Author Archives: sec040121

“De La [Beckwith]’s arrest came after Thorn McIntyre of Itta Bena saw a picture of the gun which killed Evers in the paper. The gun had been left at the scene of the murder. McIntyre notified authorities that he had … Continue reading →

“Early in June of 1963 we were watching a Jackson television station when [Medgar] Evers came on with a rather strong plea for Negroes to register to vote. At the time we commented that he certainly was brave to appear … Continue reading →

“In covering the civil rights story I was torn between trying to do the best possible job I could of reporting the facts and at the same time trying to protect Greenwood from all the bad publicity. There were a … Continue reading →

“Many of the black ministers took part in the demonstrations and there were almost nightly meetings in the Negro churches with speeches by visiting civil rights leaders. At one time or another nearly every nationally known Civil Rights leader came … Continue reading →

“In one of the church meetings comedian Dick Gregory, who gained fame by poking fun at the race issue, joked about Governor Ross Barnett’s industrial trips north. ‘He flys to Chicago on an intregrated plane, speaks to an integrated audience, … Continue reading →

“Newsmen crowded the Negro churches each night to hear civil rights leaders make fiery speeches as they attempted to spur local Negroes to go to the Courthouse to register to vote. At one such meeting The Reverend James Bevel, formerly … Continue reading →

“In another editorial in the Commercial Appeal it was stated: ‘Among the visitors in Greenwood Miss is Dick Gregory, a Negro, who has recently climbed to the edge of the big entertainment world as a comic. He has announce he is … Continue reading →

“An editorial in the April 4, 1963 Commercial Appeal stated: ‘Both of Mississippi’s senators have publicly branded the leaders of “voter registration marches” in Greenwood as outside agitators. Senator James Eastland, commenting on a Justice Department attempt to obtain a court … Continue reading →

“Though the demonstrations were tearing the town apart, much of the town went about their usual business and know only what they read in the paper about what was going on. The city officials issued statements requesting that people stay … Continue reading →

“Statements were being issued on all sides, and some of the ministers referred to the tense local situation by urging that their congregations face these problems as Christians. Some of the members of their congregations had stronger feelings, however, and … Continue reading →