Timeline pulled from News Messenger articles€¦ ·...
Transcript of Timeline pulled from News Messenger articles€¦ ·...
MARSHALL’S CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS
Sources: Marshall News Messenger articles, Harrison County Historical Museum Archives
HCHM Photograph Collection
Marshall News Messenger Photograph Archives
Donald Seals Jr., “The Wiley-‐Bishop Student Movement: A Case Study in the 1960 Civil Rights Sit-‐Ins,” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 106, July 2002 -‐ April, 2003, Ron Tyler, editor. Retrieved January 20, 2013 from http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101223/m1/487/
Saturday, March 26, 1960 10 a.m.
13 African American students from Wiley College and Bishop College enter F.W. Woolworth store on square in downtown Marshall.
Take seats at lunch counter Given no opportunity to place orders Store manager announces store closing 13 students leave store Store reopens at 12:30
2 p.m.
Students re-‐enter F.W. Woolworth store; were told counter is closed Group of students enter Union Bus Terminal Café; left without an argument when
told counter closed
Students at F.W. Woolworth lunch counter Images from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum
Students at F.W. Woolworth lunch counter Image from the archives of the Marshall News Messenger Wednesday, March 30
12:35 p.m.
20 students try to obtain service at three lunch counters (F.W. Woolworth, Union Bus Station Café, Fry-‐Hodge Drugs. Ten were female; 10 Wiley students; 10 Bishop students. The students are arrested and charged were “unlawful assembly to deprive a man of the right to do business.” Students were fingerprinted, photos made, and processed.
Students arrested were Wiley College Jeanette Otis Lawrence Joseph Roosevelt Peabody Yvonne Tucker Joel Rucker Pearl Cressley George Holmes Ernestine Stubblefield Celestia J. Smith S.J. Briscoe
Bishop College Willie J. Smith Mae Coates King James E. Sweet Dorothy J. Anderson Mattie Mae Etta Johnson James Wade Bernice Holly Joe Billye Fleming Thomasina Parker Albert F. Campbell
Afternoon About 300 students assemble on Courthouse square to protest arrests of
students
Harrison County District Attorney meets with students in effort to prevent violence; encourages them to leave courthouse square
Students refuse to leave courthouse square Fire hose used to move demonstrators off downtown square 37 arrested Others held briefly and released on their own recognizance
Civil Rights demonstrations-‐Charles Allen speaks to demonstrators from Courthouse steps March 30, 1960
Civil Rights demonstrations enter courthouse to meet with DA Charles Allen March 30, 1960
Prayer on southwest side of courthouse March 30, 1960
Prayer on courthouse steps March 30, 1960 Images from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum
Water Hose Used to Move Civil Rights Demonstration Off Courthouse Square on March 30, 1960 Images from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum
Thursday, March 31
350 students hold demonstration [note: described as session of prayers and singing, mostly patriotic and religious songs in other recounts of assembly] at bell tower on Wiley campus to show support for protestors
Student leaders state they will boycott merchants and continue sit-‐ins
“We feel the support we gained Wednesday will prove to the people that we are not a bunch of kids following a fad.” -‐-‐ Speaker at rally as reported in Marshall News Messenger
“We will face quite a bit of danger in our efforts, but our movement is really moving and we have what we need.” -‐-‐ Speaker at rally as reported in Marshall News Messenger
Prayer vigil at Wiley College (Note: These photos may be the prayer vigil held on March 31 or may be photos of the demonstrators gathering back at Wiley Campus for prayer and song after March 26 demonstrations as described on Page 423 of “The Wiley Bishop Student Movement: A Case Study in the 1960 Civil Rights Sit-‐Ins”) Images from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum.
Friday, April 1
12:30 P.M.
4 couples arrested after sit-‐in at Fry-‐Hodge Drug; 2 men and 2 women 2 arrested were Patricia Anderson of Marshall and William Wilborn of Tyler
Arresting officers escort Patricia Anderson and William Wilborn to jail April 1, 1960. Images from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum.
Noon
Rumors of parade to support students brought a large crowd of both blacks and whites downtown
Two men on downtown square with dogs on leashes; one from Longview; one from Angelina County. District Attorney Charles Allen orders owners of dogs to remove them from the city. Says he will prefer charges if they remain in city.
Men with dogs on courthouse square told to leave town or be arrested April 1, 1960 Image from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum.
1:00 P.M.
3 others arrested at Fry-‐Hodge Drug 8 put in city jail Local attorney Romeo Williams helps students post bail. National NAACP
organization and local citizens help pay for bonds.
Saturday, April 1
Students picket downtown with signs 6 arrested All Friday and Saturday arrested protestors released on bonds late Saturday night
Sunday, April 3
Wiley College and Bishop College presidents say purpose served; encourage students to end demonstrations
“I don’t think these demonstrations can be written off as a fad since the students actually feel they are actually fighting for a just cause.” -‐-‐Dr. M. K. Curry Jr., President, Bishop College
Thursday, April 7
Trials begin in City Corporation Court C.B. Bunkley represents 35 defendants; states will take case to higher courts if found
guilty; files motion to dismiss charges Judge concedes students were denied service because of race, but the ordinance
violated could be used to exclude any individual for any reason Plans made to hold jury trial as quickly as possible
PHOTOGRAPH FROM HCHM COLLECTIONS
Lawyer Romeo Williams at City Court April 1, 1960 Image from the collection of the Harrison County Historical Museum.
AFTERMATH:
Renowned Dallas Civil Rights attorney, C.B. Bunkley Jr., comes to Marshall to represent arrested protestors (One of attorneys of record on Sweatt v Painter Supreme Court case along with Thurgood Marshall)
Romeo Williams and one protestor, Mattie Mae Etta Johnson, killed in train-‐car wreck August 17, 1960
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rules in favor of protestors Stores in Marshall quietly remove lunch counters