Mississippi U.S.A. 1961.

F2013.134.2.0048

Description: Freedom riders had started to travel across the south with the purpose of contributing to the cause of of eliminating discrimination based on race or ethnicity by testing segregation policies in bus terminals. In May of 1961, a bus carrying fourteen black and white freedom riders arrived at a bus station in Jackson, Mississippi, where they were escorted and guarded by armed troops, sixteen patrol cars, and an airplane. At a previous stop in Alabama, the bus had been attacked and passengers had been injured. After exiting the bus, the riders went inside of the bus station and attempted to use the "white only" restaurant and restrooms. When they refused to "move on," they were arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and/or inciting a riot rather than breaking Mississippi's segregation laws. In this documentary, there is footage of the bus carrying the freedom riders into Jackson, Mississippi, the riders unboarding the bus at the bus station, entering the bus station, and being escorted, under arrest, out of the bus station by Jackson police. A WKY reporter explains why integration had not been adopted in Mississippi. The documentary also includes interviews that reflect the attitudes held by different groups in regards to the issue of integrating Mississippi. William Simmons, the secretary of the White Citizens' Council, explains why he believes segregation should continue in Mississippi and responds to the reporter's questions concerning his views on equality. Medgar Evers, an African-American civil rights activist and field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), explains why he thinks Mississippi citizens were less aggressive than those in Alabama, as well as the lack of leadership in Jackson's black community. Charles Oldham, the national chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), explains the purpose and goals of the freedom rides and how he believes the freedom rides will lead to changes in policies and attitudes that support integration. The reporter discusses Mississippi's resistance to change traditional institutions such as segregation and white supremacy. Mississippi's governor, Ross Barnett, speaks before an audience about how the behavior of Mississippi's white citizens during the bus's stop in Jackson. Men and women are stopped on the street by the reporter and share their opinions about integration and/or the Freedom Rides. The night of the freedom riders' trials, Jackson's black leaders hold a meeting. Footage of three men speaking to the 126 people who attended the meeting. Governor Barnett responds to questions about how long the state planned to finance the fight against integration. The documentary concludes with Oldham, Evers, and Simmons briefly explaining why they believe integration will or will not occur.

Creator: WKY News
Coverage: Jackson (City), in Mississippi (USA)
MARC Geographic Areas: Mississippi (msu); United States (xxu)
Extent (quantity/size): 28min 51sec
Media: 16 mm film; Moving Images
AVI 1920 x 1080 29.97 FRAMES PER SECOND
Subjects: Barnett, Ross R. 1898-1987 / Civil Rights / Congress of Racial Equality / Discrimination--Law and legislation / Documentary television programs / Equality before the law / Evers, Medgar Wiley, 1925-1963 / Freedom Rides, 1961 / Jackson (Mississippi) / Race relations / Racism / Segregation / State Action (Civil Rights) / White citizens councils

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