manner as the old saw: "When are comply as has already been demon you going to stop beating your wife?" stt·ated. But in areas of hard core re It is indeed regrettable that neither sistance as in Selma and Tusealoma, Mr. Hoover nor Mrs. Brown could see Ala., and in spotted sections of At through the thin veneer of such a lanta, Ga., a most vigorous campaign is smear campaign, and realize that be going to have to be waged before the neath it lies the desperation of racists law will have any real meaning. and bigots, who, after 100 years, find Such die-bards as Lester Maddox, themselves completely paralyzed by whose disgraceful television perform this day's dawning of love, truth and ance showing him with guo. in. hand justice.-ETC and a band of his followers wielding ax handles to prevent Negroes from en Democracy Must Give o o o tering his restaurant, may never com ply. Long years of instilled hatred and The right to equal employment prejudice have spread the cancer be The right to equal justice yond hopeful treatment. The right to adequate housing To be sure, implementation of the The right to vote new emancipative document will re The right to equal treatment quire more "give'' than "take" from The right to equal learning both white$ and Negroes. Whites will lnterlondi in The Los Angeles Times 4 If Not Now-When? For Human Beings Only By Wyatt Tee Walker The Myth Of Racial Superiority One does not need to be sage or seer to discern clearly that the By Sarah Patton Boyle summer of 1964 will be far more critical in tbe civil rights fortunes of the Negro than was 1963. This assertion is not meaut to mini· (The following is from Mrs. Boyle's just published book, mi.7.e the importance of the epochal "summer of discontent". Rather, For Human Beings Only, and is reprinted herewith by it is aimed at underscoring what may be expected to come in an permission of the author.) awesome and devastating social context. The mood of the larger Negro community, while certainly not vengeful, bitter or violent, is Until a few decades ago most white distinctly one of extreme impatience with tbe long and continued Americans believed in the existence of denial of basic freedoms. Behind his alleged unrealistic demand for "racial differences" in character and in "Freedom Now!". there stands his almost surely, "If not now, telligence which would stand forever as when?" granite-like obstacles to shared activities Reached Crest and mutual understanding. Some still It is so very apparent that a counter-revolution has reached its do. crest. The chief evidences were the ''Stall-In" in the Senate on the During the rise of Naziism a rash of civil rights legislation and the polling of more than a quarter-million votes by racist George Wallace in the Wisconsin primary. There is books by respected Gem1an scientists hardly a reasonable conjecture that the Negro is going to turn appeared in support of the Master Race around or even delay his forward movement though the resources theory. They still are quoted by zealous and determination of the opposition must not be lightly judged. The segregationists. But reputable modern remaining months or weeks ahead will most certainly spell the scientists - biologists, sociologists, psy- moment of truth, not only for the Negro revolution, but in a larger chologists, anthropologists - now com- Mrs. Boyle sense. for the nation as a whole. If the counter-revolution displays bine voices in rejecting the assumption more strength and stamina than the revolution that spawned it, that such a thing as innate racial superiority exists. Ameri~:a and the Negro community will be in real trouble. This is Anthropology, of course, is ''the study of races, physical and not meant to be a prophecy of doom. but only a realistic appraisal mental characteristics, distribution, customs, social relationships.'' that there are two possibilities existent. (Webster's New World Dictionary.) On anything concerning race, Determined Thrust anthropologists are the final experts, wbo draw on and evaluate Let me address myself to the other possibility-that is, the off relevant findin.1.1s of all other scientists. Their conclusions are setting of the ~:ounter-revolution by a determined thrust forward recognized as the soundest that modern