The government has no right to make or to change laws without the consent of the people. No government has the right to take the law into its own hands. All the people as citizens have the right to impeach the government when their rights are being taken away.
All voters elect persons to the government. Everyone must vote to elect the person of his choice; so we hereby state that all persons of twenty-one years of age, whether black, white, or yellow, have the right to elect the person of their choice; and if this person does not carry out the will of the people, they have the right to alter or abolish the government.
The Negro does not have the right to petition the government for a redress of the grievances:
For equal job opportunity.
For better schools and equipment.
For better recreation facilities.
For more public libraries.
For schools for the mentally ill.
For more and better senior colleges.
For better roads in Negro communities.
For training schools in the State of Mississippi.
For more Negro policemen.
For more guarantee of a fair circuit clerk.
For integration in colleges and schools.
The government has made it possible for the white man to have a mock trial in the case of a Negro’s death.
The government has refused to make laws for the public good. The government has used police brutality.
The government has imposed taxes upon us without representation.
The government has refused to give Negroes the right to go into public places.
The government has marked our registration form unfairly.
We therefore, the Negroes of Mississippi, assembled, appeal to the government of the State, that no man is free until all men are free. We do hereby declare Independence from the unjust laws of Mississippi which conflict with the United States Constitution.
Ruleville Freedom Fighter
Like their nearby counterparts in Drew, Ruleville Freedom School students attended classes in a hotbed of movement activity. Ruleville’s project director was Charles McLaurin, the SNCC organizer who was jailed in Drew. The town was also home to the powerful white supremacist Mississippi Senator James Eastland and the legendary movement organizer Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, who lived on a plantation just outside of Ruleville and in 1964 became the first African American woman in Mississippi to run for Congress. Partially because of Mrs. Hamer’s growing celebrity, Ruleville attracted a great deal of attention. At the beginning of Freedom Summer in Ruleville, four United States congressmen joined a local civil rights rally, singing freedom songs and offering encouragement to local activists.
Ruleville Freedom School students attended classes in the back of the black community’s local Freedom House, which was set up by activists specifically for the summer project of 1964. Ruleville’s Freedom Schools offered one of the most comprehensive curriculums of any Freedom School in the state. Daily lessons ranged widely and included everything from basic reading modules to instruction in French, first aid, and biology. Ruleville Freedom School students were quickly absorbed into the local movement, joining with other local African Americans in their commitment to dismantle Jim Crow. The ambitious students also began planning their own protests and fashioning new leadership roles, at one point creating their own organization called the Ruleville Student Action Group. Many years after Freedom Summer, former Ruleville Freedom School teacher Wally Roberts remembered his students telling him, “What we want you to do is to help us become freedom fighters. We want to go on picket lines and do protests. Teach us how to do that.”81 The articles published in the Ruleville Freedom Fighter demonstrate the young people’s passionate commitment to the Civil Rights Movement.
Masthead of the Ruleville Freedom Fighter.
Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
July 1964: First Issue
Now Is the Time
Now—not tomorrow—but today. The Negro people have waited too long. Hundreds of years the Black Folk have been helping build America. Negroes have worked for almost nothing. Black folk have worked hard. But what have the Negro people gotten in return? Almost nothing. The Negro has been robbed of his share. He still works another man’s land. He still gets only 3 dollars a day. The boss-man makes most of the money and the Black Folk do most of the work. This causes a lot of suffering. Even the children cannot be given the opportunities they need. Year after year these things go on. But all these things must end. That is why we want to vote. And this is why some people don’t want us to vote. Because when we vote we’re going to vote in changes. We’re going to vote out the bad officials. We’re going to vote in officials that want what we want. We’re going to vote in laws to get what we want.
The Power of Non-Violence
When Jesus said, “If a man smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other,” he was introducing mankind to a new way of life – a way of life which overcomes evil through love. If a man returns evil for evil, one bad deed leads to another until one enemy is destroyed. We have no desire to destroy those who oppress us. We want them to understand and respect us. Therefore we take it upon ourselves to love them no matter what they do to us. We will not give in nor will we attempt to do violence to them. This is the beginning of understanding. Understanding us the stepping stone to true brotherhood.
Eddie Johnson
Freedom in the Rain
The spirit of the Freedom Movement reached Indianola Thursday. It was the spirit of the Ruleville people. Over a hundred Indianola citizens were part of a mass meeting in front of Bryants Chapel. They met in the middle of thunder and lightning. It rained and they stayed. They listened to Charles McLaurin. They felt the meaning of ONE MAN ONE VOTE. To vote out police brutality; to vote out officials that keep the Negro down. To vote in people that care about people. That care about people—black and white. They saw a policeman ask to talk to McLaurin. And McLaurin went on and talked. McLaurin went to talk to the policeman. And they sang Ain’t gonna let no policeman turn us around. Brave people ready to join you in the fight for freedom. Let people in Indianola and Ruleville stand together for Freedom. Freedom Now.
