00:00:03.740 - 00:00:40.510

this morning with my. It's about 17 miles from Baton Rouge to Plaquemine, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River to the West Bank and then down past cane fields in the West Baton Rouge Courthouse to the town of Black Woman. This is not the county or

00:00:40.510 - 00:01:05.460

parish Blackman, but the town of Blackman in Albertville. Perry, a quiet town of about 10 0 people, a town chosen by the Congress of Racial Equality assed headquarters for an interracial group spending the summer working on Negro Voter Registration 1958. There had been a substantial reduction

00:01:05.460 - 00:01:44.980

in the number of Negroes ready due to a purge of the voter registration rolls. And in one parish, West Feliciana, which is 68% negro. Not one Negro was registered to vote. Yeah, yeah, the days are hot in Louisiana in July, but at an evening

00:01:44.980 - 00:02:17.360

rally at the Plymouth Rock Baptist Church, it was even hotter. Yeah, National Educational Television presents Louisiana Diary, a film record of impressions and events encountered during a voter registration drive conducted in the sixth Congressional District in the state of Louisiana by the Congress of Racial Equality

00:02:18.440 - 00:02:47.200

Cores Task Force South, July 14th to August 25th, 1963. The core members at the rally were welcomed by a local school principal, Mr W. W. Harlow. We have been wishing and hoping and pray by a long, long time to have somebody think like you and your

00:02:47.210 - 00:03:08.120

group to come to join us and help. I know garden Thanks so much of this idea of helping us. But we like we've been hoping and praying for something like this to happen ever since back there when we had to vote, register as a Republican when

00:03:08.120 - 00:03:31.240

there waas no Republican primary for us, devoted right. We have been hoping and praying that somebody would come along with your way of thinking and your way of fact so that we could get this thing over and make democracy live. Chorus National Program director Gordon Kerry

00:03:31.240 - 00:03:49.010

responded to the welcome. We've really been welcomed, I think, into this town. Frankly, when Mr Ronnie Moore first started making arrangements for our little group to come down here, and he suggested that we have our interracial workshop, a little town called Lachemann, which I'd never heard

00:03:49.010 - 00:04:07.700

of before, I thought this was probably the last place in the world where we could find housing and accommodations for an interracial group. Not only are we here to work on voter registration, but by the time this drive is finished, core is going to continue working.

00:04:07.700 - 00:04:29.960

As we have in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. We're gonna work to break down all forms of discrimination and segregation. What? Okay, They had come the more than 40 volunteers from all parts of the United States, from California and New England from the South and the

00:04:29.960 - 00:04:55.500

North. Given the fact that this was an interracial group, no one ever knew exactly how many Louisiana laws against mixing might be violated. The task force included several school teachers, union organizer, many graduate students, some undergraduates and even a poet. The plan of action called for

00:04:55.500 - 00:05:13.980

a 10 day training period in Plaquemine, after which the group would be divided into teams to carry on voter registration work in eight Louisiana parishes. One way to find out about a town and a parish is simply to drive through it and, if possible, talk with

00:05:13.990 - 00:05:33.400

people. It's a wonderful town to live in. The people who are here are extremely friendly. Ah, it's billed as the city of hospitality. It was incorporated in 125 years ago. We have a tremendous history and, ah, lot of color and a lot of political color to

00:05:33.400 - 00:05:51.820

the city as such. And, of course, it's the seat of the entire parish. Longfellow's Evangeline Gabriel was supposed to have traveled this by you to seek his lover. And ST Martinsville, Louisiana, of the picket line serves a twofold function. One it gets that the question of

00:05:51.820 - 00:06:08.460

employment of Negroes in platinum and two, It was sort of a buffer for us to get some action going into the community. It made the A community aware in the sense that something was taking place. Do you think that colored people should register and vote those

00:06:08.840 - 00:06:31.990

he goes for Not well, in the old days, it into it. Do you think this is going to lead to trouble? I ain't going into that. Okay, well, just beans. Most lessons, and that's myself. Do you cook? But beans don't get a little money and you

00:06:32.000 - 00:06:55.620

have to pay a higher house. Rent in your liquid is high here in your gas, new water and your paper your garbage. After that, you don't have much less mhm Muslims beam you just about it. Sometimes you don't mind that you won't have them. What? What

00:06:55.630 - 00:07:19.670

kind of work do people do? Yeah, not anything. Harder, Much or nothing? Nothing to do. No, no, no. No employment, No, no industrial. You know, Mr Buck, 67 days a year, and then that shuts down through one or two minutes. Work rest of here in this

00:07:19.670 - 00:07:42.410

parish, it's been uhh just a fabulous attitude between the Negro and the white man where we've lived together for years and years. And we have given them, uh, just about everything that we can financially and physically give them. And we've had respect one for the other.