science affords on this by the Negro community and its allies. First, it seems that if the subject, and any opinion which ignores them may justly be dis :ounter-revolution is to be turned aside, there will be definite ear missed as uninformed. marks by which the Negro revolution will be heightened and Adopt Resolution intensified. It will be preceded and prodded by new events and lt is therefore of ,great moment that the official national hody of dimensions. some of which we already have seen glimpses. anthropologists unanimously adopted tbe following resolution, The Negro revolution will hegin to develop in structured form which they reaffiimed and released for general publication on along nalional lines. This does not mean the cessation of local November 13, 1961: protests. but rather a consistent pattern with a high degree of uni "The American Anthropological Association repudiates st.a.tements formity evident. The basic approach of the nonviolent revolution now appearing in the United States that Negroes are biologically will not be changed. It will he marked by increasing frequency and and in innate mental ability inferior to whites and reaffirms the intensity of activity 'Broad goals will he sought as over against fact that there is no scientifically established evidence to justify tbe specific demands of the past. It is already evident that the South exclusion of any race from the rights guaranteed by the Constitution will not he the chief focus of activity. The entire nation will feel of the Uniled States. The basic principles of equality of opportunity the brunt of nonviolent forces insisting: "Freedom Now". The and equality before the law are compatable with all that is known South will see most of the r.ctivity focused on public a~:commoda ahout human biology. All races possess the abilities needed to par tions and the right to vote; The North's activity will center chiefly ticipate fully in the democratic way of life and in modern tech on de /ttCIO school segregration and housing. Both North and South nological civilization." will give considerable attention to employment. ln no event will No Differences any form of discrimination go unchallenged. The fact that, as a group of psychologists expressed it, "there is Relief to Problem no scientifically acceptable evidence of inborn differences between The Negro community has some concrete ideas as to how he racial groups in abilities," is well known by Negroes. They are might call national attention and relief to his problem. He contem taught the fact in high school, even before. But most whites Jearn plates seriously the implementation of a national program of econo it only from certain colleges courses--usually in anthropology or mic withdrawal. With nation-wide coordination, it would be aimed · sociology-if they happen to take them. at a show-case, giant, ~:onsumer industry. The convening city has This ignorance on the part of whites, which is greatest in the already been chosen and only the date and the industry are left South, is one of the reasons why integration in general and iuter to be named. marriage in particular, is feared and fought with such intensity. To quote from an earlier paper: "A massive refusal to buy on the part of the Negro com Now!" Airports, train stations, hus terminals and the traffic arteries munity and others of good will would throw the business of large cities could very well he the site of the next major battle community into shock. Maybe then, and only then, will ground in civil rights. the nation's financial leaders exert some initiative in elim· The plight of the Negro is swiftly becoming desperate. On the inating the evils of segregation and discrimination." one hand, he carries the social leprosy of his visible identity which Money docs not talk. it SCREAMS! has crippled him psychologically. emotionally and educationally; Immobolized Nation on the other hand, the dread onslaught of automation is gdnding We have already had intimations of what is to come. It is very out his economic existence. He supposes that a nation-wide work pos.