Newspaper Page Text
17, IMS
THE CRUSADER, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Pa««7
SMTHEASTEM GEORGIA CR8SADE FOR VOTERS’AN
NEAL REPORT TO THE 7TH A.SH9AL CONVENTION OF
DR. P1ARTIR LOUIES KIRil’S SOUTHERN REGIONAL
Tlie Soullumiitoni Georgia C'ru-
su<ie for Voter* is comprised of
the 1st U. S. CongraHKional I dis
trict (IK counties) of Georgia. It
whs organized in April, 1900 ami
became an affiliate of SCLC in
September 1901. Its objective is
to coordinate the political abilities
of the IK counties by organizing
a Crusade for Voters in each coun
ty whose purposes are: To get ev-
| cry eligible citizen registered, to
get all registered voters to vote in
every election, to interview all
Candidates, to keep daily records
on all public issues, public offi
cials and intake records available
to the general public, to operate
who want to become First Class
Adult Citizenship schools for these
citizens, to coordinate the political
abilities of all individuals and or
ganizations, to foster direct action
programs against segregation.
The types of programs fostei’-
ed by the respective Crusad<> for
Voters are naturally determined
by the needs and resources of the
individual counties. In the past
year the Southeastern Georgia
Crusade For Voters has conduct-
don programs in seven counties,
including the surveying of more
than 30,000 Negroes and the reg
istration of 5,000, Thirty Adult
Citizenship schools in seven coun
ties, Organized Crusade for Vot
ers organizations in nine counties,
developed Political Awareness pro
grams in five counties, support'
e<| four Negroes public office in
two counties, Negotiated the ap
pointment of more than 20 Ne
groes to governmental Hoards,
Commissions, and Committees in
two counties, negotiated the up
grading of many Negroes in gov
ernmental positions in one coun
ty, Negotiated the hiring of Ne
groes in positions previously held
by white only in one county, and
Conducted a direct Action Pro
gram in one county.
The Chatham County Crusade
For Voters lias been the most ef
fective county organization in our
district. Through its Political Ac
tion program, the following facil
ities have been integrated in the
City of Savannah and the Coun
ty of Chatham, Georgia; (1) Mu
nicipal Golf Course, (2) Munici
pal Air Port, (3) Public Library,
(4) Savannah’s Police Depart
ment, (5) City and County Water
Fountains, (6) City and County
Rest Rooms, (7) Seating in City
Police Court, (8) Seating in Coun
ty Police Court, (9) City Audito-
riium, (10) City Civil Service Ex
aminations, (11) City Voter Regis
tration Lists (12) County Voter
Registration Lists, (13) City Vot
ing Polls, (14) County Voting
Benjamin tfan Clark’s Day
LAST OF THE PEACE BONDS
On October 6, 1963, Negroes of
•Savannah proclaimed this day Ben
jamin Van Clarke’s Day. In tri
bute to his leadership in the Sa
vannah Freedom Now Movement.
Clarke had just been released
from the Chatham County Jail-
House after spending more than
31 days in confinement. He is
the last of the Peace Bonders!
The day began with a Mass Meet
ing in his honor. At this time he
reconfirmed his philosophy in the
fight for FREEDOM and total
EQUALITY. H e told the people
who came out to pay tribute to
Clarke added.
him, “There comes a time when
people get tired. On June 4,
1963, we came together to say to
those who have mistreated us so
long that we were tired; tired of
being kicked about by the feet of
oppression; tired of being segrega-1
ted and humiliated. We had no,
other choice bus to demonstrate.”
The day ended with Clark being
guest of honor at the Flamingo
Night Club. Thus, we began I
anew the fight for Freedom and'
total equality becaus c we have
two leaders who are willing to
suffer, sacrifice and even die foi
all of our Freedom.
Polls, (15) Seven City Heards,
Commissions, and Committees and
(16) Fire Department.
The Chatham County Crusade
For Voters’ Political Action Pro
gram was responsible for the up
grading of Negroes in the follow
ing positions: ( I ) One Detective
to Sergeant, (2) Two Patrolmen
to Detectives, (3) One Laborer to
Water Meter Reader, (4) One La
borer to Water Pump Operator,
(5) Two Laborers to Heavy
Equipment Operators.