00:07:43.340 - 00:08:01.400

And I hope to God that nothing happens on develops. That would change this basic respect because I think eventually it can't help but produce a better city to live in externally impact. When was a quiet town situated on the Mississippi River Internally, there was a tremendous

00:08:01.400 - 00:08:22.850

amount of unrest amongst Negro leaders in the community, principally because we were concerned that at this late date, in an election year, we did not have our voter registration rolls up to the point that we would like to have had. But as far as the external

00:08:23.240 - 00:08:45.340

appearance of the city, it was a very quiet town. That's the training sessions in how to register. Voters were conducted by Ronnie Moore, the core field secretary for Louisiana. Well register, deputy, register racial interview and give up. Keep the only one African at a time. I

00:08:45.350 - 00:09:00.290

don't know if you could have 150 people out outside the register's office across the state with all the French we could take in one person out of time. You take people to the Red Shirts office. You will not be permitted inside while you outside. You can

00:09:00.300 - 00:09:19.690

be arrested for this on the Table of Peace Vegas thing. Then you read and write a culture of the preamble. The United States Constitution from dictation by rest register reading. You win the people, the United States. If your wife, your neighborhood should read to you ensure

00:09:19.690 - 00:09:42.360

domestic tranquility. When task Force members tried their hand at the test, they didn't do too well, particularly under the badgering of Ronnie Moore playing the part of a registrar. Well, I'm sorry, but you get what you want. I couldn't. I'm sorry. Wait. You gotta go out.

00:09:44.740 - 00:10:02.690

Part of our whole perfect union. Establish justice, ensure Mr Strength with. But there was no let up in the training since these people were to set up voter registration classes or clinics as they were called Jim McCain, national director of chapters for Core Lecture, the group

00:10:02.690 - 00:10:24.560

on behavior in rural southern communities. But I think it's very important because I think this project hinges entirely upon how well we get along with people in the community in which we're working. How old are you? And Gordon Kerry interviewed local recruits for the task force.

00:10:26.240 - 00:10:43.960

Yeah. 1919. And you're Are you are living with your parents with those under 21. I think we have to have a written permission from your parents. You don't think you should think of consideration? I think that you know, if you go on something like this, you

00:10:43.960 - 00:11:00.000

sort of gonna have toe, you know, be nonviolent all the time. Really? Because you see what happens in a situation like this is a the safety of all the rest of the members Rest in depends upon upon upon you and you. Each one of you late

00:11:00.000 - 00:11:23.540

into the night. There were discussions about the philosophy of Nonviolence. Very Uhh! All right. Of your not returning a blow and submitting to the blow is in itself part of the creative process. The idea of non violence is a as a creative process to change attitudes.

00:11:27.440 - 00:11:45.970

And there was one other kind of training offered training and self protection. Now there is a protection against water Home. We found that as well. Attacked by water holes, we could form a circle, no matter how large circle is locked. Arms around the waist. Bow your

00:11:45.970 - 00:12:12.150

head to the center on. There was training in nonviolent direct action like two tickets about so I can't. There. You invite yourself, maybe to get one. But I can't back because out there is not for integrating profit. Stop that Training in Nonviolence. Waas in itself. Rather

00:12:12.150 - 00:12:30.870

violent. What's your name and see? What's your name, girl? Speak up. Can you talk a lot in that? What's your name? What's your address? What do you strap? Jack, what are you doing up here? What you doing up here? Anthony girl, What are you doing up

00:12:30.870 - 00:12:53.310

here? You doing up here, girl, Huh? What are you doing up here? You're working with car. How much do you get paid? Answer me. How much do you get paid? How much do you get paid? How much do you get paid on? The teams were already

00:12:53.310 - 00:13:18.000

moving out from Blackman on July 24th. It was travel time from the few core automobiles were in great demand. On soon the task force workers encountered their first experiences in riel hostility. White fellow. Welcome says, All right, you ***! You've registered now, but I'll be damned

00:13:18.000 - 00:13:31.760

if you vote. One man said you look like you're a fool but white that your mother or father must be sick. What you're doing now? Betraying the race. One man come up in a very frenzy. Voice on stated that his Children are compelled the goat with