~ible that in the next few months that on some appointed day, at stoppage might attract enough attention to persuade someone to do some appointed hour, the nation will be li1erally immobilized by something to get this monkey of segregation off his back. widespread acts of civil disobedience. That day may not he far off We may see one or all of these in the next few months ahead. if the nation does not act swiftly on the Negro's plea for justice The summer of 1963 was long and hot! The summer of 1964 will and morality. Transportation centers could be strangled by the he longer and hotter. The Negro, for the sake of our nation must bodies of committed witnesses nonviolently insisting, "Freedom find a definite answer to his present query: ''If not now; When?'' 5 Photos Tell Violent Story Of St. Augustine PLANNING SEGREGATION ASSAULT DUCKING BRICKS DURING MARCH Pickets stand in bo<:kground at press conference os SCLC's Dr. R. B. Hoyling, Demonstrators loll to sidewalk behind hedge row to dodge bricks SCLC President Martin luther King, Jr. and Treasurer Rolph Abernathy (left thrown by wh ite segregationist in background as they marched on to right seated) announce the beginning of ossoult on segregation. downtown St. Augustine. Several we re injured by the missiles. ATTACKED IN THE SURF White segregationists attacked o group of SCLC-Ied Negroes as they began to swim c St. Augustine Beach. Police moved in a nd broke up the fighting, severo! days later ~ heavy guard around swimmers (below) as t hey finally integrated beach. DOUSED WITH ACID When o group of white ond Negro integrationists entered o segregated motel pool, manager James Brock poured acid into it, shouting: "I'm cleaning the pool." All were arrested. 6 ------_ -- - -] 400 Years Of Big try And Hate By Martin Luther King, Jr. St. Augustine, Florida-A beau tiful town, the nation's oldest city, recently was the scene of raging tempers, flaring violence and the most corrupt coalition of segrega tionist opposition outside of Missis sippi. Here the Klan bas made a last ditch stand against the nonviolent movement. They flock to St. Au gustine's Slave Mal"ket Plaza from all across North Florida, Georgia and Alabama. In St. Augustine they find welcome from Sheriff L. 0 . Davis, who deputized many of . . them, and give them the cover of Mortm luther Kmg, Jr. - law in their ruthless terrorization of Negro citizens. ARRESTED AT REST AU RANT Sheriff Davis is supported in this by the local power struc Dr. King, (right) and Rev. Aberna thy (left), ore placed under arrest by ture who reflect a strong John Birch Society influence. police chief Virgil Stuart (right) when they sought to be served at the St. Augustine bas been the nonviolent prelude to what may Monson restaurant. SClC's Bernard l ee (center) was also arrested. be a long, hot summer. The Negro population had been strug gling alone for more than a year. Stall-ins in New York. streets and the U.S. Senate threatened the nation. Violence seemed tragically close. Only the nonviolent movement could give the release and hope that millions of Negroes needed to maintain their faith in the American Dream and the democratic process. A Sore of Hatred Once in St. Augustine, SCLC uncovered a sore of hatred, violence and ignorance which spread its venom throughout the business and political life of Florida and reached subtly into the White House. Florida responded out of a concern for tourist trade. But when Governor Bryant realized that just·ice was the price to ho paid for a good image, he resorted to the old South line of attempting to crush those seeking their Constitutional ri ghts. Only Judge Eryan Simpson of tbe Federal District Court, and a Republican appointee proved to be free enough of the "sys tem" to preserve Constitutional Rights for St. Augustine's Nes,>Toes. For the past month, St. Augustine's 3,700 Negro citizens IN CUSTODY waged an heroic campaign in the midst of savage violence and Dr. King and Rev. Abernathy ore shown leaving county court in custody brutality condoned and committed by police. Night after night of police officer after pleading not guilty to charges of trespassing for they marched by the hundreds amidst showers of bricks, bottles refusing to leave restaurant. They we re later released under $1,500 bond. and insults. Day by day they confronted restaurants, beaches and the Slave Market where they spoke and sang of their determination to be free. SCLC carne to St. Augustine at the