The Crusade For Voters was
not only responsible for Negroes
being appointed to the following
governmental Boards, Commissions
and Committees hut named the ap
pointees: Savannah Public Libra
ry, Bacon Park Commission, Civ
il Defense Commission, Savannah
Auditorium Committee, Savannah
Recreation Commission, and Advi
sory Committee to the Savannah
Metropolitan Planning Commis
sion.
The Crusade For Voters was al
so responsible for the hiring of
Negroes in the following positions:
Additional Negro Policemen ( The
number of Negro Policemen in
creased from 17 to 25), Negro
Firemen, Negro Bus Drivers.
The Crusade For Voters con-!
ducted its first Direct-Action Pro-1
gram against Segregation this sum
mer. This program was under
the direct leadership of Hosea L.
Williams, President of the Crusade
For Voters, who was assisted by:
Benjamin Van Clarke, Director
of The Crusaders’ Youth Pro-'
gram. Activities of the Direct!
Action Program consisted of daily
morningtrain ing workshop noon I
downtown marches and speeches, |
nightly mass meetings, nightly j
mass marches (After Nightly
Meetings), Daily sit-in demonstra-1
tions and daily picketing of cer- !
tain segregated establishments. |
These protest demonstrations!
we»’e carried out mainly against \
segregated Motels, Motels, Res
taurants, Theaters, Employment. I
More than 800 arrests were made i
under charges of trespassing, un
lawful assembly, disobeying an of
ficer, inciting riots and interfer
ing with an officer in the perform
ance of his duty. 26 demonstra- i
tors were arrested under Peace
Warrants; included were President
Hosea L. Williams and Youth Lead- |
er Benjamin Van Clarke. Wil-,
liams was lodged in jail for a \
$30,000 Bond and was released
after 34 days under bend of :
$15,550. Youth Leader Benja- !
min Van Clark remains in jail up j
to this time under a $15,000 bond, i
Williams was later returned to
jail for a 5 day sentence being
charged with contempt of court
for giving his personal opinion
publicly of a Municipal Court ver
dict dealing with the 26 Peace
Warrants. Nineteen of the
demonstrators who were arrested i
under the Peace Warrants were
released from jail after 55 da vs.
arter they were given two
choices: signing statements repu
diating demonstrations or return- i
I ing to jail.
Out of the KOt) arrested many
have been tried. At the present
rate su-cullcd Justice is being
mended nut. Sentences will
range from #100 to $4,500 or 2
months to 0 1 ,. years in prison
and 12 years probation.
During lb,. period of demonstra
tions many Negroes were beaten
by Policemen. At least 4 Ne
groes were shot by whites. Dem
onstrators were frequently gassed
by llm Police Department and Ga.
Stale Troopers Some demon
strators were housed in a disband
ed jail, without beds. In some
cases Juveniles wore held in cus
tody for more than 25 days. Many
Negroes lost their jobs, ears and
in some few cases, their homes.
Although there are many dem
onstrators yet to come to trial
and it is feared they will not be
able to be bonded out because the
solicitor will only accept proper
ty bonds. Integration of tin* Ho-
teD, Motels, Theaters and Bowl
ing Alleys will take plac t . before
this .Southern Christian Leadership
Conference’.- Till Annual Convert
1 lull is ( lo.M'd.
A VOTELESS PEOPLE
IS A HOPELESS
PEOPLE !
VOTER REGISTRA
TION KILLS SEGREGA
TION !
REGISTER AND VOTE,
STOP HOPING !
Phones AD 2-4171— 2-4172
HEARD’S FUNERAL SERVICE
New Location, 3020 West Broad Street
Savannah, Georgia
Handle W. Heard, Owner
Mrs. Francis C. Braddy, Mgr
Nathaniel B. Braddy, Asst. Mgr.
Formerly Located at Monroe Funeral Home Bldg.
PHONE AD&ms 4-1634
WILLIAMS & WILLIAMS
Funeral Home
Ossie H. Williams & Geo. C. Williams, Owners
Our Services Dedicated To Meet Your Needs
COURTEOUS - REASONABLE
1012 -1014 E. Gwinnett St.
Savannah, Ga.