00:13:31.760 - 00:13:56.600

Negro to school. He will murder them. In my being here would be the reason why he was murderers, Children. Therefore I was a murderer and they would make comments like there's a *** lover. There's the Communists. We should get him out and so forth of semolina

00:13:56.600 - 00:14:22.730

Paris, The county seat or the Paris eat is the greens bird. When time permitted, they were given a formal briefing. You're gonna have to do your best to reach the people you know is you've got 420 square miles and 9000 people. Sometimes they went in by

00:14:22.730 - 00:14:52.480

day. You better settle in. No, I haven't. I don't know anything about How do you feel about the possibility of something happening to you in the line of volume? Are you afraid of? No, not your mom on. Sometimes they went in by night responsible during this

00:14:52.480 - 00:15:24.160

time, Ronnie Moore and to task force workers were arrested at the Baton Rouge airport. Yeah, yeah, yeah, boy. All right, baby. Uh huh. In jail. What happened? What? Actually, what happened? You see, we went up to pick up Bob at the airport, and we had been

00:15:24.160 - 00:15:43.070

served previously in the, uh, restaurant in the airport. And as I stopped today and asked for a cup of coffee, uh, the lady said couldn't service, and I asked I said, Well, we've been saying previous over here, and she refused thio service. I asked to see

00:15:43.070 - 00:15:57.360

the manager at this time she had called the offices on way were arrested. I was. I was outside the restroom on the telephone when the officers came up, and he said, Do the later ask you to leave. I said, no. She just refused the services. We'll

00:15:57.370 - 00:16:16.300

ask him to leave. She said, Leave it before I could say you're under arrest. Um, well, bomb was $1500. You got to $150. Sure. Spidery garden, spider and air. The only way they bring in this car back in Baton Rule issue, which coming up pretty good.

00:16:16.310 - 00:16:39.300

Ed was arrested on vagrancy. He had $75 in this pocket. His bond was 500. You're gonna take the team out to tender PAHO tonight? Yeah, with Okay, Good. If you must go on the plantations, I suggest that you do so. But if you think that there's

00:16:39.300 - 00:16:57.140

a possibility of arrest by going on the plantation on, I suggest that you call the Spurs before you go on. So we know that we could be around casing developed. That's providing that dealing with for the skin and in case you arrested on here, don't give

00:16:57.140 - 00:17:52.460

anything other than your name and address and the source of in income or your you employed by cause on the summer project and court takes care of your room. And boy, Okay. It's Yeah. Once on the road, it was sometimes necessary to break the tension. Way

00:17:52.840 - 00:18:23.320

home? Yeah. Yeah, Freedom way. Yeah. I used to run in the back on. It was always necessary to keep a sharp lookout for the police, inasmuch as an interracial group in a car was always suspect way without Bill. Uh, right now, chief goal is not to

00:18:23.330 - 00:18:42.270

detour from voter registration. And if we got too many people in jail down the black one on the picket line, uh, going to other types of uh huh all the efforts rather to desegregate the other facilities which mean more people go to jail. Then you'll find

00:18:42.270 - 00:18:59.300

the whole movement. In fact, when you detour from voter registration into a mass jail in and this might bring about some change in the community and may not, but definitely will not to get anybody register. Yeah. And so here, once again, you have to decide. What

00:18:59.300 - 00:19:17.520

do we wanna do? We want to reach the people. Do we want a mass movement? This question about the impulse toward mass action, in contrast with the usually quieter and less exciting activity of registering voters, was to prove prophetic. Azi, the days went by people is

00:19:17.530 - 00:19:35.170

not going to bother you. I'll put my neck. Listen. Listen. I put my neck on the block and let you chop it all that people have them people. That is to protect you, not about in each community. Housing had to be found in the homes of

00:19:35.170 - 00:19:57.920

local residents. It always there was fear toe overcome. It took personal courage to house an interracial group. And in Clinton, Louisiana, one such person was Mrs Holmes or Mama Joe. I personally feel very grateful to the fact that you so willingly housed us. You know, when

00:19:57.920 - 00:20:13.860

other people are afraid to do so. Thank you. Why do you feel that? It was important for you to feel that. What do you think about Oh, I just think that we auto the Bible, Say together, Let us live and divided. We will fall. Mhm. That's

00:20:13.860 - 00:20:28.760

right. Not really like that. Yeah. Uh, what do you think about the wife? So I'm used to white folks. Time for you. You know who you're not before you afraid I ain't fighting over that. Include Mr Job? Yeah, They can't eat me. What's gonna do? Let

00:20:28.760 - 00:20:46.790

me kill me if you kill me, they can't eat me. I ain't good to eat. You know better Let me stay. Okay. In each parish is the hard work of door to door canvassing got underway. The voter education, schools or clinics were set up and at

00:20:46.790 - 00:21:02.340

the end of each day, there were the reports and strategy meetings. We got maybe, like 30 people to come to the clinic and Wilson today. We just opened that clinic today. See? So really, we got all these kinds of problems and the thing that's really annoying.