request of the local unit which was seeking: I) a Bi-racial Committee; 2) de segregation of Public Accommodations; 3) hiring of police men, firemen and office workers in municipal jobs; and 4.) dropping of charges against persons peacefully protesting for their Constitutional Rights. Bill Will Give Some Relief The Civil Rights Law will give some relief to this situation. Tt will give a body of law to support the persons of goodwill in this <..;ty. But the law i~ only a beginning to meet the needs of the Negro. Demonstrations are the only way to convince local power structures that these needs must be dealt with if there is to be peace and prosperity. Demonstrations alone, un earth the corrupt police state methods. St. Augustine bas been a testing ground. Can the deep South change? Will Southern states maintain law and order in the face of change? Will local citizens, black and white, work BROKEN NOSE VICTIM together to make democracy a reality throughout America? Mrs. Elane Evans (right) of New York, suffered broken nose when struck These are the questions the nonviolent movement seeks to by o segregationist. She is shown at news conference held by Dr. King. answer with a resounding: "Yes-God willing!" Standing is SC lC Program Di rector Andy Young. Rev. Abernathy is seated. 7 ,... Attorney In New York Times Libel Victory Points Up Significance And Dangers Of Decree By Atty. Harry Wachtel (Editor's Note: A fly. Wachtel is senior partner in the law firm of Wachtel & Midwelson, one of the several law firms which represented the four SCLC officials involved in the New York Times libel case. He also is Excwive Vice-President of the Gandhi Society For Human Rights.) All over the United States, newspapers and other news media have hailed the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in the "so-caUed" libel cases brought by Alabama officials against The New York Times and officials of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Reverends Ralph D. Abernathy, Fred L. Shuttlesworth, S. S. Seay, Sr., and Joseph F. Lowery. The libel su.its claimed that an advertisement in The New York Times of March 29, 1960, soliciting funds to defend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. against an Alabama perjury in Yale President Kingman Brewster, Jr. chats dictment, was false and libelous. Correctly, they praised the reversal of the with Dr. King after graduation ceremonies. $500,000 damage judgment obtained by the City Commissjoner, L. B. Sullivan, of Montgomery, as an affirmation of the constitutional right of freedom of press and speech. Dr. King Gets Yale Degree; "Can Not Silence Rising Voices" Also Cited By Three Others The Court ruled, for the first time, that a suit in libel was not available as a formula "for repression of expression," that it could not be used as a device to intimidate SCLC President Martin Luther and silence the "rising voices" of discontent. The First Amendment to the Constitution King, Jr. was awarded four honorary protects the protesting voices of the Civil RighL~ movement when they criticise government degrees during the Jw1e graduation officials in the conduct of their office, even if the criticism is ''vehement," "caustic," season, making a total of 15 such de "exaggerated," or "false.'' Such criticism, however, will lose its constitutional protection grees he has now received. He was if it is made "with 'actual malice'-that is with knowledge that it was false or with reckless offered a total of 20 for this academic disregard of whether it was false or not.'' year, but because of h.is involvement in the "Uninhibited Debate" civil rights struggle could only accept four. Now, "robust" and "uninhibited" debate on public issues is guaranteed because one The degrees he received are as follows: need no longer fear that a mistatement, srrong language, or even error, could lead to large Yale University-Doctor of Laws; Jewish dollar judgments, with the consequent jeopardy to one's savings, property and possessions Theological seminary of America-Doctor as wa.