The Freedom Movement Grows in Indianola
There was a massive Freedom rally Thursday evening July 23. It was the biggest mass meeting ever held in Indianola. 300 to 500 people came to hear SNCC workers Charles McLaurin and John Harris talk about Freedom. Policeman Nathanial Jack walked into the meeting. The meeting promptly voted to throw Jack out. Angrily Jack drew his gun and said, “I’ll shoot somebody, I’ll shoot somebody.” National Council of Churches representative Allan Levine along with Harris, McLaurin and the brave people of Indianola stood their ground. And policeman Jack had to leave. The police came back later in the meeting but stayed in the background. They were unable to do anything but wait around. McLaurin claimed, “It must be a new day—to have the police stand around and watch. It must be a new day.” Just months ago the police would have broken up the meeting. Now that the whole world is watching—they are afraid of us. They know that they are wrong and that we are right. They know that the whole world knows this. Yes, it is a new day. Nathanial Jack should have been fired long ago—Only by standing like men can we finally get rid of him. Yes, it must be a new day. Mr. Giles made a fine speech for Freedom. He said he was going to register and vote. 18 people went to the court house to register Friday. Over 100 young people said they would be attending the new Freedom School Monday. And all of them wanted to go to the Young Peoples Freedom Convention in Meridian two weeks from now. Yes—it must be a new day in Indianola—The Freedom Movement is growing.
Who Makes the Money in Sunflower County
The average family, Black or White, makes $1790 a year. This is almost the worst average in America. Yet 109 families make over $15,000 a year. They have the power in Sunflower County. They are responsible for the low pay that most people get. 1,270 Negro families and 720 White families live on less th
an $2000 a year. Many of these families live on less than $600 a year. All this is wrong—it must be changed. Right now, the rich people in Sunflower elect the officials to keep things the way they are. When the poorer people vote, they are going to elect new officials. They are going to vote in new laws to make better jobs and more pay.
Precinct Meetings
Freedom Democratic Party Precinct meetings will be held on Friday July 31, 7 P.M. at:
1.Williams Chapel, Ruleville
for all people in Ruleville area
2.177 Broadway, Drew
for all people in Drew area
3.Baptist School
Jefferson Street, Indianola
for all people in Indianola area
These meetings are very important for all who want a change in Mississippi, for all who want to have their say. Everyone who is Freedom Registered can vote. Those who haven’t Freedom Registered can Freedom Register at the Precinct Meetings. Delegates will be elected in each meeting to go to the county meeting. Statements will be voted on—about what the delegates should say at the county meeting. So come to your precinct meeting. Make sure the right people are elected. Make sure that your voice is heard for Freedom. Bring your friends—it’s important for them too.
Plantation Owners Violate Civil Rights Bill Again
Several Negro people working on plantations have lost their jobs or have not received pay in Sunflower County. Why? Because they tried to register to vote in Indianola. The plantation owners do this even though it’s illegal. They may soon have to face trial—unless they correct.
Whites Refused Service
Ten white civil rights workers were refused service or eating four different times in two days. When an integrated group walked into the Downtown Motor Inn Dining Room in Greenville, the Negroes were given menus but the whites in the group were told they wouldn’t be served. The manager told one of the whites, Tracy Sugarman, that “You’ll be welcome back here in your own groups.” At another time, three more white civil rights workers were not allowed to be seated at the Mocca Drive-In Restaurant in Ruleville. Four rights workers were ignored when they sat down for service at the City Café in Drew. The Indianola Restaurant has also refused service to civil rights workers. Before the owner knew the people were civil rights workers he offered them a key to the restaurant. The keys are supposed to prevent integration of the restaurant. A few days earlier the owner of the same restaurant harassed and insulted Len Edwards when he was trying to eat breakfast. The owner told Edwards, “I’d rather serve a nigger than serve you.” Edwards asked him, “Would you serve a Negro?” The owner replied, “I didn’t say that.”
Parents Called to Meeting in Drew
Young people were arrested at the Drew Freedom Meeting July 16. Meyer and Chief of Police Floyd told them to meet with officials. Parents were told in the morning to come that afternoon. Such short notice is wrong. They met at City Attorney Townsend’s office. The Attorney and Chief Floyd tried to get papers signed saying that the young Freedom Fighters didn’t know what they were doing. But we all know they want their freedom. The Attorney and Chief Floyd told the parents that if they signed the papers they would get a Federal lawyer to represent their kids and the kids would be put on parole. How did the officials know the children would be put on parole? The young Freedom Fighters have not even had a trial. They have not been found guilty. Let’s all stand with these young people who bravely say “WE WANT FREEDOM.”
Rochester Negroes Tired of Being Kicked Around
Events of the last week in the state of New York indicate that the entire country is beginning to follow the lead of Mississippi in standing up for Freedom Now. The tragic difference is that while the civil rights activity in Mississippi is carefully organized and strongly dedicated to non-violence in direct action, what has exploded in Harlem and in Rochester has been violence. There are reasons for this which people in Mississippi need to understand and perhaps help, by their example, to change.