00:21:02.350 - 00:21:16.860

Of course, if they have to use one car, one car that is terribly deficient in terms of no registration, you know, the police always following, we'll get you another car and we'll get you some more people. More people, at least one more, maybe two you want.

00:21:16.950 - 00:21:32.060

It's easy to house Negros. I'll tell you that. The point is, if, in fact, there Negroes, we can probably find how they for them in the other areas. A certain amount of inconspicuous list might help to house them sticks. But right now we hold up on

00:21:32.060 - 00:21:49.550

those two people until we're sure we could get some hard check. We'll go. No. What's from this year? Yeah, OK, let's talk about that. And each morning, the knocking on doors and the attempt to overcome fear, ignorance and years of intimidation would begin again. Very cool,

00:21:52.240 - 00:22:11.720

Carlin. Pleased to meet you. Nice. Thank you. Well, John Turner, you see me? Carlin's you to me way working in your area. The stomach voter registration we're representing core the Congress on racial equality. And we're trying to get as many Negroes as possible to get registered

00:22:11.730 - 00:22:43.060

to vote. Are you registered voters? Well, I have better racing boat. No, we're having classes over church. Your head fight across the world tomorrow. Could you come down? Uhh. It's churches. Yes. Yes. Well, that's my church, and we'll go over the phones with if you don't

00:22:43.060 - 00:22:59.430

have transportation out there, way could come and pick you up. I can't say because I don't know how I'll be feeling working on voter registration in your town, and I'll be here most of the summer trying to get as many people as we can to get

00:22:59.440 - 00:23:16.880

registered to vote. Are you registered voters? You mean you're ready to vote? Yes. Are you registered now? To vote? No, not ready now to vote. What? You have been in a mhm. Uh, well, what happened? I just did. I mean, e I mean, when we were

00:23:16.880 - 00:23:44.210

voting, I know they said that there wasn't legal. No way. I mean, if there wasn't kind, it wasn't necessary to the Republican. Mm. Honey, my name is getting in school, and I walked in a voter registration in your town representing Congress on this classic core. But

00:23:44.210 - 00:24:07.550

I love to love no. Are you with me to Miss Hamilton? Did you ever try to register to vote in Louisiana before way would like to help you to register to vote. You know what we do? We sat up little schools, in churches and in halls

00:24:07.940 - 00:24:29.180

and sometimes in school houses and sometimes in bars, wherever people are, we go there and the questions that they ask you down in the courthouse we have the same questions that they will ask you, and we help you toe learn the answers to those questions. See,

00:24:29.330 - 00:25:15.450

our constitution has been changed. Made by the president be bythe clinics. Instruction would go on all day and into the night. Okay. Yeah. And at night there were many rallies like this one in Clinton. We've had a clinic in the stick in Mount Gideon Baptist Church

00:25:16.810 - 00:25:32.550

and the clinic and Felix Ville in the Beech Grove Baptist Church. And we're deeply indebted to the pastor's off these three churches for letting us use their churches for opening their doors to us so the people could come in and learn how to register and vote,

00:25:33.440 - 00:25:49.350

because only until they're registered voters Onley until everyone in the sixth Congressional District in the state is a registered voter, can we in any way start on the road to freedom? And I hope you'll all help us. Thank Rudy Lombard, a national vice chairman of core,

00:25:49.360 - 00:26:05.850

led the Clinton rally For people with this kind of determine this kind of third, we have to stick together. We have no other Children. In order for me to protect a Negro woman, I have to pay a certain time to I don't want any woman I

00:26:06.740 - 00:26:22.440

any Negro or anyone to be humiliated in the way. My mother I don't have a sister, but I know some I know Mr Tuttle doesn't like to be called. Boy, I don't like it when I walked downtown. Just not much younger than here. I don't intend

00:26:22.440 - 00:26:36.560

to be called boy 40 years. I'd rather be dead. And you have to go back and tell Mr Charlie a couple of things. Oh, you have to go back and tell you that we're not gonna be turned around that somebody is going to be here. No.