~ the case with the fo\lr ministers. of Laws; Springfield College--Doctor of - Now, the power structure which wields the enormous resources of government cannot Divinity; Wesleyan College-Doctor of Di (in the words of John Peter Zenger"s counsel) "injure and oppress the people under their vinity. administration, provoke them to cry out and complain, and then make that very complaint the foundation for new oppressions and prosecutions." Citation Quoted At Wesleyan College, President Dr. Vic Black Out of Criticism Without Ruch a positive rule of law the weapon of libel suits beard before southern tor Butterfield had this to say of Dr. King juries, could create a blackout of criticism and chilling conformity! It requires little in making the citation: "There are knives and there are arms imagination to picture the destructiveness of this weapon in the hands of those who, only yesterday, used dogs, fire hoses and bombs in Birmingham, Alabama. and you have called on all of us to put them away and bear instead 'the weapon Indeed, this decision did more than e.~tablish a constitutional landmark! When viewed of nonviolence.' . . . Our nation can thank in its historical perspective, this decision represented a repoditation of those in the south God that the bursting volcanic forces of who "ingeniously" fashion "evasive schemes" to perpetuate what Dr. King called "a the Negro's yearnings and demands have system of human values that came into being onder a feudalistic plantation system which cannot survive." fallen as fully as they have into channels Refinement of Pattern your strong arms have helped to dig." ln a brief submitted to the Supreme Court, we pointed out that the use of such libel suiL~ was but a refinement of this historic pattern: "The century-long struggle of the Negro people for complete emancipation and full citizenship has been met at each step by a distinct pattern of resistance, with only the weapons changing, from lynching, violence and intimidation, through restrictive covenants. Black Codes, and Jim Crow laws, to avoidance, 'interposition,' 'nullification,' tokenism and open contempt.'' The Supreme Court was reminded of its own bitter experience following the historic school desegregation opinion handed down 10 years ago in May of tllis year, during which time diverse resistance techniques were employed, some subtle, some overt, including contempt of such a nature by the governors of Mississippi and Alabama that the use of Federal troops was required to enforce basic constitutional rights. The brief cited a veritable arsenal of evasive weapons, dressed in legal terms, which have been employed by segregationists to frustrate the Negro's right to vote, to serve on juries, to enjoy housing, employment and public accommodation free from bias and discrim ination. Even today, in the United States Senate, the filibuster technique has been utilized to resist, stall and emasculate the Civil Rights Bill. That the Supreme Court responded affirmatively and banned this new device warrants jubilation. But, it does not lessen the need for continued vigilance against further attempts by segregationist officials to nullify this newly declared freedom to speak oot-''loud and clear"-for full freedom in the here and now. Miller In The Des Moines Register 8 ~ ,...... ,. • · =·=·-"~ .,_x.-: H :. ex:..,·.:<·:-:·:·:·:·." ' "- ·· :' ~, ..,.,. .,._.,., ·' ''· "*', ·.. : :.· ;·,< 9 Appraise Three Presid~nts In Third Book By Dr. King Register To Vote! In one of the most frank apprais als of three United States Presidents Of the three presidents, Eisenhower, he has known during his leadership Kennedy and Johnson, he has met and of the nonviolent revolution, Dr. Mar talked with during the past nine years that New & Current tin Luther King, Jr. contrasts the role the Negro has dramatized his discontent, Dr. King admits in his book that he placed )) Freedom and After, by Tom Mboya. each has played in his new book, the most profound confidence in the late The details behind the blueprint for the Why We Can't Wait, which was published President Kennedy. future of the African continent are p·re· June 8. The book, published by Harper & Eisenhower, he says, " ... could not be sented by Kenya's Minister of Justice and Row, is the third to be written by Dr. King. committed to anything whicb. ;involved Constitutional Affairs-Tom Mboya. He It was prompted by bis jailing for the a structural change in the architecture of maintains they are: 1) classless socialism; 16th time last summer in Birmingham, Ala., American society." 