Monthly Archives: June 1964
June 23:
Philadelphia: Missing car found burned; no sign of three workers. Car was on list circulated statewide by Canton White Citizens Council.
Jackson: Shots fired at home of Rev. R.L.T. Smith. White man escapes on foot, reportedly picked up by a city truck. (Smith’s home is under 24-hour guard.)
Moss Point: Knights of Pythais Hall firebombed… Arson attempt on side of building. Damage slight. Used for voter rallies.
Moss Point: Two summer volunteers picked up as they leave cafe, relax on private lawn. Taken by police at 85 m.p.h. without lights at night to Pascagoula jail. Held in “protective custody” overnight, then released.
Jackson: Civil rights worker held eight hours after receiving $5 change for a $20 bill.
Jackson: White Car Fires shot at Henderson’s cafe. Negroes pursue. Three shots fired, hitting one Negro in head twice.
Clarksdale: Local pastor, a civil rights leader, arrested for reckless drunk driving. He is a total abstainer.
State-wide: Negroes try to attend Democratic Party country conventions. Participation systematically discouraged.
Ruleville: LOOK, TIME reporters covering voter rally at Williams chapel, chased out of town by car at speeds up to 85 m.p.h. Early next morning, nine Negro homes, cars hit by bottles thrown from similar car.
June 22:
Clarksdale: Four volunteers arrested on vagrancy charges wile engaged in voter registration work. Held 3.5 hours, released.
Brandon: Negro youth killed in hit and run accident.
Three Missing:
June 21:
Brandon: (Rankin Co.) Molotov cocktail explodes in basement of Sweet Rest Church of Christ Holiness. Fire; minor damage.
McComb: Homes of two civil rights workers planning to house summer volunteers bombed. One damaged extensively. Seven dynamite sticks left on lawn of third home with no civil rights ties.
Meridian: Three civil rights workers missing after short trip to Philadelphia.
June 20:
Fayette: Police, citizens order SNCC worker out of his house. He flees, but when car recovered two days later his camera, food, and personal documents are missing.
June 17:
Vicksburg: Summer volunteer arrested for driving while intoxicated. Not allowed phone call. Held overnight. Acquitted at trial next day.
June 16:
Philadelphia: Mt. Zion Baptist Church bums to ground. Fire starts soon after Negro mass meeting adjourns. Three Negroes beaten by whites. Church was freedom school site.
State-wide: Negroes attempt to attend Democratic Party Precinct conventions for the first time in this century. Results vary. Two Negroes, two whites elected in Jackson.