Notes on the

Civil Rights Protest Era

in

Americus, Ga.

from

"The Times‑Recorder"

Alan Anderson, Compiler

Apr. 26, 1963 Ralph Allen, field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

(SNCC), beaten by local citizen for registering black woman voter

July 12, 1963 four females, four males and three juveniles, all black, arrested for trying to integrate

Martin Theater, after 350 attended mass meeting at Peace Baptist Church

July 15, 1963 "...Eighteen Negroes were arrested downtown Saturday night...on charges ranging

from failing to disperse...and picketing at the Martin Theater. They included 11

juveniles and seven adults...The colored balcony...has been closed for now..."

July 17, 1963 Sumter County Movement's official statement of purpose, signed by Lonnie Evans,

of near Cobb; "...The colored balcony of the Martin Theater remains open

and has not been closed..."

July 20, 1963 "Thirty‑seven Negroes were arrested in Americus last night during demonstrations

...against the Martin Theater..."

July 22, 1963 "Five Negroes were arrested here Saturday night near the Martin Theater..."

Aug. 9, 1963 "Five persons were arrested here...as the Americus Police broke up a group of

about 200 who were creating a disturbance on Cotton...The group, mostly

Negroes, after holding a meeting at the Negro Friendship Baptist Church...

Moved up Cotton..."

Aug. 10, 1963 "...48 persons were arrested last night when a group of Negroes parading without

a permit were stopped...near Hudson's alley on North Lee...about 10:30 p.m.

after a meeting held at Allen Chapel..."

Aug. 12, 1963 "...a brick was hurled through the front window of Fire Chief H.K. Henderson's

official car last night. The chief was struck in the right side, but was not injured

. Eighteen Negroes were arrested yesterday...during a demonstration..."

Aug. 14, 1963 "FBI DISCOUNTS BRUTALITY HERE ‑ The Justice Dept. says it has found

nothing to substantiate Negro charges of police brutality during anti‑segregation

demonstrations in this South Georgia city..."

Aug. 19, 1963 "Thirty‑five Negroes were arrested in demonstrations here Saturday afternoon..."

Aug. 21, 1963 "Five persons were bound over to Superior Court...Ralph Allen and John Perdew,

white, and Donald Harris, Negro, all on charges of inciting a riot; also Sallie Mae

Durham and Thomas McDaniel, who are charged with assaulting an officer..."

Aug. 22, 1963 "Seven Negro juveniles were arrested and charged with blocking the sidewalk in

front of the Martin Theater...last night..."

Sept. 4, 1963 "Eighteen Negro racial demonstrators received sentences of 60 days in jail or

$110 fines...charged with marching without a permit and resisting arrest...July

19. About 60 Negroes remain in custody..."

Sept. 10, 1963 "Twenty‑eight Negroes were found guilty and sentenced...for parading without a

permit and failing to obey an officer...Twenty of this number also were found

guilty of a third charge ‑ unlawful assembly..."

Sept. 11, 1963 "DECISION DUE ON RELEASE OF TRIO"

Sept. 13, 1963 "...The (U.S. Justice) department issued a statement yesterday describing as

incorrect previous reports that it had closed its probe here (into charges of

police brutality)..."

Sept. 14, 1963 "Zev Aelony...civil rights demonstrator, was ordered bound over to Superior

Court...arrested here during a demonstration Aug. 17."

Sept. 28, 1963 "HABEAS CORPUS HEARING SLATED"

Oct. 2, 1963 "FIVE REMAIN IN JAIL AFTER HEARING"

Oct. 14, 1963 "CHAPPELL DENIES CHARGES BY SNCC"

Oct. 16, 1963 "COURT TO HEAR PETITIONS OCT. 31"

Oct. 18, 1963 "EFFORT TO FREE FOUR HERE FAILS"

Oct. 23, 1963 "DEMONSTRATORS REMAIN IN JAIL"

Oct. 31, 1963 "FEDERAL JUDGE PANEL DENIES MOVE TO DISMISS PROCEEDING"

against Sol. Gen. Stephen Pace, Jr., Mayor Griffin T. Walker, Police Chief Ross

M. Chambliss and City Council

Nov. 1, 1963 "Two state laws were declared unconstitutional and officials were restrained

from prosecution of major charges against five integration leaders...by a three

judge federal panel shortly before noon here today...Ruled unconstitutional were

the state laws governing insurrection and unlawful assembly..."