2) sharing the blessings of the rich contin in the midst of demonstrations, and details On the other hand, President Johnson, ent; and 3) brotherhood. The prime objec at length his views on what must be done he feels, " . . . has a comprehensive grasp tive is to show the world what freedom to guarantee the Negro .his full citizenship of contemporary problems . . . and is ap really means. Little, Brown & Co. rights. proaching the solution with sincerity, real Economic Problem ism and, thus far, with wisdom." )) Adam Clayton Powell, by Claude "What will it profit him (the Negro) Lewis. The biography of the colorful and to be able to send his children to an inte •I'll controversial minister of the Abbysinia grated scbool if the family income is in !! Baptist Church is sketched by a Newsweek sufficient to buy them school clothes?" Dr. Magazine reporter. The author asks about For Human Beings • King asks in pointing to the economic the congressman: "What happened to this problem that is at the core of racial strife. man who should be at the head of what Only ii "Negroes," he insists, "must not only may be the IUition's potent political force?" have the right to go into any establishment Fawcett World Library. By Sarah Patton Boyle open to the public, but they must also be )) Africa Must Unite by Kwame Nkru absorbed into our economic system in such Author of THE DESEGREGATED 111 mah. During the struggling years before a manner that they can afford to exercise HEART. independence and afterwards, President that right.'' Nkrumah never lost sight of Ghana's prob lems and needs. He also never lost sight of his ideal of African unity. Recently, he· has turned more and more to practical means Color Me Brown of achieving this goal. This book is a_:rally II cry" for the continent of Africa. Frederick by A. Praeger, Inc. Lucille Holmes Giles )) Race: The History 0{ An Idea In America, by Thomas F. Gossett. Says the author: "My effort has been to understand THE FIRST BOOK OF ITS KIND - A • and explore how ideas of race have affected LUCID MANUAL TO HELP SMOOTH THE i~ currents of thought in America." From ROUGH PATH TO FRIENDSHIP BE· II TWEEN INDIVIDUAL WHITE AND tracing the history of race theories from the COLORED AMERICANS. IT EXPLORES I earliest days of Spanish and English coloni SYMPATHETICALLY THE MAJOR - SOURCES OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS, Iii zation, he finds such theories had roots in INCLUDING PRECONCEIVED ATTITUDES g Europe and elsewhere. He concludes that AND SPECIAL SENSITIVITIES OF I WHICH MANY "HUMAN BEINGS'' ARE ~ racism "is now on the defensive, as it has UNAWARE. AN IMMENSELY IMPORTANT I never been before." Southern Methodist AND HIGHLY READABLE GUIDE. IDEAL FOR USE EITHER BY INDIVIDUALS OR University Press. GROUPS CONCERNED WITH INTER RACIAL UNDERSTANDING. i Available At SCLC i "What Mrs. Boyle has said I )) Strength To Love by Martin Lu~her here has needed to be said ~=~ King, Jr. Publishers: Harper & Row. Pnce: • throughout all the years of theJ $3.50 Here is a delightful trace and coloring book that bas been care Negro's struggle . . . Knowing I )) Stride Towt1rd Freedom by Martin fully planned for children. In her for the great humanitarian I Luther King, Jr. Publisher: Harper & Bro addition to providing recreational she is, I am pleased that she bas 1 thers Co. Price: $2.95 activity for the child, it also gives sought to dispel some of these ! an early knowledge of the accom errors of human evaluation. It "' )) Crusader Without Violence by L. D. is my sincere hope . . . that her I Reddick. Publishers: Harper & Brothers. plishments of America's most outstanding Negroes. message will be beeded."