The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current, May 24, 1968, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextMay 24, I'MH THE MERCER CLUSTER Poor Peoples March Visits Macon Arriving at Vineville Baptist Church via two buses chart ered by the Concerned Citizens of Mercer (CCM), approxi mately fifty students and a dozen administrators and faculty members from Mercer University prepared to welcome to Macon the Southern arm of Ur. Ralph Abernathy’s Poor Peo ples March on Washington. During the three hour wait for the marchers from Atlanta, the welcoming committee increased to over two hundred in numlier and Mercer Students had an op portunity to speak with local representatives of organizations supporting the march such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Lead ership Conference, and the Council on Human Relations of Macon. Initiating the effort to encourage Mercer students to participate in the march were Will King and Ed Bacon, President of the SCA, l>oth members of the Concerned Citi zens of Mercer. Will King on behalf of the C.C.M. presented a check for $11 l..'J0 to the SCLC leaders of the march, money which had been collected from the Mercer student body prior to the march. Earlier in the day, several Mercer students (identifiable in the pictures by their white hard hats) had been deputized by Mayor Ronnie Thompson to act as parade marshalls. Upon the arrival of the marchers from Atlanta and amidst the shouts of “We Want Freedom Now” and verses of “We Shall Over-come” the local marchers and the SCLC marchers formed their ranks, and with a police escort in front and a CBS newsmohile in the rear, proceeded down Vineville to Central City Park. At times, as the Marchers passed through the city proper, the ranks increased to over 1000 as Maconites joined the march for a short distance. Several Mercer studepts remained with the marchers in the City Park and helped the SCLC group rr.akc camp for the night. Taking notes at an organizational meeting of the Con centred Citizens of Mercer (C.C.M.) is John Neidig. Members of C.C.M. were responsible for initiating support on the Mer cer campus for the Poor Peoples March. Pictured awaiting the arrival of the S.C.L.C. marchers from Atlanta are Dean Trimble, Dr. Bond. Dr. Cox, and sev eral Mercer students who 45 minutes later participated in the march. ide Dr. Ebey, Dr. Otto, Dr. Cox, L»r. Jean nenanexs, iw. rry, Mr. Miller, Dean Trimble, and a group of students. Joining hands to sing ‘We Shall Over-Come” are Mer- cerians Martiel Babbitt, Betty Jean Walker and Ed Bacon, President of the SGA. In the confer ranks of the S.C.L.C. marchers Ed Bacon and Carol Aime Kelley join in “We Want Freedom Now” chant With the march underway, Mercerians John Freehling (L.) and Will King (R.) escort an unidentified Maconite down Vinevile Avenue. Th? white hats designate those Mercer stu dents deputized by Mayor Ronnie Thompson to act as parade marshalls.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current, May 24, 1968, Image 3