00:26:36.560 - 00:27:01.600

All those jailhouse on all those automobiles with all those big stars. Now, those pissed eight months are nuts around you. Ask the question What Negroes want on voter registration. If you just take a good look at this Mississippi River and then think and then count and

00:27:01.600 - 00:27:19.740

you come up with a large number of Negroes have been found floating down this river from one center to another and you began to wonder what we really want. Well, it's one word protection. At one time they lynch Negroes and they threw him in the Mississippi

00:27:19.740 - 00:27:39.900

River. Now they arrest him beating with clubs and then find them guilty in the court room. Time hasn't changed very much. Has just changed from one form into another. We need anti lynching laws, many laws that will guarantee criminal justice at the court rooms of the

00:27:39.910 - 00:28:01.350

South, and we need laws that will guarantee fair law enforcement. In short, we need protection. And exactly what Negroes want today is in this line of protection and voter registration. We think that we might be able to somehow changed the entire picture. And by when which

00:28:01.350 - 00:28:23.440

Negroes walk into a courtroom, they receive justice. And at no time when we find out people floating down the Mississippi River on a hot Sunday afternoon early in August, about 25 task force workers, enjoying their first free afternoon decided to go to New Orleans. They left

00:28:23.440 - 00:28:41.160

from Plaquemine on the ferry, but they never reached the other side. When the interracial group refused to segregate itself, the ferry captain called the sheriff turned around in mid stream, returned to PLA common, and the group was arrested and lodged in the eye. Brazil Parish Jail

00:28:42.340 - 00:29:11.670

What you got involved with half the task force in jail voter registration activities were, to say the least threatened. The response was the initiation of direct, nonviolent mass action I will you stop when I say cut? You know what? You are trained. You are a train

00:29:12.540 - 00:29:35.670

without say stop. You stop And I even white if you stop. But I tell you to stop the sheriff. W data stop. You might run home. I'm a preacher. I'm a Baptist preacher. I don't sound like but I am. Hey, we get up and we preach

00:29:36.040 - 00:29:58.550

Not only the Baptist. The fights. Everybody is We preached the equality of men. Love thy neighbor as myself. Tell me, are you loving me when you put a dog on, are you? But still, this is what we preach. But we're good. We have to. I'm not

00:29:58.560 - 00:30:23.460

saying we're gonna fight fire with We're not gonna bite you if your dog bite us. But we are gonna come in so many numbers that you're gonna have enough dog Booth. Yeah, but this is what we're saying. This is what everyone in here is saying tonight.

00:30:24.050 - 00:30:42.540

This is what the Negro throughout the entire state of Louisiana, you say? This is what the Negro in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and elsewhere throughout the United States Say one thing, Have I desired of you and this will I think of? My only desire is freedom at

00:30:42.540 - 00:31:33.530

any court I wanted to die for But my old nick desires were Wait, I want it tomorrow e away from now. Let's not from now. You want it? No, he does. Let no body right. Yeah. Mhm. The marchers were met by the sheriff of I Brazil.

00:31:33.530 - 00:31:48.040

Perish Bobby Griffin. But at nine o'clock at Night River, you know that nine o'clock at night is the wrong time. Now you can come here during the daytime. Next month, you will have political meetings going. The episode We're here in Algarve here, 9, 10 o'clock at

00:31:48.040 - 00:32:00.280

night. And when they had those political meetings, they get permission from the custodian of the courthouse whether they can have it. But they notify them in advance, and they let him know whether they can have it or not. But this this No one notified us until

00:32:00.280 - 00:32:13.970

just a few minutes ago about you know, it's that up in sing one song, have one prayer and leave within five minutes to prepare you that we will be peaceful and orderly. People would like to know we have a lot of people of Afghanistan just one

00:32:13.970 - 00:32:51.510

song and prayer. Prayer. The sheriff turned the request over to the police chief of Blackman, Dennis Sanji, who gave permission for one song and a prayer on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse. No, wait, wait. Way. Looking

00:32:51.680 - 00:33:37.320

at the game? No. Mhm. Have you ever, ever Late afternoon and the day following the mark, the task force workers were released. What's the never ending you with him, right? Don't go anywhere, okay? Yeah. Yeah. Wait. Right. All right. Why Was really, um the sheriff District

00:33:37.320 - 00:34:02.310

attorney and others decided that the complaints were not valid. They were in their constitutional rights and it was dropped. There will be no prosecutions whatsoever. On interesting factor is the mass march of the community behind the DR here for civil rights and that people were willing