-Mar- ! Price: $3.95 tin Luther King, Jr., President I_ )) Echo In My Soul by Septima Poin Southern Christian Leadership !!!! Price: $1.00 sette Clark. Publishers: E. P. Dutton & Co. Conference. i Price: $4.50 "" Giles-Holmes Co. Paperback: $1.25 ~ )) The Desegregated Heart by Sarah P. 0. Box 9069 ~ at all bookstores I Patton Boyle. Publishers: William Morrow Chicago, Illinois & Co. Price: $5.00 ·rHE SEABURY PRESS ilii~-= Enclose check or money orc/er. 815 Second Avenue, • )) Tire Day They Marched, edited by Sorry no C.O.D.'s. New York 10017 _ Doris Saunders. Publishers: Johnson Pub lishing Co. Price: $1.00 IU.IIIII·IJI-IDIIIIUIIJIIu.l~llllli'i• 10 Two Firstsl Two First Editionsl In A Combination Offer! A New Book From Martin Luther King, Jr. Why We Can't Wait • • • the untold story of Birmingham IN THIS, THE THIRD BOOK. FROM THE PEN OF THE NOTED CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER. DR. KING DETAILS ALL OF THE MONTHS OF PLANNING THAT MADE BIRMINGHAM. ALABAMA. THE DRAMATIC. VOLCANIC-LIKE EXPLOSION OF NEGRO DISCONTENT IN THE SUMMER OF 1963. HE HAS INCLUDED HIS NOW-CLASSIC "LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL." WHICH SO ELOQUENTLY SUMS UP THE UNEXPRESSED HUMILIATJON SUFFERED BY NEGROES EVERYWHERE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE WRITES A FORTHRIGHT APPRAISAL OF THREE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS HE HAS KNOWN - EISENHOWER. KENNEDY AND JOHNSON - AND OF THEIR ACTION OR INACTION WHERE OPPRESSED MINORITIES ARE CONCERNED. THE PROFOUND CHAPTERS OF WHY WE CAN·T WAIT ARE MUST READING FOR EVERY THINKING AMERICAN WHO WOULD WISH A GREATER UNDERSTAND ING OF TODAY"S NONVIOLENT REVOLUTION! ORDER YOUR COPY a n historical booklet. TODAY I 64 pages ... in three colors . . . and The SCLC Story containing ... ERE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN WORDS AND PICTURES IS TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY HOF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. ITS AIMS. ITS FUNCTION . ITS STAFF AND ITS ORGANIZATION. IN 64 PAGES OF STR.KING. THREE-COLOR PHOTO LAYOUTS IS CONT AINED AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDES THE READER A • A full page autographed portrait of FIRST-HAND LOOK AT SCLC AND ITS DILIGENT STRUGGLE TO HELP BRING FULL FREE DOM TO THE NEGRO. IT IS A V ITAL BOOKLET JUST OFF THE PRESS IN LIMITED Dr. King QUANTITIES. AND IS BEING OFFERED HERE FOR THE FIRST T IME ALONG WITH DR. KING"S NEW BOOK IN A MONEY-SAVING COMBINATION PACKAGE. • Over 200 photos of the work, officials and staff of SCLC Both For Only $4.50 (price includes postage) ~·--·- ...... _ ,,, ...... ~· ·-·· .... ·······-··--····------·· ... ·-.. _., ____ ·---·--·· ···--·.-·--~-······- ...... _... • The Great March On Washington l SCLC l : 334 Auburn Avenue, N.E. I ! Atlanta, Georgia 30303 j • Demonstrations and jailings in Deor Sirs: Birmingham i i I D I wou!d like to toke advantage of your combination offer of $4.50 on the new book, WHY WE I J CAN'T WAIT, By Martin l .uther King, Jr., (regular price $3.50) in addition to the pictorial booklet j • "Letter From A Birmingham Jail" I THE SCLC STORY, which sells for $1.00. ' ! ' . I 0 would like to order ...... copies of the SCLC pictorial booklet ot the regular price of $1.00. I 1,: • Complete text of "I Have A Il 0 would like to order copies of WHY WE CAN'T WAIT at the regu lar price of $3.50. I Dream" I I enslose $...... in ...... cash ...... check ... money order. f I : NAME -···------·····---·-······-··········-·······-···· ······-·······--··········-············------1 • Rare photos of Dr. King relaxing i i ADDRt;SS -- ··········- ··-·-···--········--····················· ····· ··-········------···-·······--·--·······-·····-·· i I I • Complete history of SCLC i CITY ·-----····» --··········-·······-·--·-- STATE ·······--·-·-·--······-···-···· ZIP CODE ------·--·· .. ······•» i ...... - ...... ~ ... - · ...... - ...... __.. ___ ....------..-- ··----····-----...... t 11 Why St. Augustine? Hate ~ Prejudice Led To Beating s~ Bombings In Oldest City Historically, age and experiences schools was burned down. That same night, tire city. Freedom marches were led tbr:ough generate wisdom. But, for 399~ years Dr. Hayling's home was shot \lp with buck the town, and freedom song r:alleys, civil and many tribulations, St. Augustine shot for the second time. His pregnant wife rights speech forums, sit-ins, and kneel-ins has trapped, preserved and perpetuated and two children barely escaped death. His ensued oo a massive scale. Within five days boxer dog was killed while standing behind more than 300 Adults and 150 youths had all of the prejudice, bigotry and hate the living room door. against the American Negro ever been arrested. known to mankind. Fired from Jobs Campaign Launched Age and experience