The Negro in the northern city, living in terribly overcrowded quarters, is depressed by the way his hopes that the north would be Freedomland were so shattered. He is frustrated by having the North be so much like the South he left. He is frustrated by inequality in jobs, housing, education, protection from the law. He is bitter about police brutality. He is depressed by the way his life is. The Negroes in the North who have these frustrations but who have not yet joined the Movement do not really know how to express their frustrations except by violence. And that is why, this summer, northern demonstrations that start out peaceful and non-violent turn out bitter and [word cut off]
There is more to it than this. The situation of the Negro in the North is like the situation of the Negro in the South in another way. All over the country the power in cities and states is owned by a few rich people, a few people who have influence. They are the ones who are the majors, the judges, the chiefs of police in the South. In this North they are the newspaper editors and the presidents of banks and the real estate boards.
Rochester is a good example of this. In the past few years in Rochester leaders have emerged in the Negro community—responsible, tired, serious leaders—like Bob Moses in Mississippi, who see the situation clearly and want to change it non-violently. But all of these leaders were pushed out of Rochester. All of their efforts were called “irresponsible.” They couldn’t find jobs. Life was made very difficult for them. And so one by one they had to leave Rochester.
Now there is very little Negro leadership in Rochester. But the Negro leaders did not take away the problems and frustrations that the Negro communities feel. So the Negroes, having no responsible leadership, still needed to take action for their freedom. And so now when the newspapers scream about how irresponsible the Negro community
Why Have Students Come to Mississippi?
Why do young men and women come from New York and California to help in the fight for Freedom? The answer is that they do not come down just to help the Mississippi Negro people. They come to help all Americans be free.
For as long as Eastland and Whitton and men like them sit in the Congress of the United States, it hurts all Americans, not just the people of Mississippi. These men vote against medical care for the aged; and when they vote against medical care for the aged, they are powerful enough to keep the bill from being passed. They vote against all bills that would contribute to the health and welfare of the poor of America.
Eastland’s votes and his control over votes are harmful to all Americans—black and white, New Yorkers and Mississippians. Mississippi must have Congressmen that care about the American people—about all of the American people.
The men in the Congress of the United States must be elected by all of the people to serve all of the people. The representatives from Mississippi and the people who govern Mississippi must be elected by all Mississippi people, not just by a handful of powerful white people.
The way people are elected now in Mississippi, then, has effects far beyond the state. And so until we have Freedom here in Mississippi there will be no Freedom for the rest of America. This is why students come to fight with the Negro people for Freedom. We are not Free until everyone is Free.
by the Mississippi Summer Volunteers.
Gun Pulled on Rabbi Again
For the second time in two days, a gun was pulled on Rabbi Allan Levine, a National Council of Churches counselor for the Sunflower County Summer Project. Levine and Jeff Sachar, a white summer volunteer, had tried to attend a meeting in Drew where the Mayor, W. O. Williford, was speaking to the parents of the youths arrested or detained at a SNCC voter registration rally on July 15. The group of local Negroes had no lawyer to help them and Levine and Sachar went to the meeting to try to help them. But the Drew Police Chief, Curtis Floyd, pushed the two out of the room and threatened to arrest them. The Rabbi and Jeff left and went to a Billups Service Station to phone in and tell SNCC headquarters what had happened. As Jeff was trying to call, the station attendant asked, “D
oes this have something to do with civil rights?” and drew a pistol. Jeff and Rabbi Levine left the station quickly. When they tried to tell Chief Floyd what had happened, he told them he was not interested. The FBI has been notified.
At the meeting with the parents, the City Attorney, Mr. Townsend, asked the Drew Negroes to sign statements that their children had nothing to do with the civil rights workers and would not in the future. He warned, “If you fool around with those Communists there will be a lot of bloodshed.” All of the parents refused to sign. Charles McLaurin, 23, Negro from Jackson, Mississippi and Sunflower County Summer Project Director, said, “Townsend is making himself the laughing stock of the town for the Negroes. He just doesn’t understand what we feel. He so misunderstands Negroes that he actually thought people would sign those statements!”
That’s what we’re fighting in Mississippi with the Freedom Democratic Party; we’re trying to make people with power use power justly and responsibly. Non-violent change in Mississippi, with the Freedom Democratic Party, can be a light that shines all over the North as well as all over the South.
Thirty-three Attempt to Register
Thirty-three Negroes from Ruleville and Drew celebrated the return of local leader Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer by going to the County Courthouse in Indianola and trying to register. The Registrar let everyone who went to register and there was no time-consuming stalling as there has been before. The total number of persons who have tried to register this summer is now above sixty. Over 350 people have been registered in the Freedom Democratic Party.
To Write in the Light of Freedom Page 18