00:34:02.680 - 00:34:22.590

to go to jail rather not to have people illegally impossible. But this is the results When community leaders on parish officials could come together and discuss the problem on we set at the conference table this morning and became a to conclusions that which was right on

00:34:22.600 - 00:34:41.710

we're thankful to the parish officials for this just conclusion. We understand that this is the first time I marriage in the state of Louisiana, where Parish officials said at the conference table with Negro leaders came out to conclusion that way. Have a right Thio ride on

00:34:41.720 - 00:35:05.130

a ferry in a desegregated man. Hello? I don't know. I got to get to the office on the next to this guy selling people in Western Louisiana Attempted to register today and one waas incarcerated. We haven't found the whereabouts. The ribbon. Carter. Right now this has

00:35:05.130 - 00:35:21.390

got me set up a call. The Justice Department and the Justice Department said they would intervene in the bill trying Carter by five o'clock, C v. I'm telling all workers from the West Louisiana And so they got a guy from just department down there now looking

00:35:21.400 - 00:35:53.100

for the man R opportunities over there looking for him and Rudy and Garden over there. So I have to get back to the office to find out what has happened in other fellas. Now, right now, that's it. Yeah. Do

00:35:53.100 - 00:36:18.460

you say what 300 marching Negroes can do? Less than 300 Martin Negroes can disturb the Paris so much until parish officials would be willing to concede The time is now, my friend, When you can look back and you can see very vivid that And this time

00:36:18.460 - 00:36:54.050

we're no longer asking for freedom We're no longer requesting freedom but now we say we want freedom Now if you can't give it to me Now give it to me by 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. Hard done. No way. Wait.

00:37:01.530 - 00:37:52.130

Oh, way. Yeah. E is the high point of the voter registration campaign. The national executive secretary for James Farmer had been scheduled to address a mass rally Implacable. However, the recent events produced a somewhat different outcome. Your

00:37:52.130 - 00:38:16.230

spirit is greater than the spirit I've seen in Mississippi or Alabama. Oh, so we're marching all over the country. We have many weapons. One great weapon is our own bodies. As we march and we pick it and we sit here all over the country, you have

00:38:16.240 - 00:38:44.250

power. You have found that power. 25 of your people were in jail and you marched downtown to the jailhouse. And you know what? Next day they would turn loose. You have a great fight going on here in this parish and in this city. I understand that

00:38:44.250 - 00:39:12.110

there is one little section that should be a part of this city. That is not any to be. Oh, okay. Yeah. Now you know very well why it is that they have not included Newport Addict and Seymour Bill into the city of Black. You know why?

00:39:12.220 - 00:39:28.670

Oh, they are afraid of your vote. But you have every right to be a part of that city, You know, They've tried it in Tuskegee, Alabama. They are tried to Gerry Mander, the Negroes outside of the city they had been in. But once the Negroes registered

00:39:28.670 - 00:39:45.330

and voted, then they redistricted the lines on move the Negroes outside of the city. Well, they're doing the same thing here. You see, because of your vote, they are refusing to take you in to the city. Now you could stop it. You know the same way.

00:39:45.340 - 00:40:21.700

Talk TD instituted. You know how they did it. They said very well if you don't let us in the city, don't let us vote in the city. We will stop spending our money in that. I think you could break it. Make your demands for inclusion and

00:40:21.700 - 00:40:54.150

incorporation into the city for both DuPont addax and see more bill. If they refuse, then make it plain that you are not going to spend one more green Yankee dollar. Er Okay. Okay. Hi, Chris. My Christian friends, Nobody ever respect you unless you respect yourself. This

00:40:54.150 - 00:43:02.390

time the marchers headed for the Blackman City Hall. Uh huh. Okay. Yeah, Yeah. Wow. Yeah, Yeah. All right, let's break it out. Okay. Uh huh. 303 Wait. Black

00:43:02.390 - 00:43:50.020

man. E don't know. Uh, yeah, I got that, Jim. They got runny. And I think Dr Tyson, way Gordon has gone productive program way. Need medical attention way. Get more guys instead of a And they could

00:43:50.020 - 00:44:02.460

probably keep propelling us as long as we could be going. Well, let me just explain what I have in mind. First of all would be to have a delegation of local community leaders and some others go down and talk with city officials. Simon anything? Well, that's

00:44:02.470 - 00:44:17.370

going on. I would suggest that if some of the map out all the segregated restaurants and things of that sort in this town simultaneous sense a six people to a place we can't get inside and sitting up, then sit down on the sidewalk out publicly Tuesday,