has not bene Many Negroes were fired from jobs that A nation-wide campaign was launched some of them had worked on for 28 years to block the Federal Government from giv fited democr~cy and christianity in St. because they were in some way connected ing St. Augustine $350,000 of America's Augustine, Florida.. The Negro has been with the demonstrat·ions. shifted from physical slavery to mental trutpayers' money to promote its 400th Police brutality was unbelievable. Negroes Birthday. An International flavor was added slavery. Unjust courts have been substituted were beaten and arrested for picketing, for lynch mobs and black ghetto slums have when SCLC's St. Augustine chapter made marching and singing freedom songs, etc. been the substitute for slave huts. definite, positive steps to discourage the Four teen-agers spent many months in Founded on Indian Village O.A.S., British, French and Spanish Em America's oldest city, St. Augustine, was prison for picketing. They were pardoned basseys from building pavilions in St. Augus founded on an Indian village site, out of by the Governor after six months. Many tine in honor of its Quadricentennial. disaster by a Spanish warrior, Menendez other Negroes spent up to 90 days in jail for Police brutality and excessive bail reached De Avil-Es (alias Pedro Menendez). Today, demonstrating against segregation. an all-time high, but the demonstrations con that same savage war between the French Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received a tinued. A "new day" began in America's and the Spanish which paved the way for plea for HELP from Dr. Robert Hayling, Oldest City. About 290 of the Adults ar the founding of St. Augustine is being waged leader of the St. Augustine Movement. rested were charged with being an undesir by the KKK and John Birch Society against Knowing that St. Augustine is the oldest ci ty able guest, conspiracy and trespassing, the Negro. This war is destroying St. Augus in America, yet one of the most segregated; Among those arrested were Mrs. Malcolm tine, Florida. knowing the Negro population is only about E. Peabody, Mrs. John Burgess, Mrs. Donal St. Augustine's Negroes, led by Dr. Robert 22 per cent of St. John County; having Campbell and Dr. William Coffin of Yale. Hayling, were caught up in last summer's knowledge of the entrenchment of the KKK enthusiastic national wave for Freedom. and John Birch's Society in St. Augustine; Demonstrations began in St. Augustine as realizing that St. Augustine will be shown CONTRIBUTIONS in many other cities. All over America, off to the world next year hy our Federal I wish to contribute to the work of Government as representative of America white.s were .ill .least trying to .. pre~!l.<;i ~hey SCLC and the social struggle in the were loosening the shackles of racial dis because"ohts 400th ·Birthday, ·Drt~s -.. cided to make St. Augustine, Florida one of crimination except in St. Augustine, Florida. SCLC's battlegrounds against segregation. Abducted and Beaten NAME ...... On September 18, 1963, the KKK ab Mobilize Community ducted four Negroes and beat them uncon Hosea L. Williams of Savannah, Georgia, ADDRESS ...... scious with clubs, brass nuckles, ax handles member of SCLC's National Board and Staif (street) and pistol butts. On July 1, Dr. Hayling's was sent into St. Augustine on Thursday, house was shot up with buckshot. On Oc March 26, 1964, to mobilize tbe Negro com tober 22, three Negro homes were bombed; munity and direct a Mass Nonviolent Direct (city & state) October 28, Negro night clubs were shot up Action Campaign against segregation. with buckshot. On January 21, 1964, a Ne Mass meetings grew from one comer of Amount of Contribution ...... gro's car was destroyed by fire because his an ELK's Lodge to the largest Negro church Send to: S C L C child was one of six Negroes allowed to at in St. Augustine, Florida. Meeting attend 334 Auburn Ave., N.E. tend white schools. On February 7, the ance jumped from about 60 to 600. On Sat Atlanta, Georgia 30303 home of two of the Negroes attending white urday, March 28, picketing began of the en- SCLC#~ Non Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE 334 Auburn Ave., N.E. PAID Atlanta, Go. 30303 Atlanta, Ga. Permit 663 RETURN REQUESTED 0:.~10