Nov. 2, 1963 "RELEASED FIVE NOT MISTREATED BY OFFICIALS HERE"

Dec. 2, 1963 "JUDGE MARSHALL HEARS MOTIONS FOR DISMISSAL"

Dec. 3, 1963 "STILL TRYING TO SEAT JURY FOR COURT TRIAL HERE"

Dec. 4, 1963 "JURY SELECTED; OFFICER SMITH TAKES STAND"

Dec. 5, 1963 "SUMTER JURY DUE TO BEGIN DELIBERATIONS"

Dec. 6, 1963 "JURY FINDS GUILTY VERDICT, ALLEN SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS"

July 7, 1964 Georgia Court of Appeals overturned convictions of Americus civil rights

demonstrators since blacks were systematically excluded from the jury pool

July 14, 1964 fifteen white teenagers, 12 boys and 3 girls, sentenced in Recorder's Court for

"...tossing of cherry bombs, bricks and rocks at cars, houses and individuals..."

in housing project on Northside July 6th

Aug. 31, 1964 "NEGROES QUIETLY ENTER AHS TODAY"

Dec. 2, 1964 Sol. Gen. Stephen Pace, Jr. dropped all charges against civil rights demonstrators

arrested in 1962

July 9, 1965 Mary K. Fishe Bell qualified for 789th GMD Justice of the Peace election, first

black woman to ever run for public office in Sumter County's history

July 21, 1965 Mary Fishe Bell came in second to J.W. Southwell in J.P. race, but was arrested

with Gloria Wise, Lena Turner and Mamie Campbell for obstructing the polls

July 26, 1965 Community Relations Committee formed by County Commissioners and

Americus city council: Mrs. Audrey Bass, Mrs. R.C. McNeill, Sr., Lang

Sheffield, John Pope, Spencer Pryor, W.E. "Billy" Smith, Warren Fortson, Rev.

Dr. Harold A. Collins; eight blacks rebuffed without incident in attempt to integrate

First Baptist Church

July 29, 1965 Andy Whatley, white, murdered by Willie James Lamar and Charlie Lee Hopkins,

black, in drive‑by shooting at Hampton and Lamar Streets near the Sumter County courthouse grounds July 28th

July 30, 1965 federal government sued local officials to enjoin their prosecution of four black

women still in jail and the women, in turn, sued county officials re segregated

elections

July 31, 1965 federal Judge W.A. Bootle ordered release of the four women and an end to

segregated elections

Aug. 2, 1965 23 pickets arrested outside Kwik Chek supermarket on Dudley; attempted

integration of First United Methodist and First Baptist churches rebuffed Aug 1st

Aug. 5, 1965 unofficial biracial committee, six blacks and six whites, including Warren Fortson, met

Aug. 6, 1965 Dick Gregory, black comedian, led voter registration drive for hundreds at

courthouse

Aug. 9, 1965 600 Ku Klux Klansmen and sympathizers marched silently from courthouse on

Lamar to Cotton, then west on Forsyth back to courthouse, led by Lester

Maddox, Aug. 7th

Aug. 11, 1965 16 blacks and whites arrested for trying to integrate First Baptist Church Aug. 8th

were released from jail on bond, including SNCC coordinator John Lewis,

now U.S. Congressman from Atlanta

Aug. 13, 1965 announcement of agreement between city council and Sumter County Movement

leader, Rev. J.R. Campbell, to end demonstrations, with no biracial committee

Aug. 27, 1965 "PICKETS RETURN TO STORES HERE"

Sept. 1, 1965 "All 37 civil rights workers arrested here last Saturday night when they attempted

to conduct a march through the city without a permit have been released..."

Sept. 10, 1965 "TWO NEGRO POLICEMEN HIRED BY CITY"

Sept. 15, 1965 "LAWYER FORTSON LEAVES AMERICUS"

Oct. 4, 1965 "An estimated 150‑200 Negro pupils boycotted their school classes here today

and staged...a march to dramatize sympathy with the current racial protests at

Crawfordville, Ga...."

Oct. 5, 1965 "A total of some 40‑50 Negro students were arrested outside Staley High (sic)

School today when they refused to stop singing freedom songs and shouting at

pupils inside the school in an effort to get them to leave classes and join in a

boycott against the school..."

Oct. 13, 1965 "Charges of interfering with a public school have been dropped against eight

Negroes arrested here last week near Staley..."

Oct. 23, 1965 Dr. Lloyd A. Moll, former GSC president, announced his family's departure from

Americus after being harassed for advocating racial conciliation

Nov. 15, 1965 U.S. District Court Judge J. Robert Elliott overruled civil rights demonstators' suit

against city and county law enforcement officials

Feb. 17, 1966 U.S. District Judge W.A. Bootle ruled J.W. Southwell's J.P. election legal

Mar. 3, 1966 "A Sumter County Superior Court jury was expected to begin deliberations this

afternoon in the murder tral of Charlie Lee Hopkins, 23‑year‑old Americus Negro

charged with the fatal shooting of Andy Whatley..."

Mar. 4, 1966 "HOPKINS FOUND GUILTY, GIVEN LIFE TERM IN WHATLEY SLAYING";

"LAMAR ENTERS GUILTY PLEA, RECEIVES 5‑YEAR SENTENCE"

May 30, 1966 KKK rally on courthouse grounds attended by 400

Mar. 8, 1967 "200 PERSONS ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOL MEET"

Apr. 15, 1967 U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out J.W. Southwell's J.P. election of

July 1965 and ordered a new one

June 13, 1967 J.W. Southwell defeated Mary F. Bell 2,184 to 538 in rerun of 1965 J.P. election

Sept. 9, 1967 weekly "NEWS OF LOCAL NEGRO COMMUNITY" by Mrs. Ann Witcher,

editor, debuted in “Times‑Recorder"