00:44:17.380 - 00:44:39.680

August 20th. Sit ins began around noon, and the arrest followed immediately. The demonstrators, mostly young people of the town, were brought to City Hall for booking. The mayor of Blackman, Charles Schmidlin, broadcast an appeal to the Town way. Do not write the type of publicity at

00:44:39.690 - 00:45:01.200

the town of plaque buns received from such incidents. However, when these things a call, there's nothing else that we can do except to accept them on hand. Um, yeah, the best that we know how. Over the past years, if anyone had told me that Blackmon would

00:45:01.200 - 00:45:21.960

have had such a demonstration and uhh disturbance is a kurji of Monday night, I would have almost be willing to bit anything that such a thing would never have happened in Flight one, because the relationship in the town of Lightman between the races has been a

00:45:21.970 - 00:45:47.950

very pleasant one. It was only until he's outside agitators in connection with 22 or three rabble rousing leaders in the town of Blackman. At this relationship has been destroyed. Now we expect to wake in the best interest of all of our people in the town of

00:45:47.950 - 00:46:07.440

politeness. Thank you for listening enemy. With the jails already filled, the demonstrators were taken by bus to the eyebrow will perish Fairgrounds, where they were locked up in a brick walled tin roof compound. James Farmer, Ronnie Moore and other leaders of the Monday night March on

00:46:07.440 - 00:46:31.160

City Hall were jailed in the small town of Donaldson Ville Land E um one spokesman for a committee of local doctor Bertram Tyson, the Plaquemine physician and the only one of the leaders to be bonded out, reported on a meeting with Mayor Sniveling purpose of trying

00:46:31.160 - 00:46:48.970

to negotiate with the mayor and try and work out some of our problems across the table. Um, way met with the mayor, and we were flatly rebuffed on every every count. Uh, we asked the mayor for establishment of a bi racial committee in order to try

00:46:48.970 - 00:47:13.140

and negotiate without further demonstrations. We asked for incorporation of DuPont Annex and Seema Ville to local communities, which we still have been Jereme and ID um, out of the possibility of becoming incorporated into the city of Flagman. We asked for jobs on the sanitation in the

00:47:13.140 - 00:47:30.280

Sanitation Department and on the police force city police force. These were all denied, and I frankly told them May, I thought we were getting the run around. Gerry Hebert, editor of The Post, one of the two Plaquemine newspapers, expressed his concern. I think that as time

00:47:30.280 - 00:47:54.740

goes and conceivably, if if the push as such were extended over the period of the next three weeks, I think a tremendous amount of animosity could develop here, and I think that we could have one hell of a situation. I think eventually the local government will

00:47:54.740 - 00:48:13.540

have to yield to uhh our demands. But I think the key to the whole thing is demand. Uhh conceivably, it would be better to call it a request. I think that the public officials is such don't appreciate the fact that that's the the things that are

00:48:13.540 - 00:48:44.590

asked for or not asked for. They are demanded or else such and such will happen in a seriously divided community. And with rumors of a federal injunction against core, another march was organized at City Hall Chief Sanjay Prepared. I'm telling you, you call back now. Go

00:48:44.590 - 00:48:58.260

back now before I make one arrest. She just told him about the injunction. You just told him about that I just told him into this time. Yeah, I'm not serving it on him. Well, I'm maxing them is to go back on this man. Where you going?

00:48:58.280 - 00:49:30.280

Where we're marching. That's where Mark will march Before the evening was over, the arrests since the beginning of the week numbered more than 300 in the And on the following morning, the federal injunction waas served looking for a doctor. Bertrand Dyson. Deputy Every harlot. Yeah. Officer

00:49:30.770 - 00:49:55.120

Tom. Mr. Racial quality. Thank you. Yeah. Free weights. Five attorneys still working on the matter. We haven't had a chance to analyze it. Injunction is so broad that it is very difficult to tell what conduct on the part of the organization any individual would violate the

00:49:55.120 - 00:50:12.260

injunction. We're going to contest it on the face of it. Outline the scope. Come on. Thing out of kind of the injunction was a little bit of long and coming. We had three days of activity which has a field set the Negro calls back for three

00:50:12.260 - 00:50:32.900

years or even better. And I think the fact that they were able to secure the the injunction ah, was a good thing for this community because If if it serves to stop this type of activity in the city a t this time now, before things get

00:50:32.910 - 00:50:59.240

too bad and too much animosity develops, then I think it has said the tremendous purpose. It's good to see you out tonight. He called a meeting today for one o'clock about 12 people showed up. News photographer looked at me. They're the movement. In Plaquemines Days, Negroes

00:50:59.240 - 00:51:33.400

and Blackman have given us. Everybody raised their hand last night when I asked would you be here At one o'clock today? 12 people showed up. Is the movement in Plaquemine dead? Yeah, Pretty weak voice is the struggling Plaquemine Day, man, we spoke about the last two

00:51:33.400 - 00:51:59.510

nights as being the most crucial nights in the history of this community. Tonight is even more crucial because less people I'm showing up tonight, then in the past two nights and every night gets to be that much more important. At no time can we let anyone

00:51:59.510 - 00:52:29.920

who oppose us think that we've tossed in the town. We're gonna fight until we can't fight no more. And then we're gonna fight anyhow. Have been for 20 years. Now you're in for a big surprise. Tonight we will engage in ladies and gentlemen, starting tonight and

00:52:29.920 - 00:53:08.570

tomorrow until the walls come tumbling down some more nonviolent trickery. At this point, we're not gonna allow anybody to walk out of the church until I finished, there will be a allow you lovers of freedom. If you wanna be free, stick with me. I'm going tonight.

00:53:11.650 - 00:53:37.410

It's not very likely that you're going to hear my voice too frequently after tonight. But we don't like the condition that the fairground and we intend to exercise our right toe hotel. Go give construction. We will be driven out to an area and see Move! You

00:53:38.350 - 00:54:00.910

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. From which we will march to the fairground. And that evening nonviolent trickery. Succeeded has only one state police car. Met the marchers who sang two songs and then returned peacefully. But there were marches of a different sort going on in

00:54:00.910 - 00:54:23.270

other parishes. Marches to the registrar's office. Then you should go to that registrar's office. You hit a part, You should tell him all we wanted our freedom. Not here. No bother. Anything else this march took place while a telephone call to the Justice Department was going

00:54:23.270 - 00:54:39.750

on. We have a number of people to go up to the registrar's office today. Something in the neighborhood of 32 people. Uhh. I beg your pardon? Yes. The office is open until noon. Now, we have to have some insurance that we can escort these people up

00:54:39.760 - 00:55:19.340

there. Way Have somebody going up this morning. We have no idea whether the sheriff will arrest them, order them out of the registrar's office. Or exactly what? Mhm Who? Yeah, apparently. Your Internet. Okay, E. I got. Yeah, 40. What am I doing? What do you

00:55:19.350 - 00:55:45.850

love you? Will most developers instead take a fine television e. Give you my credentials. You have no business into filling. You'll have to get out. All right. Right. Okay. And of the summer's end, voter registration nonviolent direct action had become like the two sides of a

00:55:45.850 - 00:56:07.120

single coin. James Farmer and many of the other leaders were still in jail when the final registration reports were given. 110 people were denied. Registration 27 became registered now in West Feliciana parish, two people acquired from registration, both were denied and one person was jailed for

00:56:07.130 - 00:56:34.150

220 we got 17 registered, 95 past 45. Failed. Bare statistics were a strange understatement of the hard realities of the summer's work. 48 49 tails 45 out of 195. Although the task force officially ended on August 25th, a postscript to this diary should be recorded. Five.

00:56:34.930 - 00:57:05.760

Freedom down, all right, Right now one. A black woman contingent left for the August 28th March on Washington. Oh, Rita! And to less than a month after that great event, this man was beaten in West Feliciana Parish for having tried to register to vote. And this

00:57:05.760 - 00:57:30.690

man, Reverend Joseph Carter, who was arrested on his first attempt, successfully registered on October 17th. The zero mark in West Feliciana was broken. It required the protection of the FBI and the Justice Department. And behind the scene there was another which recalled what Ronnie Moore had

00:57:30.690 - 00:57:51.610

said earlier by the Mississippi. Just the other day, a Negro minister was arrested on board. Mama's After is arrested. His family picked up guns to protect their own homes because they definitely could not secure protection from the law fish so way have depended upon God so

00:57:51.610 - 00:58:10.740

long, Onda. We will continue depend upon God. But the only problem now is to whether or not we'll be able to wait on God. This is the problem that we have in the Deep South. We're depending upon the federal government. How long can we wait on

00:58:10.740 - 00:58:58.410

the federal government and definitely suppression? Well, not breathe love continuously. Good news. Freedoms coming that you are. Oh, yeah, it's here. Tithe people. It's not a foreign thing is right here, And it's not in New Orleans this time. It's not that rude way home. Letting Louisiana

00:58:58.420 - 00:59:10.440

Way shall overcome this is any tea National educational television?